mistercomputerman
Well-Known Member
- Jan 6, 2008
- 4,321
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer - 2001
- Engines
- Twin 8.1L Mercruisers - 2009
He has a "bird". If his "bird" caught him with another "bird", he would not have enough money to buy a "birdcage".
Sea Ray Living Magazine
- Thread starter tdschafer
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BritLady
Active Member
- Jul 30, 2011
- 2,424
- Boat Info
- 2006 - 340 SeaRay Sundancer, Garmin 840XS GPS & Garmin 7401XS GPS
2019- Zodiac 300 RIB Dink 10'- 5"
- Engines
- Inboard 8.1 Horizon Mercruiser & 2015 6HP Tohatsu O/B.
LOL, that's what they call "paying to learn", seems to happen to so many guys though
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
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- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
This is a good winter thread.
tdschafer
Well-Known Member
Woody
Well-Known Member
mistercomputerman
Well-Known Member
- Jan 6, 2008
- 4,321
- Boat Info
- 410 Sundancer - 2001
- Engines
- Twin 8.1L Mercruisers - 2009
Matt
I believe that your presence here in Jim's forum is appreciated by the membership. And your efforts have not gone unnoticed. I am pretty sure that my first line in the post said that this is not about you. It matters not to me if you are the Vice President of Marketing or the Junior Vice President of Janitorial Services. You put your drawers on every morning one leg at a time, just like me.
Whether or not we will ever be best friends is a matter of conjecture and only time will answer that question. We might have had a better shot at that had you remembered meeting me at Expo. Nonetheless, I am a big boy with a lot of water under my keel, so no real need to mince words with me. I don't personally have a need to "feel special", be recognized, or supported. I do think that you should do those things for all of your customers as part of your ongoing marketing efforts so I put it out there.
I am opinionated and have no reservations about expressing that opinion. I have not done so until now. I am not asking you or anyone else to change their methodology or way of thinking, only to hear me out and file the information in the appropriate place (trash can, file cabinet, good ideas, bad ideas, things NOT to do) should it become useful or should it turn on some light bulb in someone's head.
You guys were hired to run the company by the guys at Brunswick. I get that. Did they hire me for that? Nope. Has the market changed? Yep. I get that. Did SR have excess capacity when the recession hit? Yep. I get that, too. Did we have to layoff 3,000 years of boat building experience when we closed Sykes Creek? Ummmm......let me get back to you on that. Do I have to like the changes that have been made? No. Do I have to remain a SR customer? Nope, that choice is mine. Did I like the fact that SR closed my local Dealer because of disagreements about how many boats they would take during the economic crisis? Not one damn bit. Those people were friends of mine and I spent many a year with the owner’s families in FL on vacation.
Your company is changing. What we do not know at this time is whether that change is for the better or for the worse. You have a new target market for your yacht line and it appears that a lot of your marketing efforts are designed to capture that market, which isn’t old guys who live near the ocean and have supported the company for years. Do I have to like it? Nope.
That said, every company needs to change direction at times. Most every company who survived is leaner as a result of the economy’s meltdown. I understand Sea Ray is no exception to those influences.
I guess what we really need is the “warm-fuzzies” that we used to have about the company before all the layoffs and management changes. How are we going to get THAT back?
FYI
Diplomacy is not one of my strong suits.
I believe that your presence here in Jim's forum is appreciated by the membership. And your efforts have not gone unnoticed. I am pretty sure that my first line in the post said that this is not about you. It matters not to me if you are the Vice President of Marketing or the Junior Vice President of Janitorial Services. You put your drawers on every morning one leg at a time, just like me.
Whether or not we will ever be best friends is a matter of conjecture and only time will answer that question. We might have had a better shot at that had you remembered meeting me at Expo. Nonetheless, I am a big boy with a lot of water under my keel, so no real need to mince words with me. I don't personally have a need to "feel special", be recognized, or supported. I do think that you should do those things for all of your customers as part of your ongoing marketing efforts so I put it out there.
I am opinionated and have no reservations about expressing that opinion. I have not done so until now. I am not asking you or anyone else to change their methodology or way of thinking, only to hear me out and file the information in the appropriate place (trash can, file cabinet, good ideas, bad ideas, things NOT to do) should it become useful or should it turn on some light bulb in someone's head.
