Steve..What will I do after F150 Online? The Ford experience is only strengthened by the wonderful exchange of ideas and stories which appear on this site alone. Anyone who has ever visited truck sites like Sporttruck.com and others, find a unique chemistry at work here which separates the class from the crass. You have fostered an environment which promotes the kind of interaction, which is the true meaning of owning and ENJOYING a mechanical product like our Fords. Without this, my overpriced obsession with this truck will end. j.b.

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99 SC Sport, Silver color everywhere, 4.2 auto,3.55 rear gear, split bench, stock AM/FM @ 2 cheesy speakers w/Ford brand bedliner. Keep'n stock from the factory because we love it for what it is...One fine ride!

 

Steve.
Are you upset because Ford/Yahoo chose not to include you? Or have they made real threats to shut you down?

Also, is there a corporate email where we, as a large contingent of customers, relay our opinions on the subject?

------------------
1999 Lariat Super Cab, S.B. 5.4L, 3.55 LS
and everything but the leaky slider window.
Bright red w/ gold 2-tone, Leather Captain's Chairs
Mods: Duraliner bedliner, Bugflector II, Hide-a-hooks.
& a leeetle chrome tip on the exhaust.

 

Shutting down the site is EXACTLY what Ford is trying to achieve...without sites like these, people would tend to migrate to the corporate owned/influenced/administered/partner sites for lack of an unbiased public forum like this.

Change the name if you have to, charge membership fees if need be, do whatever you have to but keep the site online!

Keep your chin up, you have lots of people here rooting for you!

------------------
Thunder
rainmaker@attglobal.net

Black 97 Expedition EB 5.4L 4WD

Mods: Lightning Wheels, Pirelli Scorpion Zero 285/55/18, K&N Gen II Kit, JET Chip

Audio: McIntosh MX406, McIntosh MCD4000, Zapco SX-SL, Zapco EQ30, Genesis Monoblocks (3), Genesis Dual Mono, Dynaudio System 340, Dynaudio System 220, JL Audio Stealthbox

 

Steve:
You focused on the word "obsolete" a couple of times. This incredible site, by any name, would never be obsolete to the 3700 friends who have chosen to visit your creation daily. Nor would this site be considered "obsolete" by countless new members that would surely join, regardless of a Ford/Yahoo Mega site. I'm sure it will continue to grow, if given the chance. This is where you go if you want the truth: good, bad, and ugly. Not to mention the fact that some of the best people on the web are right here. If you would be willing to continue this site, provide that you could get a little financial help, then change the name to whatever you like and consider me a paying subscriber.

 

I agree that if financial concerns are why you are considering closing the site, then charge a membership fee. You say that currently you make $100 a month in profit, so charge everyone like $5-10 a year for membership. As a suggestion, allow one month free so that a potential member can see what they'd be paying for, then if they want to stay, they can pay the fee. Before doing that, make sure that enough people here are willing to pay a membership, so that the site wouldn't wither and die as soon as an access restriction was imposed.

As for changing the site to not allow access from Yahoo.com or Ford.com, don't bother. I'm fairly sure that most people at those companies have personal computers, with other Internet Providers. So, you wouldn't stop them, you'd just make it harder to tell when they're dropping by.

 

First I want to say THANK YOU FOR Y”Our” SITE.

I understand your disappointment.

But I think your wrong!.

If you Lay down Now, that’s exactly what they want you to do.

I think we all ENJOY and BENEFIT from the Heart and Soul Effort's that you have put into this site. Just the task of maintaining this site alone has to be unimaginable. THANK YOU!. I find Y"Our" site to be very INFORMATIVE, very WELL ORGANIZED, CREATIVE and downright FuN!.

