How about tackling afew of these questions Buickman. Your 20 pts are purely from the perspective of a car dealer.....nothing wrong with that...but pretty unidimensional. Why would LaNeve want to hire you as a consultant for that? Some of that stuff seems obvious.

It would be like me talking to Bob Lutz and saying, "GM cars need to be better, have nicer interiors, with fewer defects, more power, better handling and gorgeous looks". Somehow, I wouldn't expect to be hired as a consultant or to the GM Board of Directors for that. Lord knows, I've spent a good chunk of my adult life annoying the hell out of GM people (from the very top to the very bottom), about my beloved Camaro...yet I'm only "Camaroman" to my friends. No choice GM job yet.

If your purpose is to put pressure on GM management, so they can be better, I'm all for it. If your purpose is to put pressure on GM management, until they'll relent to your personal terms....well, then you're just about to lose me.

Which is it?

 

Buickman, I have sent an email to you from brandon_j_lutz@hotmail.com was wondering if you received it? I am interested in your 20 points.

 

Very interesting. Very very interesting.

I'd love a copy of the 20 points. gchadwick@metweld.com

From reading here (and cheers and gears) and hearing responses across the board -

It is true, we are capitalists and when you do well, you should be paid. GM does have a lot of people to present things of change, better ideas and whatnot. But what will get them hung for it? Some new ideas from the outside will generate more friction and be harder to brush under the table. The guys who chanced on Cadillac's new styling went out on a limb - and what a limb it turned out to be. Perhaps some pressure to change and improve would be great - surgical precision here to increase flow and ideas without causing the rest of GM to whimper in fear is critical, and we all know it.

We are one of the most brutal online communities when it comes to GM policy. I'd like to think though most of us are hardcore GM fans, but we're also very bitter about GM killing our Camaro. So we're in a love/hate relationship that makes us a very unique crowd.

From those that have posted - you may be able to move cars, and thats awesome. Selling cars will help, and great customer service will help even more. Deliviering cars would be a great asset to many people, as sometimes its just hard to get around. Just like some of the dealers here arent open in the evenings or on weekends. Some of us just dont have as much free time, and taking a long break from work isnt feasable. So thats good for you. Awesome.

But the product has been an issue and will continue to be one. Moving pieces together would help - one might say to ask the dealerships what they hear complaints about on test drives... Also GM really could use to get out of the other problems they have now, which arent even related to product or sales. Like the Unions and their benefits...

But start me with the 20 points and I'll keep reading the threads.

 

Buickman:

As others have stated, there is more to fix at GM than marketing (which your points almost solely address). I'd get away from calling them "steps," by the way. There really is no chronology or prerequisite to your suggestions. I'd also recommend having more meat and data to back up each of your marketing/sales measures. A single paragraph stating "you need to do this, dealers don't like that" seems very off-the-cuff and unsubstantial. Many of your points sound like incentives already in place.

I just don't see this opening too many eyes or grabbing anyone's attention inside management. It seems as though many of these ideas would have already been considered or have a logical explanation for not being in place. And if they don't, great; they should explore your suggestion. Many on this board have made product and marketing suggestions and observations in the same light (just not as highly promoted).

Does GM need help in a lot of areas? Yeah. Is marketing one of them? You bet. Will a few clever marketing ideas get the ball rolling for a complete turnaround? That seems to be your contention.

You have succeeded in creating a buzz on a couple websites. However, "A Return to Greatness" may be overstating your recommendations. It never hurts to make suggestions. That's what this particular board is about a lot of the time. I just wouldn't hold out for a job offer.

 

I step away for a few days of R&R and look what happens... I am also curious in reading the 20 points>> jg95z28@orindahoops.com But I have to say being a Chevrolet diehard, I'm less inclined to let a Buick guy run the show. (No offence buickman.)

 

Thank you to all who have contributed. Here's the deal. I have written off GM ever offering me any form of compensation. This changes nothing however, the fight continues. As a result of the input received here, and from others, I have decided to change www.GeneralWatch.com into a Shareholder's Watch Committee. My Buickman moniker will now become Founder, General Motors Shareholder Watch Committee. References to my personal accomplishments will be tranferred to www.jdollinger.com. The GW site will be business like in nature and serve the interest of ALL shareholders. Rather than publish in other forums, I will write shareholder letters (numbered) and post to GeneralWatch.com. Volunteers will be welcomed to participate in researching issues. I could write a book about what's wrong with GM but don't suppose that would help stockholders or our customers. I will look to build consensus, channel energy away from "hokey" or "fluff", and make this a truly collaberative mission. I still believe GM is in need of an industrial strength enema. For that to happen, it will take the combined effort of all of us who really care to make change occur.

Jim Dollinger
Founder
General Motors Shareholder Watch Committee

 

. . .

 

Well as per request and judging by the tone of what Buickman's mission change is in the above message I have deleted my response to the 20 points.

I also don't see my response as disclosing the steps.

Maybe vague is required. I'll just suggest they won't work to increase sales in any meaningful way. Sme will be absolutely rejected by retailers.

 

1fastdog, if you are going to comment don't be so blatent that you can figure out what each step is. Make generalizations about the proposal in public. In private email you can discuss each and every step in detail.

Please edit your post.

 

Figured the request was to discuss. He came here, not us to him... As he appears to have changed focus, it's moot...

Leaving this all in the abstract for discussion purposes and discussing that which isn't to be discussed in the specific?...

Wouldn't be the first or last wastes of time I've attended.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not going away. Please keep your thoughts coming. I have taken the suggestions (some tough and hard hitting) and decided to run with them. What is wrong with that? If this doesn't prove my intentions are honorable, what will? The compensation thing is out the window, let's just focus on fixing GM. By the way, it's encouraging to be hearing from GM dealers wanting to know how they can inmprove their services and increase sales. There is hope.

 

Oh well, the publishing industry actually generates more revenue than the film industry.

 

Just a note to inform those keeping track, the responses coming in on email are thought provoking and most helpful in fine tuning The Plan. FBod, MLosh, poSSum (Help me, I wrote you back again, but don't remember if I sent it?), gmexpert, and All others, thank you and keep it coming.
PS sorry if it seemed like I implied I was dropping out. No way, think I'm going to be a lifer here.

 

What can I do? This needs to happen for GM to succeed in the future and things to continue in the traditional fashion we have all grown up with, otherwise I see a paradigm shift in the way GM does business coming up sooner than we all think. A fundamental shift needs to occur in product development, sales and marketing development, and image development. I don't know what else I can say, but this corporation needs to be shaken from the ground up in order to succeed, otherwise the current path is pretty obvious to all, I think.

 

Turbo, Glad you asked. Since upon advice offered, I'm taking the www.GeneralWatch.com site in a new direction, how about for starters perhaps visiting the site, and then offering suggestions as to content on the upcoming revision. The goal is to redo the site before the annual meeting which is June 7. Let's use this forum here to discuss proposed changes and even form a committee of those most helpful to serve on a board of directors. Want contact with the big boys, I assure you this WILL get their attention. Hopefully this grass roots effort will prove beneficial to GM. We should move forward with class (I know I've been radical and outspoken at times) and keep to the business case at hand.
As a marketing expert, I look to those of you with knowledge and experience in the areas I'm unfamiliar with, so jump in and let's get going!