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

Mon Aug 22 22:12:44 EDT 2005

I wouldn't mind, and did write for a couple of magazine years ago, but they were simple columns, noting as ambitious as a book. I think though, that you have several capable writers on here that actually own Rhodes 22's. They'd be far more qualified.

Herb Parsons

S/V O'Jure
  1976 O'Day 25
  Lake Grapevine, N TX

S/V Reve de Papa
  1971 Coronado 35
  Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana Coast

>>> stan at rhodes22.com 8/22/2005 3:07:02 PM >>>
I like it, now who can I get to help write it, Herb? hmmmm

ss

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Herb Parsons" <hparsons at parsonsys.com>
To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Monday, August 22, 2005 3:23 PM
Subject: RE: [Rhodes22-list] Re: Stan's lament - and decision

OK, I'm really not a "Rhodie" (my brother owns one, and asks me for help a 
lot, so I follow the list), but here's a suggestion that Stan MAY want to 
consider.

Write a book. Maybe in collaboration with one (or two) of the guys on the 
list that are pretty good at taking Stan's advice and putting it into 
written words (on the list). It doesn't even have to be a major production 
type thing (you should see the "manual" that came with my Coronado 35). But, 
it could be very detailed, cover changes to the boat over the years, be full 
of advice, and sell it for a LOT if purchased separately, but free when it 
comes with a boat that Stan sells.

I mean, sell it for a LOT. How much? I don't know. I paid around $50 each 
for my copies of Chapman's and the Anapolis book. I'd pay more for a 
detailed book on my O'Day or my Coronado, probably easily double, if it was 
full of the kind of in-depth advice specific to my boat(s) that I see 
sampling of from time to time on here.

Stan has an advantage here, if he can find someone to help him put the boat 
together, unlike Catalina, O'Day, Columbia, Hunter, etc, who have multiple 
models to "detail", as well as major changes from year to year, since GBI 
has one model with a few major changes and mostly minor changes, they could 
produce an "add on" manual that is extremely in-depth about the boat.

This would help in two ways, the profit from selling the thing, and when 
someone asks Stan a question (phone or on-line), he would be totally 
justified to say "That's covered in our owner's reference book, would you 
like to purchase a copy?"

Just a thought from a relative outsider, but might be worth considering.

Herb Parsons

S/V O'Jure
  1976 O'Day 25
  Lake Grapevine, N TX

S/V Reve de Papa
  1971 Coronado 35
  Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana Coast

>>> david.bradley at sap.com 8/22/2005 11:20:18 AM >>>
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

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