Miata Mailing List: August 1997, Message #21
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From: 	todd.barney@ons.octel.com (Todd Barney)

Subject: Re[2]: Miata.Net support

Date: 	Fri, 1 Aug 1997 08:58:37 +0000



     Hi Neil. Welcome to the fold (almost!) :-)

     

>Everyone is talking about ways to support miata.net....



     ...snip....

     

>Has anybody thought about approaching Mazda?

     ...snip...

     

>1) Mazda retains core audience & customer support with little monetary support.



     Well, they're getting that now. :-) I mean, they've got our loyalty, and 

     they're not spending any money on us as it is.

     

>2) Miata.net remains free, and remains the property of whomever owns it now.

>3) It costs vendors nothing... although, any articles that say "Buy from 

><this guy>, and never from " may have to disappear.



     Point #3 would be a big concern with me...

     

>4) The wealth of info compiled on Miata.net has to be worth quite a bit (not 

>to mention the website address). The volume of users on this mailing list is 

>testament to that.



     I'm a little proprietary (and childish) on this issue: No doubt the info 

     is worth a lot, and most of it was acquired in spite of Mazda. If I had 

     a say in it, I wouldn't be willing to give them control or credit for 

     it.

     

>5) Say: marketing surveys. (big companies love that stuff)

     

     Interesting ideas, but I, for one, would not like to see this site any 

     way fall under control of Mazda. For one thing, as you mention, folks 

     might be expected to be circumspect about saying negative things. 

     For another, I wouldn't want it subjected to the whims of Ford and 

     whatever "sportscar" mentality they may or may not have. When they 

     decide that it's not a part of their focus, what happens then? And how 

     much speculating would we have been able to do about the '98?

     

     I personally don't see it happening. Even before Miata.net, the MCA 

     was around and has had some rough going getting buy-in and sponsorship 

     from Mazda corporate. It can still be like pulling teeth sometimes 

     just to get a few bucks from Mazda to help support regional and 

     national events.

     

     Gary has pretty much stayed out of this conversation. To his credit, I 

     think. Which suggests to me that the site is healthy and doing okay. I 

     would not want to trade his stewardship for corporate oversight.

     

     Just my .02.

     

     So, when do you pick up that Phredd 91, and what's it's name? Has it 

     told you yet?

     

     Todd & Miatoy

     91 White A

     114k miles

     Plano, TX