STEVE~
I AM SINCERELY SORRY FOR THE INJUSTICE THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO YOU, BUT I HONESTLY FEEL YOU ARE TAKING IT ALL TO PERSONAL. IN THE GRAND SCHEME OF THINGS, IT IS SIMPLY SURIVIVAL OF THE FITTEST, NOT FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S PERSONAL VENDETTA AGAINST YOU. IF YOU ARE AS PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR TRUCK AS THE REST OF US ARE ABOUT OURS, THEN PLEASE DON'T BACK DOWN!! IF YOU'RE NOT, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY YOU PUT ALL THE EFFORT INTO THIS SITE IN THE FIRST PLACE!! BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR DECISION!!
***JaSoN***

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Oxford White 1998 F-150 STX, reg. cab, flareside, 4.2, auto, 3.55s, tint, Prestige alarm, Bel radar detector, Pioneer CD player, 4 Polk 5x7's, Stull billet grille and bumper insert, Flowmaster exhaust, K&N airfilter, V-Tech Tailight Covers(painted to match truck), removed factory mud flaps, Clear Corner Lenses, DJM shackles, Billet Oval Mirror FUTURE MODS: Roush Front Bumper, Yokohama AVS S/T 285/60/17, Superchip, ASP Crank Pulley, Steeda Sway Bar, Herculiner, removal of emblems GIG'EM AGGIES

 

1st off, I would like to commend Steve on his honesty and openness to us the users (members) about the possible consequences that could happen with Yahoo and Ford joining teams to create an onlemon community!

2nd, If Ford wants to push the F150 trademark, I have to ask: Why did they wait 3 years to push the issue?
I'm with everyone else on this: change the name if you have to, but don't shut the site down, because you have brought together a group of people(3000+) to discuss the one thing that we all love to talk about, our FORD TRUCKS!!

3rd, No matter what happens: thru Steve's memories and its members!

Dean

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99 F-150,XLT, Silver, 2WD, 4.2L, 5spd, RegCab, Shrt WB, Styleside.
Current Mods:Billet grille, Line-X bedliner, 5%window tint all the way around, Alpine CD w/2 MTX Subs & Rockford Fosgate 250w amp. K&N Airfilter. Glasspac w/dual exhaust exits out the back. Blue Ion Headlights and Driving Lights(will be installing)
Future Mods: Superchip, & a custom paint job




[This message has been edited by Fordman99 (edited 01-11-2000).]

 

This move by Ford is just a pimple on a ducks a$$, as any auto manufacture goes, they could care less about you(car or truck owners).
Yet as I read all of these posts, which are in favor of keeping this web site, has anyone really sat down and seen what Ford is like??
Ford is on top NOW...but if they don't change their customer service and quality control, they will be another Chrysler Corp.
Everyone on here love their pickup, but most seem to go along with Ford as a whole in there tactics.
I've been a Ford/Mercury owner for 18 yrs and I'll tell you one thing, this truck I own now WILL BE MY LAST.....
Catch on people, Ford is not what it used to be and we the people are Paying for this.
Steve, do what's in your heart, if you are hurt and dismayed, **** can it, always do what what's in your heart and you have had the time to think it over...DO IT... I wouldn't turn this into a hate site, I'd drop it first, anyway you look at it, Ford will bury you with these F-150 ONLINE title.
It's a super site, but sometimes you just have to do what is good for yourself.....GOOD LUCK


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fordyfour

2000 4X2 Lariat S/C
5.4,3.55 Ls
True duals, K&N Filter
Super White Headlamps

[This message has been edited by fordyfour (edited 01-11-2000).]

[This message has been edited by fordyfour (edited 01-11-2000).]

 

Steve.
Personally I'm a little surprised that you ever believed Ford would in any way officially support this site. To begin with it has no control over the content, there are too many complaints and quality issues brought up (since people with no problems rarely complain), and there are issues discussed here (political and personal) that Ford would never want to be "linked" to; not to mention Raoul's mental status.

