The future of this site !

[chiefalen]

I have not been a member of this site for very long, compared to some members here.

And i have grown to admire the integrity, selfless dedication , the volunteers, have shown to newbies such as myself.

Have a question post it here and instantly, around the globe, great minds view it and can offer good sound advice.

As with any problem there may be a varied solutions, and opinions.

And opinions,are like peoples behinds, everyone has one, and everyone thinks theres don't stink.

Whats wonderful and exciting, is that you never know when the next problem will present itself, and what the solution may be.

But as i have said before "there are no problems, just solutions"

Now to the reason of this post, ha , knew you all were waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Were all of you wondering whats the Chief up to, got to be something ?

Yes the something is:

" THE FUTURE OF THIS SITE, AND WHERE IT IS HEADING"

Came a long way, done a lot of things, and have been a model to many others who seek to copy it, but can never duplicate it.

Why?

Because of the people who post here, who wish to contribute.

Take away the people and what do you have another site like this one.

Theres a interesting word "like", but not the same, the original.

So i put it to you, the people of this site, how do "we" make it better ?

How do we, secure the future, of this site.

I believe now, as i have believed in the past, that any business that wish's to survive must evolve, or it will die.

And make no mistake this site is a business, it takes money to run this site.

Here is my solution, in the rough, make it more profitable.

How do we do that one may ask ?

To be profitable in todays global market, one must be competitive in the market that the business, is involved with.

The boating business, is what i believe this site is involved with. will continue to shrink, in todays economy, for the next few years.

But the prices offered for parts and such, are not competitive with other online sites, and i won't mention them here.

Bring the prices in line with the other sites, not cheaper, but the same.

Offer what the others don't, great service, live support.

I have been, and continue to be in retail business.

I came out of the service, 35 years ago and with a brief stint, with a major airline down south, i went into the family business.

My model above set me apart from others in the same business as myself.

There must be others, like myself, who can donate the time and brain power to help the people who own this site. People with real experience.

I offer now, my help that they need, to keep this site alive.

Now and into the future.

Thank you all for taking the time, out of your busy day to read this.

" The Chief has spokin "

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: The future of this site !

iboats is a very innovative enterprise. http://www.iboats.com/aboutus.html

the main difference, is they do not offer something that is not immediately available, and can be in your hands in as little as 2 days. i have order from may other sites, before i found iboats. the sell stuff that is out of stock, back ordered, and you wait 3 weeks or longer. one site is known to take 10 days to receive you order. customer service, and return policy, is superior to all.

for that, and the support of this forum, i am willing to spend a few cents more for what it need.

i boats is on top, and will remain there. Admin, is constantly working on improving the domains.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: The future of this site !

And opinions,are like peoples behinds, everyone has one, and everyone thinks theres don't stink.

That's where I think you're wrong. You might think like that but that doesn't mean your right.

I'm not perfect by any means, I'll admit that right up front. Last that I seen or heard of nobody is perfect. Don't even know why that sentence was brought up!

 

[chiefalen]

Re: The future of this site !

Oh i never meant to give offense.

Was meant as a offer of help.

However, wal-mart has shown that lower prices are possible.

How you may ask.

Where and when you buy, what you offer can be negotiated.

The prices you pay are less, than you can offer it for sale, less.

Takes a tough negotiator, it takes a businessman who is no nonsense kind of guy.

Takes a guy who can make the tough decisions.

Make no mistake Tash. i didn't mean to give offense.

But to offer a vision for the future.

And yes talk is cheap, but a guy looking for a part wants the best price he can pay.

 

[mthieme]

Re: The future of this site !

The boating business, is what i believe this site is involved with. will continue to shrink, in todays economy, for the next few years.

But the prices offered for parts and such, are not competitive with other online sites, and i won't mention them here.

Bring the prices in line with the other sites, not cheaper, but the same.

Offer what the others don't, great service, live support.

Have you ever purchased from iBoats????
My experiences with purchasing from iBoats ... very competitive pricing, wide selection, very fast delivery, knowledgeable and responsive support.
My experiences as a mechanic....the average Joe will tend to fix up their old junk for a few hundred bucks rather than spring thousands for new during more austere economic conditions.
My experiences living on the water ... there are more boats out there every year. I can see many rivers on the Chesapeake having traffic lights on it one day!!! More boats = more parts, more maintenance, more accessories, and people behind it.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: The future of this site !

Woa taking it out of context the joke. Ok i'll delete the joke.

And they should continue to give great service, did i say the site doesn't?

Do what has been working, but evolve.