Now if you thought for a minute that you could take sole credit for this site Y”Our” WRONG. You bought a WeB address, and put in countless hours shaping your vision of this site. This site is Y”Our” Heart and Soul. There are Three Thousand - Seven Hundred - and Thirty Seven Members that have helped to shape Y"Our" Vision. You should step back about twenty paces from the screen and admire Y”Our” EFFORT's. You should be GLEAMING ear to ear. Because the way that I see it, your the guy on top of the hill. Ford want's to CLONE Y”Our” vision. The only problem is that You don't own it and Ford can't buy it. It belongs to US "ALL of US"

You see Steve, that without US there is no F-150 Online, itZ just a WeB Address. Were the ones making that DECISION!!!!!. I think itZ great that Ford wants itZ OWN WeBsite, but it will never be F-150 Online. There's only one F-150 Online. Even if your forced to change the NAME - Big Deal - They still can't have it!!!!. (New Name – “BaD *** TrUcK’S.Com”)

The neat Thang about being "The WeBMaster" is that you WILL always keep Y"Our" VISION, if you allow Corporate Sponsorship of this site, you lose Y"Our" Vision....

This Site is not DEAD and probably never will be. Sure there is always going to be someone that is Smarter, Faster, Stronger More creative, etc. etc. But they will NEVER be another F-150 Online. As stated previously We all are Exercising "Our" FreeDom of Speech" Discussing the Positives and the Negatives pertaining to our Beloved Vehicles. I for one REFUSE to be MuZZled by AnyOne.

So Keep up the Good Work, and RESET your Compass to “True North”. Excelsior BloodBrothers

""We LoVe Ya MaN""


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2000 F-150 Lariat, Flareside, Black, SC, 4x4, 5.4L, 3.55, Garmin Street Pilot Color GPS

[This message has been edited by LoNE WoLF (edited 01-10-2000).]

 

Indyfan,

In all honesty, I am partly upset that Ford has chosen not to include me/this site in their efforts.

For three years they have visited this site and taken lots of information from it. I can reference several changes to our trucks that have come as a result of this forum and email discussion list.

At no time did Ford offer to include this (or any of several other similar) sites on their OwnerConnection site, nor has this site been approached to be involved in any way with the Ford/Yahoo agreement (and I do not mean financially).

A reality check - 40% of all of the visitors to this site find it from Yahoo! Do you truly believe that number will remain constant or do you think it will decrease once the new Ford "community" is in place?

Through three years of helping Ford to build and strengthen one its brands, no offer of assistance or even thank you's have been offered. For THAT I am most upset. Should I continue to allow Ford to harvest information from this site for THEIR benefit?

At some point, don't I deserve something for creating this forum? And yes, if I do understand this agreement correctly, I am taking this personally.

Steve

 

edit

 

I think everyone has their breaking point, Steve don`t let them see that they are getting you down!!!I`m with all the others here, if we can help ask we will.Change the Url or name and web address. Or maybe find a group or a racing league to help back the $$$$$. The site has helped me so much I can`t even start to tell you how much!!!I f ford doesn`t want to help thats their loss & it a real loss for them. I just hope you find that this web site & YOU (STEVE) are needed so very much!!!!!!!!!Lariat1

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Red/Silver LARIAT, 3Dr.SC,Flareside 4x4 ORP,Tow Pack.,Graphite Interior,60/40 Bench Seat W/Power Driver Seat,6 Disc Changer & Cass player,Tilt Wheel, Crus. Control,AC,Rear Sliding Glass,Power Windows & Door Locks,A.R.E Fg. Bedcover,Zie-Bart Total Paint & Under Coating Protection W/Sound Deadener ,3.55LS,4.6L,Auto,Spiltfire Platinum 3 Sparkplugs,New Motorcraft Drive Belt,K&N Airfilter W/Mod.Factory Airbox,Tornado Air Man.,WMS Velocity Tube,Custom Dual Exhaust W/20`` Chrome Tips,AVS Window Shades & Door Sills & Tail Lite Slots,GTS Carbon Fiber Headlite Covers,FORD 2-Piece Bra, Tinted Windows, Pendaliner Tailgate(Inner)Cover,Ford Security System W/Motion Alarm,Fog Lights, Foglites Works W/Brites On, FORD #1 TRUCK Under Glass On Front Bumper,Custom Ford Oval Red Decals,A/TS Goodyear Tires,Perfomance Fiction Carbon Metallic Disc Brake Pads, Owens Fg. Step Boards,55 Watt (Replacement) Backup Lites,Pilot 55 Watt Back up Lites On Hitch Under Truck. This is LARIAT 1... IN The Great State Of Indiana..........http://hometown.aol.com/terrylariat1...page/auto.html

 

I agree with what everybody has said so far. We need this site, don't let them get you down. Change the name, charge dues, we'll do whatever is needed for this site to continue. The knowledge I have gained from this site is immeasurable. My uncle always used to tell me, "Son, if you don't watch out, the a$$ holes will get you" Please excuse my language. I'm here for the duration.

