[Rhodes22-list] Now Comes General Boats And
Arthur H. Czerwonky
czerwonky at earthlink.net
Thu Aug 6 13:41:39 EDT 2009
Mary Lou,
HP charges a fee per incident, announced when you call in, an up-front and sound approach. If you have more problems with an older boat, somewhat to be expected, there will be a greater consultation fee by GB. Why couldn't this be mutually advantageous? I think it unreasonable for Stan to budget his valuable time, uncompensated, on issues of maintenance on a boat is not covered by the GB new boat or recycled boat warranty. Any 'extended' maintenance plan can easily defined for a fixed term, fixed cost, and established coverage items.
Sailrite has maintenance and project skill videos which can be purchased - If such informal clips were available on subject matter like 'Replacing the CB Gasket', as one suggested topic, GB would have a ready market of skippers willing to pay well and willing to get a whole set. In today's high tech world, this would be easy to do, and also a valuable part of the R22 legasy. We would not want to risk losing our sage leader to
Hollywood. Imagine Stan in one of those reality shows.
Finally, it has been suggested that I might be invited with Stan to some white house for a meeting over a beer, but it could never pan out because 1. Neither of us drink beer, and 2. We would probably never agree to disagree. What a dilema!
Art
-----Original Message-----
>From: Mary Lou Troy <mtroy at atlanticbb.net>
>Sent: Aug 6, 2009 8:56 AM
>To: The Rhodes 22 Email List <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Now Comes General Boats And
>
>Sounds like rather than a percent of the purchase price, Stan ought
>to be charging a flat fee for the customer support package - or maybe
>a higher fee depending on the age of the boats :-)
>
>Mary Lou
>1991 R22 Fretless
>Rock Hall, MD
>
>
>
>
>At 11:57 PM 8/5/2009, you wrote:
>>Todd,
>>
>>Do you remember all of those worthless Rhodes 22 that Stan has advised
>>people not to buy? Now, you have created a great market for these project
>>boats! Buy a "junk" R22 for next to nothing, pay 5% of the purchase price
>>and voila you have insider Lo/Ro support for a song! What a deal! Let's
>>see ... what's on CraigsList today ...
>>
>>Mike
>>s/v Shanghaid'd Summer ('81)
>> Nissequogue River, NY
>>
>>From: "Todd Tavares" Wednesday, August 05, 2009 10:26 PM
>>Stan,
>>
>>I am in full support of your Loyalty/Royalty program; with one
>>change. If we direct you to, promulgate, provide, or otherwise give you
>>information which you use to secure a viable hull for recycle, you pay us
>>a finder's fee. I will waive all past fees owed to me should this
>>amendment be adopted.
>>
>>I paid $315.00 US dollars for my Rhodes 22. My check (on behalf of
>>the previous owner/seller) for $15.75 will be in the mail soon. I am
>>proud to now be a loyal insider, entitled to all of the perks, answers to
>>all of my technical questions, and access to all of the unique parts and
>>services General Boats provides,-- for myself and all future owners who
>>choose to continue the program.
>>
>>Thank You Very Much,
>>
>>Todd T.
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: Rick
>> To: "The Rhodes 22 Email List"
>> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Now Comes General Boats And
>> Date: Wed, 5 Aug 2009 18:59:40 -0400
>>
>>
>> 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 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"
>> > > To:
>> > > 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
>> > >> 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
>> > > __________________________________________________
>> > >
>> > >
>> >
>> >
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