You guys were hired to run the company by the guys at Brunswick. I get that. Did they hire me for that? Nope. Has the market changed? Yep. I get that. Did SR have excess capacity when the recession hit? Yep. I get that, too. Did we have to layoff 3,000 years of boat building experience when we closed Sykes Creek? Ummmm......let me get back to you on that. Do I have to like the changes that have been made? No. Do I have to remain a SR customer? Nope, that choice is mine. Did I like the fact that SR closed my local Dealer because of disagreements about how many boats they would take during the economic crisis? Not one damn bit. Those people were friends of mine and I spent many a year with the owner’s families in FL on vacation.
Your company is changing. What we do not know at this time is whether that change is for the better or for the worse. You have a new target market for your yacht line and it appears that a lot of your marketing efforts are designed to capture that market, which isn’t old guys who live near the ocean and have supported the company for years. Do I have to like it? Nope.
That said, every company needs to change direction at times. Most every company who survived is leaner as a result of the economy’s meltdown. I understand Sea Ray is no exception to those influences.
I guess what we really need is the “warm-fuzzies” that we used to have about the company before all the layoffs and management changes. How are we going to get THAT back?
FYI
Diplomacy is not one of my strong suits.
I'm getting a selfie with Matt on Thursday.
To my knowledge, prior to Matt's promotion, Sea Ray HAD NEVER reached out to CSR in any way, shape, or form.
I'll try harder Scott.
Capt. Rusty
I'll try harder Scott.
Capt. Rusty
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
Sure they did, we even had a dedicated section where you could ask Sea Ray questions about your boat or a specific part etc... Not sure why it ended. Though.
OK... Back on topic.
What does it take to get a magazine around here?
What does it take to get a magazine around here?
ImpulseIII
Active Member
Hell, that's easy....buy a new SeaRay
Converse48
Well-Known Member
Don't forget the sun screen!
"I could have my marketing manager do it. Or my marketing coordinator. Or my marketing admin. Or I could pay a company to monitor it for me. But I'm on here, of my own volition."
Matt, why dont you just have Rusty do it ???
As i mentioned in a post the other day on another CSR thread, this guy is under-utilized by his employer. He is a walking, talking billboard! I'd prance his ass out at every boat show possible, at every SR event, and even have him run the Owners Group. no other boat builder in the world has an ambassador like him. Now that would be marketing!
Matt, why dont you just have Rusty do it ???
As i mentioned in a post the other day on another CSR thread, this guy is under-utilized by his employer. He is a walking, talking billboard! I'd prance his ass out at every boat show possible, at every SR event, and even have him run the Owners Group. no other boat builder in the world has an ambassador like him. Now that would be marketing!
Rusty? Really? That guy hasn't been able to get me a magazine in 10 years! He has FAILED!
I need the new guy... give him a chance to see if I can get on the Sea Ray Living list...
I need the new guy... give him a chance to see if I can get on the Sea Ray Living list...
ImpulseIII
Active Member
Gary, I think you have a lifetime ban....no SeaRay Living for you!
Lucky's
Active Member
- May 25, 2010
- 1,873
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- 2006 320DA w/Black hull;
(2) 2016 3-up Seadoo Sparks
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- 350 Mercruiser MPI V drives
I assume you're talking about Rusty when you say "this guy"? If this is the case, you couldn't be any more right. When people refer to Rusty as Mr. Sea Ray, it's not a joke. To me, and countless other boat owners, Rusty IS the face of SR. No disrespect meant to Matt, but I don't think about him or anyone else when I think about SR. Rusty is the only reason I still own a SR and you can bet your sweet ass that in 3 years when I'm shopping for my 45'+ cruiser, it is RUSTY I'll be looking to for guidance. I will be looking at new, or close to it. If ,God forbid, Rusty isn't with the company, I guarantee I'll be shopping other brands. Wanna talk marketing, he IS marketing. He should be at every boat show and every event SR does. Period. That will motivate and sell boats far better than any magazine or ad campaign. Ok, now I'll get off my soapbox. Wanted to stay out of this thread, but since my magazine has been canceled too I figured I'd weigh in.
That is so true! Matt is like the "SR Living Magazine Nazi".. He's the dude serving soup!!!
"You want bread? $2 dolla' extra"
[video=youtube;YJyGJQx2Fgk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJyGJQx2Fgk[/video]
ZZ13
Well-Known Member
My Sea Ray purchases have only been used boats. I get SRL in the mail. Although I have no issue just reading it online. I have two SRO cards, one for each boat. I call Sea Ray for support and email them as well. I have always had prompt and very helpful responses. Once I asked them for advice on how to replace my 300DA door track and they immediately sent me a 9 page illustrated instruction.
Great company. Must just be you guys...
Great company. Must just be you guys...
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