All this would never have happened if Lee Anderton would have kept his face off the telly... He's born rich, so he's always been out for fame. But this does leave the company very vulnerable.
If you put the title of this thread together with the title of below video you know what's going on: Anderton is (co-)owner of Victory amps and consistently tried to hide it, while they didn't hide launching a number of other brands (they own Burns now btw). Meanwhile, on their youtube channel, to go into allegedly 'objective' amp testing. Now this youtube channel, and this is the main point, not only affects the British, but also the American market. Anderton's would have nothing to gain in selling an US amp over any UK amp in their stores, unless they own the brand: Victory amps are also available in the US. Most Americans who's bought a Victory amp, have done so because of the Anderton videos probably.
I think this video could get Anderton's in serious trouble with major American amplifier manufacturers: they just need to file a case under UK law, given that Anderton's has broken advertisement laws. It just needs a team of lawyers to calculate the damages. Here's the complete nerdy video -- I think it's called critical journalism and that we can never have enough of it.
The truth about Victory amps...
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modman
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Jarno
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A little bit shady indeed, and the fact that he was so opaque about the involvement of Lee Anderton seems to not be accidental, I think he was instructed to do so.
Not sure why, Thomann has plenty of house brands, and they are doing OK with this, uncertain why Lee would keep this under wraps. "Hey, I like this team and their product, and decide to support them"
Do get that he doesn't want to tie his successful Anderton business to an uncertain new product, but still. For Martin Kidd, the story is different, why not state that he is a partner? Nothing to lose on his end.
Taxes?
Also watched the insta post by Lee, good of him to be open about it, he should stop rubbing his hands and jeans though
Do get his worries about him, as a distributor, having his own brand and also carrying other brands, at least ten years ago, I think it is more common now as it was back then, there's more of a channel/portal acceptance now (see also Amazon and others, as someone offering a competing product that risk should be offset by revenue, I suppose).
Not sure why, Thomann has plenty of house brands, and they are doing OK with this, uncertain why Lee would keep this under wraps. "Hey, I like this team and their product, and decide to support them"
Do get that he doesn't want to tie his successful Anderton business to an uncertain new product, but still. For Martin Kidd, the story is different, why not state that he is a partner? Nothing to lose on his end.
Taxes?
Also watched the insta post by Lee, good of him to be open about it, he should stop rubbing his hands and jeans though
Do get his worries about him, as a distributor, having his own brand and also carrying other brands, at least ten years ago, I think it is more common now as it was back then, there's more of a channel/portal acceptance now (see also Amazon and others, as someone offering a competing product that risk should be offset by revenue, I suppose).
"It crackles....., but that's ok"
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modman
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I don't think it's an Anderton house brand. Lee's just the investor among a bunch of other fools. Only Thomann sells the house brands like Harley Benton, but Victory amps are also on the shelves in the US, next to Fender, Dr.Z, Mesa/Boogie ... I would even say that probably the success of the youtube channel in the US was the instigation for them to start a new British amp brand. They create a youtube channel to generate more UK sales, but say 70% of the viewers are outside of their market. How to capitalize on that? All the other ventures where Anderton did disclose their involvement, didn't go anywhere: pedals, Burns guitars...
Anderton's is a British company and has to abide by British law concerning advertisement. Apparently, 3 complaints have submitted to Advertising Standards Agency and I'm very much convinced they came from amplifier companies that are distributed by Anderton's.
The outcome is that they will have to mention their involvement in the Victory brand any time they talk about it.
Now imagine another blind amplifier test in which Victory comes out on top... when at the bottom it says: Anderton's owner is an investor in Victory amps. It sort of defeats the whole point of such a video. The problem is that now, their blindfold test gimmick is dead. It's an old marketing trick: Pepsi test.
Still, in the video is stated that the amps are produced at manufacturing plant in the UK that also produced amplifier for other brands... which factory is that?
Anderton's is a British company and has to abide by British law concerning advertisement. Apparently, 3 complaints have submitted to Advertising Standards Agency and I'm very much convinced they came from amplifier companies that are distributed by Anderton's.
