Hobie GETAWAY Social Newtork

The Getaway site is now up and running!!!
Come Join In.


http://hc-getaway.ning.com

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Clint Ellis
#16918
1982 H18
[email protected]

I don't get it? We have a great form here specifically for the getaway with factory reps to help with problems. Why do we need another form for the getaway?

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06 getaway -- always remember, man with both feet in mouth have no leg to stand on.

This may be an attempt to "cash" in- this site has a Wave version as well - but not much activity compared to here. All of us will gravitate to where the action is - so the site may die its own death. Still, I may have it entirely wrong, and the site offers other features not available here but I am yet to see it.

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2001 Wave
2006 Laser
1988 Windrush (AUS)
1983 Laser
1980 Swinger (AUS)
1974 Manly Junior (AUS)

I agree.

I dont get it either. It seems like it just splinters the groups of sailors up. But speaking of cashing in go to the parts link on any hc.org page and look at the banner ads. It seems like a sneaky way to drive customers from the Hobie webpage to a specific dealers webpage. Lame. I would think that keeping info here would be way better for all of us. I don't have time to check 15 forums. That ones hard to navigate anyway. I say stay here.

Given that Hobie has a man regularly answering questions and well as proactively offering information, my loyalty is predominately for this site. I thank Hobie by hanging here, telling others of the site and participating ( albeit irregularly) when I can. If Hobie wanted to place sailing oriented ads here I would not mind at all - indeed, it's always interesting to see what else I can hang off my wave or put on my head! Choice is of course the great thing about the "internets" I guess but effort equals reward in my book. Thanks Hobie - thanks Matt.

_________________
2001 Wave
2006 Laser
1988 Windrush (AUS)
1983 Laser
1980 Swinger (AUS)
1974 Manly Junior (AUS)

I read all of your responses and I’ll be glad to address each one.

[quote]Roy said: “I don't get it? We have a great form here specifically for the getaway with factory reps to help with problems. Why do we need another forum for the getaway?â€

_________________
Clint Ellis
#16918
1982 H18
[email protected]

Clint is, as his screen name suggests, a Hobie Fanatic. He has created the social network on his own time, at his own expense. He does not MAKE any money and the financial support he may receive from his advertisers does not even come close to his hard cost expenses, I can vouch that he does not earn a penny for all of the time he has invested and continues to invest.

Soulcat said,
"It seems like a sneaky way to drive customers from the Hobie webpage to a specific dealers webpage."

I don't know about you, but I have not been able to buy anything DIRECTLY from the Hobie Cat Company. They have an ironclad policy of utilizing their dealer network. Good for them. Without financially healthy dealers, we would all be in a world of hurt.
If a dealer decides to support a particular web site in order to improve his visibility on the Internet, then good for him too.
All that having been said, I fail to see how the social network sites, and the sponsorship by an individual dealer is a bad thing. If my local dealer is threatened by the online presence of another dealer, then maybe he will work a little harder for my business. There are many things besides price that influence MY buying decision.

MarkBriggs1 said,
"Given that Hobie has a man regularly answering questions and well as proactively offering information, my loyalty is predominately for this site."

I don't recall anyone asking you to abandon this site, or "change" your "loyalty".
EVERY site I visit has strengths and weakness's. If you are totally happy here, by all means stay here.
If you are so sure there is nothing of value to you, and never ever will be anything of value to you at other sites, don't visit them. that is YOUR choice
Its much like watching television. YOU CHOOSE what channel you watch.
In example, the VS Network almost never has anything I am interested in watching, but I have it on the list of channels I pay for because every 4 years they DO broadcast the America's Cup race live.
I pay for it all the time so that they will be there when the America's Cup comes around again.
Kind of like supporting my local Hobie Dealer rather than buying from West Marine.

Hobiefanatic said,
With countless emails and complaints “why do the Wave and Getaway always get left out?â€

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If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

Hey!

Presently, there are 7 members (including Clint) in the Getaway Social Network. A few of the reasons I signed on early were:

1) One can upload and keep videos at this location. I realize we can upload video to YouTube and create a link to said video from this forum; however, I like the added protection associated with allowing people who have the same sailing interests to view it. Last month, I bought the Sanyo Xacti waterproof video camera. Hopefully, we can get some "entertaining" clips and share them with the group.

2) The Hobie Youth Social Network looks really promising. Last night, I signed up the 12 year old (who, btw was born in 1995 ). Here, these kids can upload pictures, favorite music and possibly chat with each in real-time? Most important, I noticed there's a log documenting who comes and who goes. Hopefully, the group will evolve into a place for the tweens and teens to make and keep good friends.

3) I purchased the Getaway to a) learn how to sail and not worry so much about the hulls and b) have a hella-of-a-lot of fun! I sure hope more California Getaway guys sign up to the network as I'm willing to drive over to SoCal for some "Catapalooza" activity.

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Regards,
Steve Campbell

ゲッタウェイã

This site here, the Hobie Forum, is great for this type of activity and quick responses etc.......
The Social sites, as we in Div 7 chose to make our web presense in this manner, is a great place for putting pics, videos, schedules that can be easily accessed, getting out a quick message to everyone signed up in the group etc......
You go to another cat forum and the Getaway guys are bitching up a storm about not being included in any thing and having no central place to gather (so to speak) so Clint set that up for picture posting and the like. There is no other motive than just a social site.
We might have been able to accomplish the same type of thing with Facebook/myspace but this is what we got and its pretty neat. If you sign up, you're on the 'list' and can more easily find others like you (same boat, geography...whatever....) and make a connection and get a group and go to a local/not so local regatta.
There are a few sponsors for the social sites that paid to advertise to cover the costs of hosting and the shirt sales help with that too.
Do you like the Wave Rage shirts?
cw

well, judging by the truly meaningful responses, I have changed my attitude. And of course feel a little like a jerk for not looking deeper before I made an opinion. Thanks guys, I stand corrected. Ah, the power of social media....

Cheers

_________________
2001 Wave
2006 Laser
1988 Windrush (AUS)
1983 Laser
1980 Swinger (AUS)
1974 Manly Junior (AUS)

I am glad you asked, otherwise nobody would know what the intentions are.