After having read all the responses to this I have a couple of things for you Steve:

I can understand why you feel the way you do - you do the work and Ford comes in and uses you and your site to gather all kinds of useful information and such. Now they choose another route and you get nothing. I'd be very irritated myself. I do not know about you but I for one am not surprised. Ford and most other big companies are interested in image and the bottom line. That means they do what they feel will contribute to that - and most of the time it would not be what you or I would consider the correct or even smart thing to do.

I have been on this site since Nov. of 98 (under the name Board) which got removed when you revised your site. I do not post much, but I am on here almost every day and find this site invaluable. I have not found anything else to compare.

Now, I am willing to do my part for this site and in that spirit here are some ideas: To give you some free advertising I am willing to buy $150.00 worth of www.f150online.com stickers which you can give away on your home page(I will pay the shipping as well). The more vehicles with that sticker on it the better, right?
I send e-mail all over the place, and I would not have a problem putting the URL for this site in my signature line.
I would also be willing to pay a yearly membership fee, if that is what it takes.

I think you will find that most of the members here are willing to help you keep this site online - it is too good a resource to lose.
As hard as it is, do not take this crap from Ford personally - it won't do you any good, and they are not worth it.

------------------
Mike Boardman '99 F150XLT 4X4 RC,FS,4.6,5spd,3.55LS,ORP,
Towing pkg,K&N GenII FIPK,FLowMaster,SUPERCHIP!,SnugLid,Luverne Nerf bars,
bug shield, DK Toreador Red.
When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

 

Steve -
IMO this is the single best site on the whole internet, and if there were any justice at all, you would already be fabulously rich for services rendered! BTW I found this site through HotBot, not Yahoo!

If Ford is not willing to pay a special 'corporate membership fee' for continued access, block them off. What value do they put on the research they've already received from this site? How about 10%?

As far as membership fees for the rest of us, I say provide a PO box so we can offer a 'voluntary' membership, the amount being up to the user's discretion. Considering all the hours of enjoyment I've got from this site, a small contribution would be a pleasure. I figure you could get a quick $10,000 this way, and if it will help keep this site open, count me in!

 

STEVE - one more "kick at the cat" I respoded earlier & would like to add a comment.
Your success may very well have led Ford to consider an alternative. Where do 3000 plus ENTHUSISTS rank with Fords "Millions Sold" Not far I would guess. You stated your goal (among other things) was to grow in knowledge.
You have obviously accomplished this - but, is this the site that Fomoco wants ? Again obviously not!
Why? - because the users here are not your average - take the kids to hockey/ball, pick up groceries, ETC kind of people.
Thats what they will get on Yahoo - give them a colored pill, pat them on the head and say DADDY will look after you.
That BS would not last a minute here.
As far as some help (financial) or test vehicles, or other factory support - well who knows what might come down the pike in a year or so. It' a long road - with no turns.
Anyway, glad your staying - keep punching - who knows WHAT lies ahead.
Thanks for listening.

------------------
98 F150 S/C 4.6 2wd Vermillion/Silver,HD Tow Pkg, Boards, Vents, Bug Chaser, DIY "breezer" Tailgate, 5th whl hitch, Tool box, 16" OEM Mag's,
Mobil1 /Wix Oil filter/ K&N / air box mod.
In looks & go - Chevy - like a rock.

 

First of all Steve, thanks for the great website you provide! I have read every word on this thread...wow! I didn't find this site through Yahoo, my wife found it for me through another search engine ( and let me tell you, she regrets it deeply ) I have been a member for 2 months and have found such valuable information here, that I could never repay everyone for it. Thanks to all the members support and information, I have successfully taken a stock F150 and made it worth driving . I would never have thought a few months ago that I would have the drive, or the right connections and information to make this possible. I am sure that somewhere on the site there is information on how to purchase a sticker, guess I am too lazy, someone fill me in. I am an anti-bumpersticker kind of guy, but I will gladly do my part to get the word and address out to the masses! I live in the heart of Ford country! Thanks again and best of luck!
Josh

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99 Black F150 4x4 4.2
powerdyne SC (7lbs.boost)
24 psi.high flow fuel injectors
True dual exhaust w/Flowmasters(2 1/2 in. pipe)
custom programed Superchip(in the mail hopefully)
All black factory sport package.
Rhino Liner
GTO smoke headlight&tailight covers
limo tint
Mods. to come 4.30 gears

 

xanman~
hey, you can order the stickers through the online store!!

***JaSoN***

 

Thanks so much for deciding to keep the site going. I think I speak for many of the members when I say that we are willing to contribute in any way possible to help you keep this site strong, be it financial or otherwise. We don't want this to be a burden to you, and hope you can continue to enjoy it as much as we do. Any thoughts on changing the name?