The outcome is that they will have to mention their involvement in the Victory brand any time they talk about it.
Now imagine another blind amplifier test in which Victory comes out on top... when at the bottom it says: Anderton's owner is an investor in Victory amps. It sort of defeats the whole point of such a video. The problem is that now, their blindfold test gimmick is dead. It's an old marketing trick: Pepsi test.
Still, in the video is stated that the amps are produced at manufacturing plant in the UK that also produced amplifier for other brands... which factory is that?
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CheapPedalCollector
- Resistor Ronker
Capital investment is not the same thing as owning the company or even being involved with the company in any meaningful way. I don't really think it's a problem tbh. It's just more gaslighting and ambulance chasing of alarmist culture People getting all up in arms about common business practices they don't know anything about. If he actually is doing something illegal like falsely promoting his brands over others, which he clearly does NOT do, then it would be an issue.
That said, Lee came clean on it, and also mentioned they are part of a buyers group (with businesses like Thomann) getting house branded equipment. That's also relatively common and people don't complain about them, or Guitar Center doing it. Again, more alarmist stuff, and not a big deal. Everyone knows what the stuff is and who makes it.
If people want to get up in arms about stuff, they should get mad about all the price fixing and false advertising manufacturers do. It's illegal in every other industry, but seems to be happening rampantly in the musical industry as of late.
That said, Lee came clean on it, and also mentioned they are part of a buyers group (with businesses like Thomann) getting house branded equipment. That's also relatively common and people don't complain about them, or Guitar Center doing it. Again, more alarmist stuff, and not a big deal. Everyone knows what the stuff is and who makes it.
If people want to get up in arms about stuff, they should get mad about all the price fixing and false advertising manufacturers do. It's illegal in every other industry, but seems to be happening rampantly in the musical industry as of late.
I dunno, capital investment definitely means you have an interest in the success of the business. Lee also mentioned great chats with the designers, that’s more involved than pure capital investment.
The only reason Lee “came clean” is because he was legally obligated to do so when promoting the brands. Something he didn’t do, and got caught out on. It was less coming clean and more “I got caught and now I’m doing what I legally should have done at the start”.
I doubt this is an isolated incident in the industry, marketing is sales and we know what a rats den that place is. I’m not making a judgement on the motives which led to this point, just that it isn’t a non-issue. It’s just nice that there are laws set in place to protect the consumer in such cases.
The only reason Lee “came clean” is because he was legally obligated to do so when promoting the brands. Something he didn’t do, and got caught out on. It was less coming clean and more “I got caught and now I’m doing what I legally should have done at the start”.
I doubt this is an isolated incident in the industry, marketing is sales and we know what a rats den that place is. I’m not making a judgement on the motives which led to this point, just that it isn’t a non-issue. It’s just nice that there are laws set in place to protect the consumer in such cases.
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andy-h-h
- Breadboard Brother
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Andertons big secret? The title of the video is clickbait, and I feel sorry for the guy that spent his time stalking Lee Anderton. OK, so maybe he wasn't all that up front about some things. But if that's the worst he's done, I can live with that.
I get why some people will be annoyed, but really? Is this what we do now?
I get why some people will be annoyed, but really? Is this what we do now?
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bmxguitarsbmx
- Cap Cooler
I think we all know that YouTube gear demos are "pay to play". If you pay, you get a great demo studio magic and all. Lee Anderson is doing something vaguely similar to standard practice. Sad as that may be. I could be missing something, I can't watch drama channels the full way through.
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mozz
- Breadboard Brother
"People getting all up in arms about common business practices they don't know anything about. "
Some of us have morals. Must be why i hate sales people/businesses of most kinds.
Some of us have morals. Must be why i hate sales people/businesses of most kinds.
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bmxguitarsbmx
- Cap Cooler
I hear ya. My opinion is that you shouldn't listen to any of those guys. ANY, and nearly all of those YouTube channels, Including KDH click bate channel. It'll ruin art for you.