Also you said:
"From the moment a customer walks into a dealership, they will hear about Ford community sites. Why would someone need to look elsewhere?"
I'll tell you why, for the same reason I and many others looked for sites like this: Trust. There is an inherent mistrust of both dealers and manufacturers (all brands), people will always look for a second opinion; people would rather trust the opinion of a complete stranger with the same defect or problem than listen to the "official company line."
I've been to the OwnerConnection site, not one TSB is mentioned, even though there have been dozens issued by the NHTSA; the only thing you'll ever see there is an official recall.
Because of this I believe Ford truck owners will seek out sites like this regardless of what candy-coated offerings Ford makes available.
It's selfish of us to ask you to keep this going, but we'll ask anyway. If it's financial assistance you need I'm sure many of us would help, if you're just plain tired of it all we'd understand that too.

------------------
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.




[This message has been edited by Indyfan (edited 01-11-2000).]

 

I never expected Ford to step up and hand me a check - for the reasons many of you have stated.

What really bothers me (and perhaps I did not state it clearly) is that Ford uses this site, and many others just like it on a daily basis...to monitor their customers, learn from the their customers, improve their vehicles, etc.

Again, I am not looking for a big check (though it would be nice ), but some type of consideration for the hard work. Give something back to the people that have worked hard to support and further their brands...how?

1) consider including us in your advertising programs - I think an ad for OwnerConnection would do quite well here - have you ever seen a Ford ad on any site like this?

2) add a link to enthusiast sites from their supposedly customer oriented corporate sites

3) contribute demo vehicles for use as project buildups

4) invite us to rollouts, tests, etc. and consider us just like the real media

After all, Ford is saving money by utilizing independent enthusiast site for marketing research (I am not naive, I know they are not eliminating these costs), so give something back!

Consider for a second something I mentioned before ... 40% of all this site's new traffic comes from Yahoo! With this agreement, it is now in Yahoo's best interest to keep those eyes on the Yahoo! site - after all, that appeases Ford and adds more money to Yahoo's pocket. I suspect that the related links to sites like this become more difficult to find in the future.

Anyway, after a good night's sleep (surprising) I have decided to not close this site down. For some odd reason, I have loyalty to all of you (clearly demonstrated by the About.com campaign being pulled) ... besides, I want to party in Norfolk in June!

Steve

 

Great, Great, Great....For over a year this is the site I go to first when I boot up. I think the dealer where I bought my truck is above average and I have no real complaints, but on the other hand I have had no problems with my truck. However, I could never get a staight answere from them about modifications. I learned more from this message board in 2 days than I got from FoMoCo in 2 months. There is so much info posted in here about TSBs and minor problems most dealers don't even know about. In 1970 I bought a new Ford Maverick which was the worst vehicle I ever ownwed in my life. It had major problems, like brakes going out on way home from the dealer, etc, etc, etc. I got no support from the dealer or FoMoCo. I swore I would never buy another Ford and didn't for 28 years. I've heard a lot of positive things about Ford in the last 10 years and decided to give them another chance. I HOPE YOU GUYS FROM FORD ARE READING ALL OF THIS. IT WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE TO MESS WITH THIS SITE. YOU SHOULD BE SUPPORTING IT.

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98 Nascar Edition, Superchip, Airaid, Flowmaster 70 series, bedliner, in bed tool box, Profile bug deflector and window vents, Class III receiver hitch.

 

Steve, guess that's why Yahoo stock was $620.00 a share yesterday.....??
Big Money.....Glad to hear your staying, maybe, just maybe, some good will come out of this.

------------------
fordyfour

2000 4X2 Lariat S/C
5.4,3.55 Ls
True duals, K&N Filter
Super White Headlamps

 

2 cents? That's all you're willing to contribute? How far will that get me?

I continue to maintain that F-150 Online will be a free site to all. No membership fees or dues to use this site.

Geez, with 1.5 million monthly ad impressions, this site should be easily bringing in $20,000 a month! (working on that, sort of)

Anyway, I have no desire or need to change the name of the site. Too much is now invested in the "F-150 Online" brand...

Steve

 

Steve,

Just wanted to share with you that I DID NOT find this site through Yahoo! I saw it in a Truck Magazine! I can't remember which now, but the fact a major magazine did an article on your site made a tremendous impact on me! I stopped using Yahoo about 18 months ago, because I got tired of weeding through all the unrelated BS it returned on a simple search string!

I believe you provide an invaluable source of honest information, and to be frank, I'd be suspect of a site advertised by or endorsed by FMC! It's real apparent through the many posts that I read daily that most dealerships can't be trusted, thus the real reason we exist, a realistic second opinion/sounding board for a variety of problems! After discovering this site, I totally gave up on the FMC Customer Support site and e-mail! This forum is much more informative and responsive!

