[Rhodes22-list] Now Comes General Boats And

Michael D. Weisner mweisner at ebsmed.com
Wed Aug 5 23:57:35 EDT 2009


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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