[Rhodes22-list] Now Comes General Boats And

Mary Lou Troy mtroy at atlanticbb.net
Thu Aug 6 08:56:39 EDT 2009


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
>   > >> __________________________________________________
>   > >
>   > > __________________________________________________
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>   > > http://www.rhodes22.org/mailman/listinfo/rhodes22-list
>   > >
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>   archives go
>   > > to http://www.rhodes22.org/list
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>   > >
>   > >
>   >
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