Glad to hear that you woke up on the right side of the bed. I hope FORD is reading this whole commentary section, I feel that it's really important to see who the core buyer is. Who we are:
a) people that won't take a lame assed excuse for poor quality
b) people who want to know the TRUTH and what problems we have collectively
c) people who won't let you push us around. All your money won't make us change.

I've got 2 words for FMC: CRACKED DOORS

BYW, how's that "3rd quarter" solution coming for our doors????

 

Steve,
>>>>Not much more I can add that the others haven't already said. So just wanted echo what everyone else has been saying for continually putting out a fine and informative quality product. THANK YOU!!!!!

.........Patrick

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99 F150 XLT SC 4x4 4.6 liter Deep Wedgewood Blue

Westin Nerf Bars , Lund Bug Deflector , Kenwood 10 disc CD changer, Extang Black Max soft bed cover, Bodyguard Bed Liner

 

Hi, Steve. I hope you get through this re-assessment and keep things as they are. I contributed a few $$ more than was asked for for my "f-150online" sticker and I'm sure others did, also. For anyone who hasn't helped out, the time to do so is now, folks.

I think you could do some more marketing for this site that could enable you to keep the site going. Maybe take on a partner.

You don't need Ford! Your site is real and a model for its kind. And you, Steve, do an exemplary job of operating it and of moderating its useage.

Think big, Steve! Launch a surprise takeover of the new AOL-Time Warner. Your thousands of members and many more thousands of supporters and visitors are with you all the way.

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Black 2000 SC XLT short-box. 4.2 V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 Limited Slip. Side steps, CD, remote entry, FORD box liner. Add-ons: Older Windstar driver's side wiper blade (with the air scoop, because I don't slow down when it rains), back-up beeper, "f150online.com" sticker and snazzy Tweetie Bird floor mats.

My third F-series: '73 F-100, '98 F-150 and '00 F-150. Great trucks!

 

Okay. I don't think $100 profit a month is worth the trouble and I'm willing to contribute a few bucks to keep this site online. All I gotta know is who to make the check out to and where to send it.

 

Boy its hard to reply with somethng that hasnt already been hashed through...so i'll offer my personal opinion.

STEVE,
I think most of us understand completely the feeling of being used...the feeling of puttin SO much effort into something just to have someone else use it as a tool with not so much as a simple thank you. It happens everyday all around us..but you never get used to it. If i were you I'd look around me and see what your efforts have done as a whole. The Ford thing aside..you've helped 100's and 100's of people and you have a true friend in every one of us. Friends that are willing to back you up because we have such an appreciation for what you have done for us. We ALL make this site great but without you it wouldnt exist. The pride that you feel must be heavanly when you think about what YOU have accomplished and how many people both respect you for it and appreciate your generocity..we all know you work HARD...real HARD. But boy does it show! I am relatively new to this site..but i'll give you my own personal experience. I learned that F150's were the truck for me..I learned exactly what to look for when I went to buy one..I knew EXACTLY what problems might exist and where to check for them before I bought one..I got a GREAT deal on my truck,largely due to this site..I've made lots of new friends,both online and in person..Ive learned a tremendous amount about my truck and the modifications that can be done...I could continue to go on Steve but here's the point. If you have made that much of a difference in just MY life with your creation,how does that make you feel?...now how does that feeling x3730 feel? IMO its helping people and making friends that make for some of the most satisfying feelings in life. We all look up to you and appreciate what youve done for us all...and you better believe we'll stand behind you ready to return the favor!

Thanks for your smarts and heart Steve...and remember there's always gonna be a-holes so just give em the wipe and enjoy life and those that are close to you.

Sincerely,
Jason

 

I think keeping the link on Yahoo would be a good idea. From personal experience when I found this site I checked every link on Yahoo. Keep this site going and give FMC some real competition. I think most people will do like I did and check out all sites but will stay here because of enormous amount of information available here.

I love this site and don't want it to shut down.

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97 F-150 S/C 4x4 ORP XLT 4.6 K&N , Flowmaster w/dual tailpipes, Bosch+4 plugs,MSD 8.5 wires,Superchip.Patriot fiberglass toneau cover, Westin chrome step bars.
Kenwood 4011 stereo, Rockford 150a1 amp, Profile electronic crossover, and 2 10" JBL's.