Bravo! And I'll continue to proudly display my F150 Online sticker on the back window of my truck! What better form of advertising is there? An awsome looking truck displaying a link to an awsome site!

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Paul... :-)
99 F-150 XLT SC Sport, 4.6L, Auto, Captain Chairs, Class III Towing Package, 3.55 LS, Sliding Rear Window, White, 4X2, CD, Soft Factory Tonneau Cover, K&N Filter, WMS Velocity Tube, Line-X Spray on Bed Liner...
More to come

 

Dear Steve,

I wanted to, if I may, offer some perspective on recent events here....

First, and perhaps most importantly, you have here a site that Ford *cannot* take charge of, unless they are willing to cut you a check with many zeros behind it. While that would make *you* very happy, and I'd be happy for you, that would *instantly* and permanently be the end of F150online.com as we all know and love it. What you have built would vanish. The independence you have with this site gives you something that no amount of money can - pride in knowing that you actually *contribute* something to this world, instead of only wanting a huge payoff on the backend, and people aren't stupid, they'll recognize this very quickly, Steve.

It is for this same reason that my wife and I don't live "high on the hog", but instead donate all our profits to charity. Because I *know* that I have helped my fellow man, on my own, without anyone's influence. Sure, I could be back living in my 6500 sq. ft. mini-mansion, with Corvettes, a Viper, and a few other vehicles back out in the driveway, but that actually gets very boring. Been there, done that, and I feel much better for not continuing that lifestyle. (of course, should I ever hit the lottery, hmmmmm)

You'll have far better long-term success by *sticking* to what has made this site; Yahoo already has reached it's "critical mass", the point at which a site establishes by virtue of pure onslaught of numbers it's own importance, relevance, and revenue streams. Enough importance to attract the real types of revenues that you want to be able to enjoy from your labors. That doesn't happen overnight; it took YAHOO years and years, and that was with the help of *many* of the very best people in the business!

Though F150online has been here since what, 1996 or so, it has not been until the past 13 months that this site has really attracted serious numbers, and that is not very long at all. Yahoo has been at it far longer! Couple that with the rather limited amount of time you personally have available to actively market this site, and you have more than enough explanation for it's lack of putting big money in the till just yet.

This won't last long, Steve, as F150online will hit it's point of critical mass in it's own time. Think about what you've done just in this past year as this site has grown and as you have learned more about every aspect of what you do. Speaking as a businessman with 25 years of experience in forming start-up companies, I consider the real birth date of this site to be December 1998, as that is when things first started to really roll around here, with activity level of the message boards and people who would actually register for them in number.

Increasing strategic relationships are the key right now, until you hit your point of critical mass.

But what makes *ALL* of this possible are the over 3700 people who feel they *belong* to something here, who feel this is a unique place available *nowhere* else. If you never accomplish anything else in your young life Steve, you have already made a huge impact on many thousands of people, and an impact that they will carry with them for a long time indeed. Accomplishment is not always measured in dollars and cents, though they are nice rewards. True accomplishment is doing something that nobody else has done, and *that* is what you've accomplished here.

We have here a calm, happy, and informative atmosphere that is chock-full of some of the very best information about what is for most people the second-largest purchase of their lives! And we have it without the controlling and prying eyes of FoMoCo or any other corporate entity owning the site.

You have done this while maintaining complete independence, and avoiding all outside influences. Do you know how few people can say that about anything in their entire lives?!? Damned few, Steve, damned few. And the people who come here to this environment you've built for us identify with all of that.

F150online will be everything you want it to be, Steve, it's just going to take more time. What you've built is growing constantly, and will continue to, but *ONLY* for so long as you maintain what got you here. The rewards will come, Steve, and when they do, it'll be worth all you've done and sacrificed for this site.

We will continue to do everything we can to help support and promote this unique site, and it's time will come, Steve.

With respects for all,

------------------
Mike Troyer
Performance Products, Inc.
National Distributor of Superchips
(540) 862-9515
Email: mtroyer@compuserve.com

 

Geeeez Mike...you coulda kept the Vette for crying out loud!!!