Guys if a company ever thinks there is no room for improvement they are dead wrong.

I never thought i would get attacked.

Thought others would jump in with what they thought could be improved.

For every idea presented, there are people who think it can be improved.

Done different.

Explore the idea, expand on the idea.

Just don't shut down the idea.

 

[mthieme]

Re: The future of this site !

I agree.
Evolution is good. You either grow or shrink. Maintaining is not growing.
Generally, I hate internet ads, pop-ups and the like.
This is one of the few sights where I have clicked on that kinda thing...the ads to the right of the forum. ($599 inflatable delivered - can't beat that with a sledge hammer!).

 

[mthieme]

Re: The future of this site !

oops...hope that wasn't "advertising".
cowering under doghouse fearing smite button.

 

[nlain]

Re: The future of this site !

I have done price comparisons when looking for different things and iboats has always been competitive in price, little less on some maybe a little more on others and that is the nature of things in business. The shipping time as mentioned is great, product selection is great. I have not had to deal with support so I cannot comment there but if it is like their service it should be great also.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: The future of this site !

"
Make no mistake Tash. i didn't mean to give offense.

But to offer a vision for the future."

you must have missed this sentence.

"i boats is on top, and will remain there. Admin, is constantly working on improving the domains."

 

[Shizzy]

Re: The future of this site !

I also love the site. In fact many times I dont even need to ask a question as it has or will get covered.

as far as pricing, I see no issue at all with it. I have compared prices with other online houses as well as local spots. they are usually a buck or two cheaper then Napa so with shipping its a wash. Many times Ill sit in traffic burning gas trying to get to the local store when instead I can just click my mouse and its at my door tomorrow. pricing seems equal to other online spots, but I gladly support Iboats and buy my parts here knowing they will be at my door tomorrow.

reducing prices is only good if you can still make a profit. I have to turn away jobs at work sometimes due to the customer wanting a lower price. Im not going to lose money so someone else can make money. It makes no sense

 

[fishinaddict]

Re: The future of this site !

When I ordered from iboats they gave me the price match guarantee. You can't beat that anywhere.

However, wal-mart has shown that lower prices are possible.

How you may ask.

I can tell you how they do it they went from selling things of value to selling things they have made in China for very little and sell it to us for cheaper than anyone else. The quality has severly diminished, and they still have a 200% mark up on it, and that is why they are the largest retail company in the world. For example, a year ago I could go into Wal-Mart and buy a abu garcia 6000 on a Berkley lightning rod for 69$. Great deal I have six, and they are reliable fairly well made. Now this year I was going to buy my brother one, and look on the shelf and now instead of the reliable 6000 that they have sold for years, they have a plastic made 5600 in its place. Lower prices are good for nothing if you will have to buy 2 or 3 just to last the lifetime of the quality made product.

 

[fishinaddict]

Re: The future of this site !

Buy the way I love iboats, and it will be my one stop shop for my boating needs.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: The future of this site !

I know that each year this site expands along with changes. There has been many great members that have come and gone along with those changes. I've ordered from iboats several times in the past. Some items were competitive as some was lower, but the availability was on spot.

My opinion on the future of this site? Continued steady growth as its history has shown...........SS

 

[JB]

Re: The future of this site !

Well, I take a little bit of issue with the notion that people always want the best price on everything.

Being a small town and rural denizen most of my life I place several features of a product and vendor above the "lowest price".

Trust. I need to trust the product to be and perform as advertised and I need to trust the vendor to stand behind his/her product and service.

Service. I want prompt, reliable service before, during and after my purchase.

Convenience. I don't want to jump through hoops to find a product or get it bought. Most of my life that has meant "local". Fortunately, the internet offers a lot of "local" options.

When I find those features in a vendor/product I have a comfortable relationship with my supplier and I am intensely loyal.

Strange as it may seem, I actually have that sort of relationship with my local WalMart Superstore in Miserable. . . um. . .Mineral Wells, Texas. I am recognized by name by many of the "associates" there and get first class service, if not always first class products. I think that is mainly because of the way I treat them, rather than the meager amount I spend there.

I have had that sort of relationship with iboats.com for about 8 years, now. I am unlikely to purchase any product that iboats offers from anyone else. The style of the boating forums reflects the ethical style of the owners, whom I admire more than most people.

I could tell stories of the times iboats has leapt to help me get a product problem solved or to find me a product not obviously in the inventory, but those are for another thread and another time.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: The future of this site !