 

Steve~
Just an idea to help you out. I was at another site and they have several Moderators, in addition to the Webmaster. This may help to take some of the burden off your back. Also, as others have posted, I'd happily pay a membership fee!!!
***JaSoN***

 

Actually you were quite clear, I however didn't clarify the word "support"; I should probably have said "acknowledge". But you're right, at least a Thank You would have been nice, some $$ even in the form of advertising would have been better; but knowing the paranoid mentallity (read: we don't want to risk getting sued because somebody saw foul language or a bad joke) of big corporations that was too much to expect.
As far as Ford and others getting information from this site and others without compensation or acknowledgement, well that's just the nature of the internet.

On the other hand I'm glad you decided to keep it open, at least for a while.

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

 

Well, I have been sitting in the wings observing. Just patiently waiting the outcome.

Congrats, I feel you have (after sleeping on it) made the right decision. The decision to keep the site up and running. I consider this site to be a grass roots (of and for the commoner) effort. I can't even imagine the censorship on a Ford controlled site.

Now, if a anual fee is needed from a member to help offset the financial impact you realize from the site, that wouldn't be a problem. I find this site is a valuable source of information and also "very" entertaining and would be willing to pay a member fee.

Just my .02.

Thanks for everything!!!

Mike

 

3000 members...and Raoul. It doesn't get any better than this!!

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

 

There's nuthin' better than connecting to the internet, closing your eyes and clicking your heels together 3 times while repeating:There's no place like home, there's no place like home, there's no place like home.

------------------
Red 99.5 Lightning,
#0975,
Born 5/6/99...Adopted 5/27/99
Chipped w/SuperChip Flipchip chip,
PSP Filter(track untested),
Water Wetter,
Mobil 1,
Foglamp Covers,
13.573@101.08

 

Just in case FoMoCo reads this thread: You guys are looking at a site that will have 4000 members very soon and who knows how many that just drop by to check things out that don't register. If you think for one second that myself or most other members of this site will visit your factory backed site, THINK AGAIN!!!!!!!!!! You refuse to resolve issues and problems with your vehicles in a professional and timely manner, and when a person does have a problem you do your best to weasle out of fixing it by giving us crap about oil weights, airfilters and god only knows what else. The only reason I can think of to visit your site is to what load of crap you are trying to feed us today. We the visitors to this site represent the voice of all the owners that are out there in some form or another. We didn't just fall off the wagon, we do know the real score.
Steve: I found this site in late 98 when I bought my truck and visit the boards at least 4 times a day. I never would have found a tenth of info contained in these pages anywhere else. I would never have interacted with some of the great people I have met here and I am positive I would have never found out about all the aftermarket knowledge I have gained. IMO this site will never be obsolete as longer as there are F-150 owner looking for objective advice and real answers to there questions. Your efforts are more then greatly appreciated and i know that I myself will do whatever it takes to keep this site in existance. It has personality that no other Ford ar truck site will ever match. Sorry to be so long winded but this is topic I feel very strongly about, as i know many other regulars do.

------------------
97 F-150 SC, 4.6, auto, 3.55,Superchip, Flowmaster, nerf bars, Moonlight Blue/Prairie Tan, Captain's Chairs,Pioneer cd



[This message has been edited by ps398 (edited 01-12-2000).]

 

Yeah, what HE said!

 

Holy mackrel ! I have been on this site and reading the boards for over 5 hours now ! I'm not getting much work done ;-0. That's ok though, I am a true F150online junkie ;-) and my sig. proofs that. I will support Steve ANY way possible so this site can remain active.

F&B's

------------------
98 F-150 XLT, SC, SWB, 2WD, 4.2L auto, 4.10 gears w/ LS, Tow Pkg. BFG AT 265/75/16, K&N air filter, Dynomax muffler, Superchip, Edlelbrock shocks, Hellwig sway bar, 3" body lift.....

 

Well, I'm glad to hear you're not shutting down the site. I love this place, as I'm sure everybody else feels the same way. I think Ford sees this site and figures they can do you one better. Not a chance. I work for Ford and I wouldn't frequent their web site. Having an independent site like this is the best for "us". Keep up the good work, and if it ever comes down to changing the name, e-mailing everybody would be a great idea. Thank you for doing what you do.

------------------
1997 F-150, 4.6, automatic, Dark Toreador Red, Supercab, Flareside, 4X4 Off-Road, Towing Package, Ford hvy dty rubber floor mats, Kenwood 10-disk cd changer, Ford bugshield, Chrome Grizzly Wrap Around Push Bar with 2 KC 100w Daylighters, Ventshades, Ford bedliner, cab and bed professionally undercoated, Code Alarm Sure Start RVS remote starter, Ford alarm, Realistic CB with Wilson Little Wil antenna and Astatic power mic, ported MAF sensor, and Lots of TLC!! (Besides being an F-150 nut, I am a Ford auto technician.)