 

Steve, I hope you're not loosing sleep over this tonight. I think if Ford had dollar one on this site it would loose a lot of integrity. What Ford and Yahoo are doing are just a natural progression in the business world. I work in the banking world and we have a growing web business so much so that the whole .com has been seperated out into it's own division. If anyone would go through that site and take it as the only advise before investing or borrowing money they'd be a fool. There are many independent web sites for consumers to form an opinion before making a decision. btw I have seen ads for our Visa cards on this site!
There have been resent post on the MBs about big brother topics and no one here will accept the way of life. I would not want to place my vin num on my signature or profile and list what aftermarket products are on that truck(in reference to what ATST stated).
I think every member appreciates what you have created and maintained here. I appears to be alot of work, I do notice the time stamps of your posts, alot of late Saturday nights and early Sunday mornings. If you are seeking a greater finacial gain from auto industry I would rather see it come from
the aftermarket world rather than the big machine, just go through some of the member web link pages.
If you one of your goals is to able to add to your resume, I think how you ride out this 'storm' will be a plus.
You have brought a lot of people together here, some knowledgable and some dumbies( raising my hand) in regards to that hunk of metal that sits in the driveway and gives us so much pleasure to drive. There are people from Europe, the Pacific rim, Canada who are members. Members have been forming local clubs. I can see this Norfolk or Lone Star meets turning into a Carlise (Vettes) or Sturgies (HD).
'the web site for owners and enthusiasts' this is from your home page, it does not say for the average Joe which is what I believe Ford and Yahoo are really targeting.
This is Your site, it is Your life, you seem to be a hard worker, you have done a great thing here. I hope decide to keep this site going, no matter what it's called.
Good luck, best wishes, be like you truck ford TOUGH. I will be a privledge to shake your hand when we meet in Norfolk.


------------------
Y2K F150 XLT SC SB 4.6 V8 standard, 3.55 LS, RED!
K&N FIPK,
Jeraco Deluxe High-Rise Cap,
F150Online sticker on rear window,
ON ORDER: SUPERCHIP
Previous Ford Trucks '84 F150, '87 Ranger

 

First off, let me tell you that I love this site. My dad and I both own F150s and visit this site on a regular basis.

F*&% Ford! They can **** up a rope. They can open whatever site they want, without "patrons" they're just throwing money into the vortex. I agree that issues on the Ford site would be HIGHLY biased. Cracked doors? Hmm...we don't know anything about 'em....Head Gaskets go on your 4.2L? Hmmm...that's a new one to us...must be an isolated case...

I can tell you (and I'm a man of my word) they can't get me to go to that ford site no matter what. I like Ford as a company but when they start stepping on the "little man" I get pissy. The internet is all about free speech and expression, we need to know THE FACTS not bureaucratic horsepoop. I guarantee that I will sell my F150 so fast it'll make your head spin. I've always been a Chevy man, but I like my F150. It won't break my heart to go back to the Bowtie Brigade. 'Nuff said. Don't let some pompus jackass tell you what to do....keep up the great work...

 

Steve,

I think you can now understand at least a little of the bitterness felt by the folks over at BON. If you roll over, they win. So, don't cave. Hang in. Be strong. To hell with the big corporate strategy. Honestly, I don't think they can win. Free enterprise will prevail if you let it. Change the URL if they force you to. So what? Your 3,000 members will follow. And the site will continue to grow. Teach 'em a lesson. Beat them at their own game. You can do it; WE can do it!!

