I know that EK has been a favorite cooling solution around here, but it seems they are having some cash flow issues.
View: https://youtu.be/b73xG1HlFhY?si=dcls8LM5nKoKD-YD
View: https://youtu.be/b73xG1HlFhY?si=dcls8LM5nKoKD-YD
Problems for EK?
- Thread starter whoisit
- Start date
I can only assume this will end with bankruptcy, job losses and whatever remaining assets being sold at cents on the euro 
Oh, that's a bummer for everyone involved.
"All our money is tied up in inventory" is really just an alias for "our sales are inadquate". Once a company gets to the point of illiquidity like that, it's extremely hard to recover. They're probably doomed.
Shame, I have an EK AIO that seems to be working pretty well. It was cheapish, so I'm a little worried about the liquid turning to sludge because of metal corrosion, but it's been okay for a couple years so far.
"All our money is tied up in inventory" is really just an alias for "our sales are inadquate". Once a company gets to the point of illiquidity like that, it's extremely hard to recover. They're probably doomed.
Shame, I have an EK AIO that seems to be working pretty well. It was cheapish, so I'm a little worried about the liquid turning to sludge because of metal corrosion, but it's been okay for a couple years so far.
And this is why EK probably are doomed, everyone's going to be looking for a closing down deal now...
Steve and the GN team are great for all the benchmarking and tech reviews that they do, but IMO stuff like this is where they really shine. Artesian Builds, the LTT stuff, Newegg a couple of years ago -- things like these hold the industry accountable and moving forward.
I wasn't impressed with Jay's video; I forget if he or Steve referenced Stockholm syndrome, but Jay is definitely exhibiting it in the latter half of that post. Jay's friendship with/respect for/idolization of Eddie/Edi is really clouding his judgment -- sympathizing about MOQs, blaming "someone" for taking wrong turns, etc.
Thanks for posting. I’ve heard rumblings about their quality maybe being off for a while. I bought some EKWB stuff at a good discount (Black Friday sale) several years back, thru a US based reseller (I think Jay mentioned them). Great packaging, great looking products, worked very well and have stood the test of under-maintained time!
I have an EK CPU and GPU block (each in separate systems) from what appears to have been their heyday, ie 2016-2017. Still performing well to this day, there was a reason they did so well for a time.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FFRmGJ2Bz8
der8auer's own comments on the EK situation, including apparently withdrawing from their partnership.
Most interesting thing to me is that he doesn't charge for his brand usage, which supposedly is how he can end the agreement between them as quickly as he did. It also means there is no money owed, so he's in a better position than some others on that front.
EK put out a statement (statement itself at the bottom) — https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-com...ployees-and-suppliers-it-will-change-its-ways
Feels a bit like being upset that they got caught, and the statement doesn’t cop to being late on employee payments, nor does it comment on the OT shaving.
Feels a bit like being upset that they got caught, and the statement doesn’t cop to being late on employee payments, nor does it comment on the OT shaving.
The comment from the EKWB,only claims that they have amended their tax filings. They don't even claim to have paid any owed back taxes. Only that they have amended the filings.
They do acknowledge no one is being paid. But don't claim to have have fixed that. And don't go on record as saying they will be paid.
It's an empty empty statement.
I think they are broke, and can't pay the expenses incurred.
Everyone (including staff) that is owed money from EKWB should write that off and expect to never see any of it.
They do acknowledge no one is being paid. But don't claim to have have fixed that. And don't go on record as saying they will be paid.
It's an empty empty statement.
I think they are broke, and can't pay the expenses incurred.
Everyone (including staff) that is owed money from EKWB should write that off and expect to never see any of it.
Sadly, I suspect you are correct. I really struggle to see a way back from this for EK.
Surprising, from a public perspective. But there was a comment from a Slovenian in GN's video's comments about how this boils down to entirely legal business practises in Slovenia, where companies get bled dry, shut down and new ones set up - all with impunity apparently. It is then afaict not a US company... the US company is a subsidiary of the Slovenian one, and routinely had its accounts emptied hence the inability to pay.
The way back for the brand will be by a buyout involving a clean break from the Slovenian side. But if that's not possible, then EK is a dead company. It seems to me that it always was.
Sad really, I really wanted one of those limited edition gold direct-die waterblocks and had a shot at getting one s/h (as new) but it kinda feels like I'd be buying something tainted and of course quality control issues with the DD blocks were alarmingly common too.
The way back for the brand will be by a buyout involving a clean break from the Slovenian side. But if that's not possible, then EK is a dead company. It seems to me that it always was.
Sad really, I really wanted one of those limited edition gold direct-die waterblocks and had a shot at getting one s/h (as new) but it kinda feels like I'd be buying something tainted and of course quality control issues with the DD blocks were alarmingly common too.