My thoughts are, at least on the forums side of things, as long as you have new members joining not afraid to ask questions and knowledgeable people willing to answer those questions... this site will do nothing but grow and evolve. You can't beat the member base here and the knowledge contained within. There may be other web type services that could be offered but that means changing your business model and possible detracting from what is already working.

 

[rndn]

Re: The future of this site !

Well, I take a little bit of issue with the notion that people always want the best price on everything.

Being a small town and rural denizen most of my life I place several features of a product and vendor above the "lowest price".

Trust. I need to trust the product to be and perform as advertised and I need to trust the vendor to stand behind his/her product and service.

Service. I want prompt, reliable service before, during and after my purchase.

Convenience. I don't want to jump through hoops to find a product or get it bought. Most of my life that has meant "local". Fortunately, the internet offers a lot of "local" options.

When I find those features in a vendor/product I have a comfortable relationship with my supplier and I am intensely loyal.

Strange as it may seem, I actually have that sort of relationship with my local WalMart Superstore in Miserable. . . um. . .Mineral Wells, Texas. I am recognized by name by many of the "associates" there and get first class service, if not always first class products. I think that is mainly because of the way I treat them, rather than the meager amount I spend there.

I have had that sort of relationship with iboats.com for about 8 years, now. I am unlikely to purchase any product that iboats offers from anyone else. The style of the boating forums reflects the ethical style of the owners, whom I admire more than most people.

I could tell stories of the times iboats has leapt to help me get a product problem solved or to find me a product not obviously in the inventory, but those are for another thread and another time.

There is nothing to add to this statement. If all people wanted was a low price then everyone would be driving Yugo's!! Hard to pull your boat with the Yugo.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: The future of this site !

I guess i accomplished what i set forth to do, get a honest discussion flowing.

Hope it continues, for i won't be posting to this thread anymore.

But i won't be gone, in the wings so to speak, for a while.

" The chief has spokin "

 

[DJ]

Re: The future of this site !

Well, I take a little bit of issue with the notion that people always want the best price on everything.

Being a small town and rural denizen most of my life I place several features of a product and vendor above the "lowest price".

Trust. I need to trust the product to be and perform as advertised and I need to trust the vendor to stand behind his/her product and service.

Service. I want prompt, reliable service before, during and after my purchase.

Convenience. I don't want to jump through hoops to find a product or get it bought. Most of my life that has meant "local". Fortunately, the internet offers a lot of "local" options.

When I find those features in a vendor/product I have a comfortable relationship with my supplier and I am intensely loyal.

Strange as it may seem, I actually have that sort of relationship with my local WalMart Superstore in Miserable. . . um. . .Mineral Wells, Texas. I am recognized by name by many of the "associates" there and get first class service, if not always first class products. I think that is mainly because of the way I treat them, rather than the meager amount I spend there.

I have had that sort of relationship with iboats.com for about 8 years, now. I am unlikely to purchase any product that iboats offers from anyone else. The style of the boating forums reflects the ethical style of the owners, whom I admire more than most people.

I could tell stories of the times iboats has leapt to help me get a product problem solved or to find me a product not obviously in the inventory, but those are for another thread and another time.

Ditto. Value is not always determined by price.

Sometimes you get what you pay for, especially when it is cheap.

For those of us that have been around awhile, we are always amazed at the consistent evolution this entire site has experienced. The product offerings today are due to the endless/tireless work by Admin5 and the many dedicated employees of iboats. I am amazed at the product offerings today, compared to just a few short years ago. Well done iboats.

It's a family business and they treat their customers like family. That means something to me in this world of "price rules".

I am always a little taken aback by some members on this site that always refer people to other sites to save a few pennies. Yet, those same members have received inumerable suggestions and tips by their peers here.

We all need to remember that the forums here are supported by the business. Nothing in this world is free-really.

For all of you loyal customers, MANY THANKS. For the others, take a new look around. It just keeps getting BETTER.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: The future of this site !

this site is awesome. one thing that would be nice as far as the forum goes, is perhaps a live chat room. and a section to post pics, whether it be boats, motors, etc. for the most part, the people on here, and the helpful advice you receive are second to none. as far as iboats, i find the prices very competitive for the most part, but i find the shipping costs very high, especially where i live in canada. i find that ups is very expensive. i buy a lot of stuff on ebay and ask if they ship it usps. they are much cheaper. also i do a lot of shopping at bass pro shops, {sorry} but their shipping rates are an exception. very very low. please don't think i'm being critical, just giving my two cents worth. i love the selection of stuff at iboats, and if the shipping was lower or had options then i would probably shop here.