[Rhodes22-list] Now Comes General Boats And

Wed Aug 5 19:01:44 EDT 2009

Correction:

If you think the "free" advice you currently dispense does not generate
sufficient parts and boat sales, then you should think about selling the
advice.

On Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 6:59 PM, Rick <sloopblueheron at gmail.com> wrote:

> Stan,
>
> Mike has the right idea.  You are not a government that can tax
> transactions.  Despite the many well intentioned members of this list who
> have pledged their loyalty, they don't truly represent your actual wild and
> woolly customer base.
>
> You are a business that has to sell something.  If you don't think the
> "free" advice you currently dispense does not generate sufficient parts and
> boat sales, then you should think about selling the advice.  A subscription
> service that Mike suggests is common in the software business, although
> product upgrades are usually included as well.  Few people think they will
> really need advice when they part with their money.
>
> Have you ever thought of extending your customer base for parts beyond R22
> owners?  Your power motor mount and IMF are two products you could fabricate
> for other boat models.
>
> Rick
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 4:26 PM, Michael D. Weisner <mweisner at ebsmed.com>wrote:
>
>> Stan,
>>
>> OK.  Now for those of us who purchased new boats directly from GBI.  I
>> want
>> my numbered "Original Owner Certificate" - just kidding.
>>
>> I think that the LoRo should come from the buyer, since the seller has no
>> real incentive to pay and probably will not.  The buyer, on the other
>> hand,
>> buys into value appreciation and support.
>>
>> Why can't you simply sell a "Customer Support Agreement" that defines the
>> level of support (Bronze, Silver or Gold) and/or parts and services
>> discount
>> that is purchased.  This is being done in many industries and achieves
>> similar results.  Most of these agreements are transferrable to new owners
>> for a small fee thus enhancing the value of the item.  This sounds much
>> easier to administer and palatable to a new owner.  "Hello, GBI support.
>> May I please have your support agreement number.  You don't have one, may
>> I
>> please have your Visa card number ..."
>>
>> Mike
>> s/v Shanghai'd Summer ('81)
>> Nissequogue River, NY
>>
>> From: "stan"  Wednesday, August 05, 2009 4:02 PM
>> > relax guys
>> >
>> > This was not then, and is not yet, a formalized program - it is in the
>> > thinking and testing stage where results are beginning to lead to a
>> > solution
>> > based on a numbered LoRo certificate that a participating seller will
>> pass
>> > along with their boat.  Since most buyers somehow come in contact with
>> us
>> > before buying a private sale used boat, they will be made aware of the
>> > program and ask (or not ask) the seller for this certificate when they
>> buy
>> > that boat.   The seller that can include the certificate along with the
>> > title papers, will have a great selling advantage.  The seller who opts
>> to
>> > not go with the program would not be able to give the buyer the
>> > certificate
>> > and the buyer hopefully will pass on buying that boat.  If the buyer
>> does
>> > decides to buy a boat where the seller can not include the numbered
>> > certificate, the buyer will be doing so knowing that they have to move
>> to
>> > the end of the line if they ever have to have any future dealings with
>> GB.
>> >
>> > What we are open to now, from our thoughtful Rhodies is their take on
>> this
>> > gelling.
>> >
>> > ss
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "David Culp" <dculp at hsbtx.com>
>> > To: <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>> > Sent: Wednesday, August 05, 2009 3:16 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Now Comes General Boats And
>> >
>> >
>> >> Stan:
>> >>
>> >> Thank you for your long post in explanation of Loyalty/Royalty which I
>> am
>> >> going to abbreviate with the term "LoRo for future reference.  I concur
>> >> with
>> >> Cowie in that your post should be added as a section to the GBI website
>> >> perhaps after a little editing.  The reason for this is that as a
>> >> prospective owner and buyer, I did not become aware of it until after
>> >> purchasing the boat and joining the list.  As a new buyer, I was a
>> little
>> >> taken aback by facing yet another fee which was nearly as much as the
>> >> sales
>> >> tax that I paid the State of Texas for the boat.  And as you will
>> recall,
>> >> I