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1999 F-150 4x4 SuperCab, Deep Wedgewood Blue, ORP, 4-Wheel ABS, Loaded, Flowmaster 50 series, K&N, Tint, Super-White headlights, Westin Nerf Bars, Toff Spray-On Bedliner, Pioneer DEH-P3000 and TS-A6815 speakers, ADS PQ/8 amp.

 

First off, let me just say I love this site. It's like a second home to me I'm always talking about this site to people, when people stop to talk to me about my truck I always mention F150online, and tell them to check it out. It's because of this site that I've made a lot of new friends, and had some great times at the Rallys that we have put together. I would hate to see this site go, I just don't know how I would make it through the days But I really love this place, it's one of my favorite things. It just angers me that Ford Motor Company would do this I'll help you out in anyway Steve, payin $50 for membership or whatever, like what DAVENSA was talkin about. I'm glad you decided to keep it goin, I'm sure things will work out fine though, hopefully. I wish you the best Steve.

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Patrick aka Mudder
Arlington Texas (DFW), member of Fordified.
Stone Cold edition F150, Black 98 Styleside S/C F150 4x4 0RP 5.4 3.55ls, Ramsey Pro 8000 hidden winch, Grizzly roll bar, Superwhite Bulbs, 2 Baja lights, 8 165 watt KC lights (if I can't be the biggest I'm gonna be the brightest, so if ya need some light gimme a call, will 14 do?), Manik grille guard, Westin step bars, Rhino Taillight guards (thanks Pony), Magnum bug shield, Sonic aluminum treadplate 36" tool box, Flowmaster dual exhaust, K/N air filter, 265/75/16 BFG AT/S, American Racing Baja wheels, Cobra CB radio, a Mobil Speed Pass on the back window, a F150 Online sticker, and a Stone Cold sticker on the front windshield . More to come for the 3:16 machine: shocks, and Airaid. If you would like to see pics, email me at mudder46@hotmail.com or see pics at me and pony's new website www.angelfire.com/ok3/ponysix8, and to hear the exhaust http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/ponysix8/images/T005.wav
Ford Trucks: "when you absolutely have to have the very best".


[This message has been edited by mudder (edited 01-11-2000).]

 

What about founding an F-150 Club of America? With 700,000 of those puppies being cranked out each year, and with over 3000 live prospects right now under your nose, couldn't you make a go of it? You could publish a semi-monthly newsletter (call it The F-Post, The 1:50 Edition, The Cab Club, etc., etc., etc.) and an annual get-together? That's what everybody's doing now. It could even sprout off a half-hour show on TNN every weekend! Look at Dennis Gage and My Classic Car.
Don't know if such a Ford P/U club already exists, but the right visionary could definitely get rich on this idea. Maybe you?
Let's see: 3000 x $30/yr. = 90,000 smackaroos as starting capital. Doesn't sound too shabby to me. One thing for sure, it would be a full-full-time job! (Of course, you'd keep the Web site, but it would be members only....)
B.E.John

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On order (due week of 1/24): 2000 Lariat Flareside, Deep Wedgewood Blue monotone, gray leather, 5.4, trailer tow, 3.55 posi.

 

OK, good job everybody. I think we talked him down. I know I need a stiff drink. Everything will be alright as long as we keep him medicated.

Remember,
When you order a sticker include the self-addressed envelope with the 'Special' glue.

(Better put some on the stamp, make him lick that too just to be safe.)

 

Well Steve, it doesn't get any better than that!

Let me also make this very clear: whatever your choice may be now, 6 months from now or 1 year from now, you have my full understanding and support whether F150online stays, goes, changes its name or changes its membership requirements.

And yes, there are some selfish reasons for wanting F150online to stay, the same selfish reasons that most of the others here have. This site informs and entertains us all, in a manner that I have not seen on any other automotive site.

I hold no personal animosity against Ford, "It's only business, nothing personal" and certainly am not going to get rid of one of the best vehicles I ever owned because of this fiasco nor will I demean Ford's products because of this. It's part of life......

There is a reason for all this and someday you will know just what that reason was.



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Dunbarton "The Middle Aged Kid" '99 XLT SC SB 4x2 4.6 auto 3.55 ls The occasional Z-71 Eater! Wedgewood & Denim, SuperChipped, Airaid FIPK, Rhino Liner, Extang Classic tonneau cover, Mobil 1. Man, I got it all! (New Jersey)