GHL On Sale - BRS

[Chrisv.]

I disagree wholeheartedly. Just because Ryan has a successful business and has grown it at large as it is doesnt justify unethical behavior towards him and his company.

If you truly believe what you posted then your ethics are relative.

Maybe, maybe not. I feel an ethical obligation to companies that I believe are acting in good faith. I am a jaded person and I think that Ryan will be forced to do things he would not have done when he was in the driver seat. I think it's less likely that a venture backed company will behave ethically because I believe that, as a species, VCs are more bounded by "what they can get away with" than "what is right."

 

[Chrisv.]

Unethical behavior aside, is it his company when someone else owns a controlling share? Part of me feels like it's his baby and he has a stake in it, and the fact he's still working there means he cares about its success, but the other part of me feels like if it came down to Ryan and Bertram having a dispute, it will be Bertram's way or the highway...

It is no longer his company, full stop. He is their employee.

 

[rtparty]

You know, I'd have sided with you on saying that it's unethical to take advantage of the mistake (if it was a mistake) back when BRS was a mom and pop operation.

Now that BRS is backed by venture finance, you can bet they will do all they can to make the biggest profit they can. I feel no obligation to treat them like a small business.

Keep in mind that this thread has generated a ton of sales and web traffic, and they will probably still make a hefty profit due to the increased sales of these and other items. There is also the possibility that this whole thing was a stunt for advertising and to liquidate a product line that is their competition.

What number does a company have to hit to go from mom and pop to "big bad corporate man" that should be screwed over no matter what?

Clearly there is a number where your ethics are no longer in play, right?

 

[Chrisv.]

What number does a company have to hit to go from mom and pop to "big bad corporate man" that should be screwed over no matter what?

Clearly there is a number where your ethics are no longer in play, right?

Venture backing or being publicly traded seems like a good cut off.

 

[JNalley]

What number does a company have to hit to go from mom and pop to "big bad corporate man" that should be screwed over no matter what?

Clearly there is a number where your ethics are no longer in play, right?

I believe he already clearly defined what the differentiation was. When Ryan owned it, it was mom and pop, now that a Venture Capital firm owns it, who has 20-something other businesses under it's belt, it's no longer mom and pop. It's a matter of ownership and who is driving the metaphorical car, not the size of the business...

 

[JohnnyKnuckles]

A lot of you guys keep saying Ryan did this and Ryan did that and Ryan wants this and Ryan Ryan Ryan Ryan.

i bet Randy cries everyday in his helicopter on his way home to the “BatFish” estate for you guys leaving him out. He just wants some credit.

Please be mindful of Randy feelings. What you guys are doing is Morally wrong giving Ryan all the credit for this GHL Easter egg.

 

[rtparty]

I believe he already clearly defined what the differentiation was. When Ryan owned it, it was mom and pop, now that a Venture Capital firm owns it, who has 20-something other businesses under it's belt, it's no longer mom and pop. It's a matter of ownership and who is driving the metaphorical car, not the size of the business...

Do you have proof that Ryan doesn't own BRS?

I mean he gave up majority control back in 2014 when he made his partner a 50/50 partner.

My understanding, from a very reliable source, is that Ryan still has his 50%. Bertram can't force him to do anything.

 

[biecacka]

I don’t know what anyone still owns in the company as i am not privy to that information. I can only say from my 2 experiences working for a ”mom and pop“ restaurant to getting a VC involved. They gave us all our original investments into the company back and we became employees of them. They held a majority. i think that is how most people on here ASSUME it works. But there are different interests and different methods to each case. So it is very likely that maybe Bertram doesn’t have a majority of the stock. we have no reason to not believe when we are told that reliable sources say it worked out that way.
really it is all speculation until the items ship or don’t…..

corey

 

[Octocat]

I work for a company that manages e-commerce business for literally thousands of companies and this sort of thing is more common than you'd think. Ime it comes down to whether the seller wants to honor the price or not-- usually the orders are canceled when the error is obvious but I do remember one time when a customer ate a 15k lose in a situation similar to this. But, it was done to stay in good standing with Walmart since the items were sold through their marketplace.

Suggesting the people should lose their jobs or be sued over this is embarrassing. This has never become a legal issue for any of our customers and brs even called it out in their tos. I bet they had it reviewed by their attorneys (we do).

 

[JNalley]

Do you have proof that Ryan doesn't own BRS?

I mean he gave up majority control back in 2014 when he made his partner a 50/50 partner.

My understanding, from a very reliable source, is that Ryan still has his 50%. Bertram can't force him to do anything.

I have no such authority of information, I merely defined what Chris was stating in a more clear and concise manner because the question was asked. While I have no actual proof that Ryan does or does not have a controlling share in the company, the widespread belief is Bertram Financial purchased controlling interest and now owns BRS. If this is not the case, then great, however, nothing has been said to the contrary. You are correct in that this is an assumed acquisition by many of us... But if watching shark tank has taught me anything, it's that even if Scrub Daddy only sold Laurie 30%, Laurie is the one running the show :-D

 

[shandoee]

Evolution of this thread:

GHL at a low price > morals for taking advantage of the mistake > who owns BRS

lol

 

[Cell]

Evolution of this thread:

GHL at a low price > morals for taking advantage of the mistake > who owns BRS

lol

More like "de-evolution".

 

[rtparty]

Evolution of this thread:

GHL at a low price > morals for taking advantage of the mistake > who owns BRS

lol

The "who owns BRS" determines the morals of what has happened here though. So it is imperative we know.

Morals go out the window depending on who owns the company.

 

[MONTANTK]

Man oh man a lot of people are over analyzing this situation on both sides

 

[MaddyP]

Is it sad this is my most popular thread ever..?

 

[rtparty]

Is it sad this is my most popular thread ever..?

Nope! Embrace it.

I'm taking notes and plan to implement your strategies in my build thread

 

[JNalley]

I just like the debate... the conversation has taught me a lot, even if some people find that it has deteriorated in their eyes. It's interesting to discuss the nuances of morality and law and the intersection of those two things. What is ethical is not always legal, and what is legal is not always ethical kind of debate.

 

[MaddyP]

Nope! Embrace it.

I'm taking notes and plan to implement your strategies in my build thread

Haha! All I did was point out a price discrepancy. But the evolution remains mostly civil so...

 

[JNalley]

Haha! All I did was point out a price discrepancy.

and the immoral, unethical, seedy underbelly of R2R thanks you ;-) :-D

 

[rtparty]

Haha! All I did was point out a price discrepancy. But the evolution remains mostly civil so...

I'm gonna have some prices photoshopped and place that in my thread, tag Broccoli and mywifeisgunnakillme (we need to shorten this name), and watch the chaos.