>> >> was rather defensive about it at the time.  By putting this information
>> >> upfront on the website, it can become a part of the negotiation between
>> >> buyer and seller on a used boat.  I doubt seriously that the seller of
>> my
>> >> boat paid any Lo/Ro fees.  I have paid only $ 200.00 toward the buyer
>> >> LoRo
>> >> because it caught me by surprise and frankly, these boats ain't
>> cheap...
>> >> I
>> >> spent my budget and then some.
>> >>
>> >> Had I known that LoRo was going to be an issue... It would have been
>> >> brought
>> >> up during the negotiation for the boat.  Of course, a buyer can never
>> >> insure
>> >> that a seller will pay and vise versa but at least I would have had
>> some
>> >> monies negotiated to cover my end.  The buyer will always be the one
>> very
>> >> interested in the continued operation of GBI and likely to pay for a
>> >> certificate.  Most sellers will take the money and run.
>> >>
>> >> I look forward to details of the LoRo program when you notify us of
>> it...
>> >> Especially how you intend to deal with present owners who have no
>> >> vestment
>> >> or only a partial vestment like myself.  The only caveat I see and this
>> >> sounds kind of ridiculous; is that I seem to recall some FTC rules
>> >> preventing manufacturers from withholding customer support for
>> >> manufactured
>> >> goods still in production and then for a certain time period afterwards
>> >> if
>> >> production ceases and the company continues in operation.  So if lack
>> of
>> >> a
>> >> LoRo certificate means a reduced customer support program then you may
>> >> want
>> >> to check with counsel to make sure of the legality.  I don't want you
>> to
>> >> go
>> >> out of business and neither do I want you to be sued.
>> >>
>> >> Perhaps a "certified" boat owner gets a break on the price of parts
>> >> and/or
>> >> goes to the top of the email/telephone queue.  I'm sure you will think
>> of
>> >> something.
>> >>
>> >> David
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 09:15:01 -0700 (PDT)
>> >> From: cowie <ccowie at cowieassociates.com>
>> >> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Now comes General Boats
>> >> To: rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org
>> >> Message-ID: <24831681.post at talk.nabble.com>
>> >> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Stan:
>> >>
>> >> You have done a great job establishing and maintaining the general
>> boats
>> >> company.  The recycle program has been a significant part of your
>> >> success.
>> >> As a buisness owner I can appreciate the challanges and opportuniites
>> >> trying
>> >> to provide a product to be proud of and stay afloat at the same time.
>>  I
>> >> am
>> >> in favor of a Loyalty/Royalty program along with any other specific
>> >> suggestions from GB.  It would be helpful to have a clear statement on
>> >> the
>> >> GB business plan and how we as a community of owners can support GB to
>> >> contribute to and benefit from the win/win/win conditions you aim to
>> >> support.  Maybe this is already included on the GB web site however
>> clear
>> >> communication of your message to current and future community members
>> >> would
>> >> be helpful.
>> >> __________________________________________________
>> >> To subscribe/unsubscribe go to
>> >> http://www.rhodes22.org/mailman/listinfo/rhodes22-list
>> >>
>> >> For the list Charter and help with using the mailing list and archives
>> go
>> >> to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
>> >> __________________________________________________
>> >
>> > __________________________________________________
>> > To subscribe/unsubscribe go to
>> > http://www.rhodes22.org/mailman/listinfo/rhodes22-list
>> >
>> > For the list Charter and help with using the mailing list and archives
>> go
>> > to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
>> > __________________________________________________
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> I am using the free version of SPAMfighter.
>> We are a community of 6 million users fighting spam.
>> SPAMfighter has removed 2662 of my spam emails to date.
>> Get the free SPAMfighter here: http://www.spamfighter.com/len
>>
>> The Professional version does not have this message
>>
>>
>> __________________________________________________
>> To subscribe/unsubscribe go to
>> http://www.rhodes22.org/mailman/listinfo/rhodes22-list
>>
>> For the list Charter and help with using the mailing list and archives go
>> to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
>> __________________________________________________
>>
>
>