[Rhodes22-list] Re: Stan's lament - and decision

[Bradley, David]

I'm the new guy here and I can't comment on the community aspect of
Stan's decision, but from a business standpoint I think this makes a ton
of sense.  Whether there is a link from the GB site to the owners' site
is not an issue to me -- the owners site is "one Google away."  The idea
of creating an exchange for buyers and sellers of what seems to be a
relatively scarce commodity is sound, and it seems like there is chance
for GB to find new ways to improve margins and provide fee-based
services.  The GB business model won't allow them to make it up on
volume, so a "profit multiplier" formula (assuming you aren't
multiplying by zero)is required.  

So my question is, can we brainstorm ideas for what kinds of for-fee
services Stan could incorporate into an exchange?  Can the exchange be
an "ownership experience" exchange as well as a buying/selling exchange?

FYI, I am one of the people who found both the GB site and the FAQs and
photos on the owners' site to be instrumental (along with a great demo
from Bill E.) in my decision to choose a Rhodes.  I opted to order a new
boat, after the recycled boat program and pricing worked perfectly to
step me up.  So while I won't actually have a Rhodes until next spring,
Stan has my money.

Regards,

Dave Bradley


-----Original Message-----
From: stan [mailto:stan at rhodes22.com] 
Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005 12:13 PM
To: Peter Thorn; The Rhodes 22 mail list
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Re: Stan's lament - and decision

Peter,

granted they are not mind readers but hopefully they are e-mail readers
and 
I had thought we were pretty clear.

up to this point we had not told anyone what to do - we just wanted to 
explain how the wind was shifting and wanted to see if any of the brain 
trust had some interesting thoughts and you in particular certainly did.

in the final analysis it was clear we had to make a decision and we have

come up with a simple one.

We think the Rhodes-list is wonderful and we will do everything in our 
control to help it expand by recommending to everyone we sell a Rhodes
to 
that they immediately join this great group.

At the same time we decided that we will no longer direct Rhodes
prospects 
or Rhodes sellers (that approach us) to the List.  .Instead we will open
a 
second web site which will be the place to go for anyone who wants to
buy or 
sell a Rhodes and is agreeable to the terms. This site will be the
Rhodes 
Buying and Selling Exchange, strictly business and humorless.
With practically no 22 size competition left on the market, this will be
a 
highly specialized place to go for sellers and buyers.  And this will
expand 
GB's selling of new Rhodes and Recycled Rhodes to now also include GB's
help 
in the selling of Used Rhodes of any vintage.

When anyone on the Rhodes-List wants to sell their boat they can take 
advantage of the "Rhodes Buyers and Sellers Exchange" or any other media

they wish.  They just no longer will be having their List clogged up
with a 
flow of Rhodes wannabes from GBI's web site links or literature or sales

force.

We see it as a win/win solution that will be universally beneficial.

stan/gbi/ec


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Thorn" <pthorn at nc.rr.com>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Sunday, August 21, 2005 7:37 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Re: Stan's lament - and decision


> Stan,
>
> The members of the list are not mind-readers. (At least, I think there
are
> none).  If you want your friends, supporters and good customers on the

> list
> to do something specific to help GBI react to tough times you must
tell us
> clearly how to help.   Many or most are quite willing.  Give us
something
> simple and effective to do.
>
> What's the plan Stan?
>
> PT
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "stan" <stan at rhodes22.com>
> To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
> Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2005 2:42 PM
> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] Re: Stan's lament - and decision
>
>
>
>      ----- Original Message ----- 
>      From: stan
>      To: stan
>      Sent: Saturday, August 20, 2005 10:29 AM
>      Subject: Stan's lament - and decision
>
>
>          Dear Rhodies
>
>      Thanks to the handful who found time to contribute your thinking
-
> some interesting thoughts to mull over.
>
>      We do not have trouble selling Rhodes - it is just that we are
not
> selling them for our own account - not a problem when new boats were
the
> mainstay but with recycled sales now the bill payers, even I can see
the
> writing on the wall as a gowing % of our promtional outlays gets
posted
> under the expense item: charity.    As not a perfect past experience
> example, owners would go to Triad to bypass GB for their trailers (if
you
> read our two page report on developing the Rhodes Unit-matic trailer
> features  - radical in those days - you can appreciate our investment 
> here)
> and Triad sold direct and we switched builders.  When Triad asked us
to 
> come
> back they agreed to send all inquiries to us and that has worked to
the
> bigger advantage of both sides ever since.
>
>      As for the "List", we have decided to turn off the faucet, for
now.
> We will work on what would be best for all those concerned, in the
longer
> run.
>
>      stan for general boats
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>