July 2006 Vol1 Edition 1

[Ultra]

Autopuzzles July 2006 contributions to the main pages first edition should be in to this thread by June 25th.  Hopefully, that will give Karn enough time to format the page and place the test within the puzzles.

I will try and get something wrote for you this next week.

[Ultra]

Tooling Around

Everyone knows Craftsman hand tools are the best.  Right?  Everyone realizes that a lifetime warranty and the ability to walk into retail outlets nationwide and return those tools, to instantly receive a replacement, as backing of that warranty, creates an inherent value that makes the product the best in it's field.  This warranty propelled Sears and Roebuck to the top of the quality hand tool marketplace and held them that position virtually ad infinitum.

So.....

With that type of marketing in mind, car manufacturers learned an important marketing lesson.  A perception of quality can be created by warranty.  The better the warranty and accompanying service, the higher the perception of quality the end user is likely to receive. 

The rub.....

Car dealers and car manufacturers interests do not always parallel one another.

The producer of the product always wants the product to receive top billing.  Their product is, naturally, the star of the show and shold be given the treatment of a star.  Coddling and pampering of the star are mandatory and a prerequisite for success.  At least as far as the producer sees it.

Car dealers, on the other hand, get rewarded for turnover of inventory.  That's it.  If loyalty helps this to occur, then it is a good thing.  If it isn't neccessary for turnover, that's fine also.  In the end, it is an issue of turnover for turnovers sake or profits don't exist.

Reconciling these desparate needs has needed to be a focus of the auto industry for over twenty years now, with very few real successes.  The companies doing it best appear to also be the ones leading the sales sheets.  This isn't an accident as I see it.  For all the talk of bankruptcies, employee and retiree benefits and poor quality product, the real problems facing American automakers today are more involved with proper marketing of desirable product than any of the other aforementioned causes.

Imagine.....

GM and Ford working with their dealers to create showrooms people would want to visit.  Swank decors in the dealerships with properly trained sales folk who understand the product and know how to develop a loyal clietele.   Prep departments in dealerships with incentives to make sure the car is right before it is ever released to a new purchaser or showroom floor.  Service departments that go the extra mile for customers, rather than expecting customers to go the extra mile for them.

In the end, if all the members of an automotive company don't get on the bandwagon of being the best in their industry, in all facets of the industry, then the cutthroat nature of the competition today virtual assures that company will fail. 

Let's hope the execs in the American automobile industry figure this out before it is too late.

[Otto Puzzell]

Gentlemen,

The revised template-based format is up, let me know if you think it needs tweaking or whatnot.   

Thanks!

[Otto Puzzell]

Well, sort of. It is if you leave out the 'www'. 

[Otto Puzzell]

All set now...

[Ultra]

Gentlemen,

The revised template-based format is up, let me know if you think it needs tweaking or whatnot.   

Thanks!

It looks awesome Karn.

I want the sub-heading of my column, every month, to be "Back Seat Driver." 

I am working on having it to you in time for the July edition. 

[Otto Puzzell]

You got it.

Rich - would you like a tagline on your article(s)?

[Rich]

Suppose that I should...give me a few and I'll try and come up with something clever....

[Ultra]

Suppose that I should...give me a few and I'll try and come up with something clever....

Riding Shotgun.

Carjacked

Double Clutched

The Back End

etc.......

[Arthur Dent]

Looks good - will the puzzles pictures be clickable to see a bigger version?

[Otto Puzzell]

Yes - sort-of. I'm practicing with putting larger 'mouse-over' pics on the site, and collecting the clues and Q&A in the vintage or other appropriate section here.

Thank you for the positive feedback.    I'm not thrilled with the logo, but am otherwise satisfied for now. 

[Otto Puzzell]

Suppose that I should...give me a few and I'll try and come up with something clever....

Riding Shotgun.

Carjacked

Double Clutched

The Back End

etc.......

Bug Doctor?

[Arthur Dent]

Yeah the logo isn't that great but I think it will be a great site once all the bits and pieces fall into place.

[Ultra]

Karn,

Do you feel like asking Petra if we could use his test drive articles on the main page?

They are very well written and would make for excellent content.

[Otto Puzzell]

I've PM'd him - we'll see...

[Otto Puzzell]

Ultra - is 'Tooling Around' in it's present form your July article?

[Ultra]

Ultra - is 'Tooling Around' in it's present form your July article?

Yes and no.  I am not quite finished with it.  Will be done before sunrise.

[Otto Puzzell]

Good show. I have a tentative yes from Petra.

[Ultra]

Good show. I have a tentative yes from Petra.

Cool. 

Karn, I edited my column above.  It is ready to be submitted.

[Otto Puzzell]

Excellent.

[Ultra]

Can you make the small pictures on the right links to the Name that Car page?

[Otto Puzzell]

Yes. My intent was to post only the picture and initial clue there, and send visitors here to make their guesses. 

[Otto Puzzell]

I got Petra's OK to repost a roadtest, and he's thinking of some other things to write for us.

Rich - will you be submitting an article for the July 1 edition?

[Rich]

Last minute, as usual....any limits re- how long/short or other format issues?

[Otto Puzzell]

No limit on length. You can PM or e-mail it; I'll format it to fit the look/feel of the rest of the page.

It it makes you feel any better, my own article isn't done yet, either!