[Rhodes22-list] Cowie/GB storm clouds

[Dennis]

I've been off list for some time, and just lurking at other times - so 
throw that into the mix when reading below.

I'm an entrepreneur, and can appreciate the effort Stan has put into 
building General Boats, the risks he took to make it happen, the 
failures he had to 'engineer' around, and the stresses he had to put on 
his family while all the above was going on. For all that and much more, 
Stan and his family deserve huge congratulations.

Being an entrepreneur involves more that just the massive efforts 
indicated above however. There are also the "minor" issues of marketing 
and customer service. Stan has attended innumerable boat shows to expose 
the gem the Rhodes 22 has become, and by hook or by crook, Stan has 
pulled together a web site(s). Driving traffic to a web site is another 
matter though. It's handy to have a list of interested owners you can 
address when you're launching a new product or selling off old inventory 
- and Stan has used this list for both.

Which brings us to this list - or DaList, as Rummy liked to call it. 
First off - thanks to the folks who pulled it together and have grown it 
to its present size. The present owner or administrator is truly the 
person who can dictate whether DaList can be used for commercial 
purposes, and to what extent. If Stan is running the list, he has the 
power to ban members who offer parts (or boats) for sale. If someone 
else is running the show, it's their call to make - despite the fact 
that their call may rub Stan the wrong way. I'm sure Rhodes 22 owners 
everywhere appreciate being aware of parts or boats that become 
available - that's part of what makes this community thrive.

I really appreciate owning one of Stan's fleet, and don't want to take 
the shine off the effort he's made to build General Boats - but if he 
doesn't own the list, he really shouldn't be laying claim to it or 
objecting to any posts that don't break DaRules.

I think Stan has made a great move by involving others in fulfilling 
parts orders. Getting those orders turned around sooner rather than 
later will certainly add to General Boat's shine, as will improving 
communications with customers trying to buy parts (or those who simply 
have questions). It's nice when someone picks up the phone when you 
call, or responds the next day if you leave a voicemail or send an 
email. Those two improvements alone are huge in the eyes of DaList. Did 
I mention the importance of customer service? <chuckle>

That's it - off my soap box. Enjoy the season!

Dennis McNeely
Magic Moments

PS It's good to see you and Dynamic Equilibrium here again Roger!
       ... and thanks for sending links letting me crew with you on 
Enosis 1 Chris - if only in my imagination :)


On 5/25/2019 5:24 PM, stan wrote:
>
> For 50 years Rhodes owners have been our sales force and our board of 
> directors.  So before we submit a book size White Paper response to 
> Chris Cowie's "new" business, made clear by the following two emails, 
> we feel we should give voice to the cooler collective heads of the 
> List, before a declaration of war:
>
> "/Hi Chris, /
>
> /Rumor (Ted) has it that you may know of used Rhodes 22s for sale 
> especially in the Mid Atlantic region. My wife Emily and I are 
> seriously hot to trot! Jeff: Contact me//**//via email - we//**//have 
> several refurbished Rhodes 22 ready to sail."/
>
> If you own, or are thinking of buying a Rhodes, what is happening here 
> truly affect your interests.  Any and all input from the List will be 
> thoughtfully responded to.
>
> thanks for hearing,
> stan
>
>