Mike



------------------
Mike Philpott
Orlando, FL
'99.5 Black Lightning
SVT #2190 - Build Date 6/9/99
NLOC #361
6 CD Changer, Class 3 Hitch, A.R.E. LSII Lid, BedRug Liner, Invinca-Shield/3M Scotchcal protective film, Wyldman's Clear Lexan Fog Light Covers, 16% Window Tint, LoJack, Val-1, Sal's PSP Chip & Air Filter Kit

 

Hello All,

I was curious about getting your opinion on this...

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/000109/ca_yahoo_3.html

In a nutshell, Ford has put in place an agreement to develop online communities for their customers at Yahoo!

Please understand that the following commentary, though easily applied to F-150 Online can represent The Corral, MustangWorld, Ford Truck Enthusiasts, etc. Also please note that I am not speaking for them, just myself and F-150 Online.

I guess that deep down, I had hoped that Ford would purchase this site (and others like it) or financially assist it and develop a true Ford supported virtual community of their customers.

I have hoped for three years that Ford Motor Company would recognize the hard work that has been put into these sites and, frankly, the direction and advice we have given them and thank us for it.

Ford has been visiting sites like this (to the tune of several hundred visits per month in this case) to glean information about their customers and what they want to see in future models. I have no problem with that at all.

The goal of most enthusiast sites is to help further the models that they cover.

What I am upset about is the I feel that I have been used and betrayed by Ford Motor Company.

I met with the F-150 Brand Manager several months ago, which I hoped would open up discussions that would ultimately lead to financial support for the site. Granted, the meeting was like a first sales call (for those of you in that business) where not much was discussed in detail and were more or less just feeling each other out.

Personally, I feel Ford has now stated publicly through this agreement that F-150 Online (and similar sites) do not hold any value to them. They can build an online community themselves and simply purchase the eyes to view their site. From the moment a customer walks into a dealership, they will hear about Ford community sites. Why would someone need to look elsewhere?

Ford has the ability to control the entire "supply chain" of their customers, from purchase research through daily ownership. They have shown in the past that they are more than willing to shut down sites that they don't agree with.

They have shown in the past they do not choose to support or link to independent sites from their corporate sites, so where does that leave us?

Nowhere. And that truly saddens me.

So, what are my alternatives?

1) shut the site down? (possible)
2) turn it into a Ford hate site like BlueOvalNews (highly unlikely)
3) wait for Ford to build their successful site on Yahoo and have legal send me a letter?
4) continue status quo? (why bother?)
5) block ford.com and yahoo.com from visiting the site, removing one source of free consulting? (likely)
6) sell the site (surely some media company would be interested in purchasing 1.5 million ad impressions and 100,000+ unique visitors each month)

Everything I do needs a direction and a goal. My goal for this site was stated above. It certainly appears that this goal is no longer feasible.

As loyal visitors to this site (and loyal owners of a Ford product) please help me put some perspective on this?

Is it just sour-grapes on my part? Please let me know your opinion. You should know by now that I truly value it.

Steve (aka Webmaster)

[This message has been edited by webmaster (edited 01-10-2000).]

 

Steve:
Sorry to hear how things won't work out as you hoped. But from a member's point of view, I really like that the corporate influence is absent on this site. This site keeps it real for all of the enthusiasts who really get into their trucks. No corporate site can ever replace or overpower what we have going here. It would be really sad to see this site go. Do you think that these two sites can't coexist? You may be underestimating the power of the loyal followers of F150online. Would I visit and use Ford's new site? Sure. Would I abandon this one. No way.

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2000 XLT Black Sport, Flareside, 2WD, Ext. Cab, 5.4L Auto. Other factory options: 3.55 LS, Class III tow, 6-way Captains chairs w/CD changer, Remote entry , and Slider window.
Mods: Undercoat, window tint, headlight & tail light covers, removed "Sport" decals, upgraded Triton tailgate emblem, Linex spray-in bedliner, and an ARE LSII lid.
Wish list: Flowmaster duals, K&N FIPK, and a Belltech 3/4 drop.
Check it out at: http://home.columbus.rr.com/selva1/