 

Thanks to everyone for your kind words and encouragement. For those joining this thread late or somewhere in the middle, I want to be clear that my original post, nor any of the messages that I posted along the way, were meant as solicitation of donations for the site. Financially, the site is doing just fine - no fear of shutting down because of that. So, please, keep your money (or better yet, spend it in the online store).

Steve

 

Wow, it's taken two days to read all this. I'll be very brief. This is the best website I've ever seen. Our dismay with FMC's handling of "customer complaints", and their cold shoulder to this site shouldn't shock anyone. The auto. manufacturers don't work to please individuals once they enjoy immense popularity. Look at the dealers of the top two Japanese brands. Their customer relations efforts are inversely proportional to the # of cars sold. Anyway, this is a super website, especially without Ford sponsorship (influence). I hope it lasts forever: It'll never be obsolete.

[This message has been edited by MOVEOVER (edited 01-13-2000).]

 

You make an excellent point: it wasn't too terribly long ago that Nissan was kicking major-league butt in the automotive world, both with their cars and their trucks. It seems like there wasn't a race they couldn't win! But they ignored their customer base and trends, and in this country at least, Nissan has been losing billions of dollars every year for some time now, and they are in real trouble.

Thanks to Steve Eppinger's F150online, we all have a resource for unbiased information on our beloved Fords. (Don't let the bastards tear you down, Steve!)
WWW.F150ONLINE.COM, forever.

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



[This message has been edited by Superchips_Distributor (edited 12-11-2000).]

 

Steve
I can feel your fustration of knowing you have something good and your anger knowing your creation has been used to benefit(FMC) without some acknowledgement by FMC of your achomplishment.
I was in a similar position many years ago.

It is easy to say keep up the good fight but that usually takes a couple of factors.
(1) You really enjoy what you are doing.
(2) There is the possibility of a substantial reward in the foreseeable future which can be monetary or proper recognition of a job well done or both.
When the reward is not in sight a lot of the fun leaves the achomplishment.

Whatever you decide to do I will support that decision and offer my help with anything that I can help you do.

I personally think this is one of the best message boards on the net, that added to the rest of the site make it 2nd to none.

 

My two cents -

a ford sponsored site would not have a single thing to offer me. This site bieng unbiased is the ONLY reason i come. There would be no value in it otherwise. It does not matter what they create, you will still have a loyal following, same or greater number of hits, and many MANY greatful customers. Watch and see. Ford cannot afford to allow threads on problems like slap to continue, and if they did it would only be to try to con us into believing that "it is not a problem." Dont give up!

 

The Ford web site is worthless. Without the info from here and Edmunds I would not be a Ford owner. Just because it's on Yahoo doesn't automatically mean that Ford will produce anything useful. GM has a big jump with their GMbuypower site.

 

I just have to say, ever since i discovered this sight I can't stay off it. It is the most organized site out there, it is also the easiest to navigate around. I spend 90% of my time at this site and it isn't even enough sometimes its the only thing I use this computer for. There is no other site that I could even come close to the amount of knowledge i've received, not to mention the help to build the truck of my dreams. So I hope, despite the rough time you are having, you can keep it going, and if you do have to change the name i'm sure everyone will follow. Lots of luck and thanks again...
Gino

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Gino Tedesco, '99 XLT 5.4l, SUPERCHIPPED, 3" Gibson catback exhaust,4x4 S/C Flareside D.wedge bl/Dk.graph, factory sidesteps & Tonneau cover, Manik grlgaurd w/Piaa lights, 305/70-16 Goodyear Wrangler AT/S tires

 

Steve,
A quote from you: "For some odd reason, I have loyalty to all of you...."
What's so odd about having your own fan club? Next time, phrase more in Dale Carnegie fashion!
But to change the subject, is this "Ford Motor Co" user that signed up on the 21st the real thing? Seems kinda' fishy to me to just "show up" like this. Am I missing an introduction somewhere, or is he or she just pulling our collective leg (and mine in particular)?
B.E.John

 

Steve,

I'm coming very late to this thread but I have to let you know that the most important element of the site is "class". When I first heard about the Lightning, I tried Ford's SVT site (which was under construction), it was not helpful then and it is not helpful now. The information I have gleaned from this site is invaluable. The boost you have given to such accessory sellers as PSP, Superchips and Bassani should put them in your debt forever. There is a lot of junk on the net and we can not afford to loose a class operation.

Hang in there, we don't have anybody else.

adp
'99 Lightning