Kevin has been a DAMN GREAT asset to MANY members of this board and to the whole Corvette community in general.
GM doesn't get it.
Very shortsighted.
"another Perk Lost"
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,600
Likes: 651
From: OCEANSIDE,LI, NEW YORK 11572
"another Perk Lost"
Haven't seen this out there yet but it LOOKS LIKE the Museum will be taking over KEVINS JOB at the Plant....As usual GM looks only at the Bottom Line and they Feel Kevin's lost to the Bottom Line is about $100,000,00 a Year........Forget the GOOD WILL HE HAS PASSED ON. The thinking is that the Museum will take tht tours over and you WILL PAY AN UNDETERMINED FEE TO WATCH YOUR CAR GET BUILT.....Word is $350.00 and I will bet you won't get the closeness or LOOKS that KEVIN Gave you...How they are going to Handle the planning and Logistics at the Museum and the Plant is anybodies Guess --and the intent I am told is to put it into effect with the change of Model years in July.............I sincerely hope if they do this-- that they pay the Employees a Commensurate rate to do it..........BY the Way Museum Delivery remains the same.......I have a feeling that Somebody at the Plant does not like that KEVIN is getting all the Good will while the other's don't...nothing set in Stone and I guess at least the Museum will make out......Harvey T. Gluck
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,563
Likes: 7
From: Appleton WI
We heard at the Museum last week from our guide for Museum delivery that the Museum guides will be taking over the build tours as of 5/1.
They are currently looking for help to do this.
No word on cost. One of the reasons the Museum is taking it on is that the demand for this service is far greater than the 2 or so a day they currently allow into the plant.
They are currently looking for help to do this.
No word on cost. One of the reasons the Museum is taking it on is that the demand for this service is far greater than the 2 or so a day they currently allow into the plant.
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Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,456
Likes: 6
From: Spicewood, Texas, USA TX-Texas
No disrespect to NCM, but they are going to have to raise the bar for their tour guides a few notches for this to be successful.
From what I have heard here anecdotally, my opinion is there is no way the NCM tour guides come close to Kevin's knowledge of the product and the plant processes. For $350, Corvette customers are going to expect to get their money's worth...this ain't no $5.00 tour.
Maybe they need to look at hiring some retired Bowling Green plant employees that are real "car people"...(Hint: check their hands and fingernails...piano players and brain surgeons need not apply.
)
From what I have heard here anecdotally, my opinion is there is no way the NCM tour guides come close to Kevin's knowledge of the product and the plant processes. For $350, Corvette customers are going to expect to get their money's worth...this ain't no $5.00 tour.
Maybe they need to look at hiring some retired Bowling Green plant employees that are real "car people"...(Hint: check their hands and fingernails...piano players and brain surgeons need not apply.
)
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 474
Likes: 1
From: Wake Forest NC
I wasn't able to see my car being built (already 2 on that day), but Kevin got back to me super quick on my build date. While waiting on that new C6 that was valuable information! Unfortunately the 'bottom line' seems have priority over good will every time. Very short sighted!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,015
Likes: 0
From: Granby CT
Kavin was and is a GM Union employee. I guess that he started doing this unoffically and it stuck. For a while last year he got pulled off this and back onto the line.
He was certainly great and knew everything and everyone. It was a problem with more people wanting to do this than Kevin could handle and they almost stopped it last year because someone complained that they didn't see enough of their car being built. People will complain about anything I guess.
It was certainly worth $350 to see it built but if they are going to charge that they will need to figure something out about scheduling. I got to see only the last few steps of MY car but then spent a great deal of time with the rest. If I'm going to pay (more than airfare, hotel, meals etc.) then I better see 4 hours, at least, of my car.
Maybe Kevin can "retire" and get hired by the NCM.
The other thing Kevin provided was early VIN and build dates - they should provide some web based car tracking system for us nuts.
He was certainly great and knew everything and everyone. It was a problem with more people wanting to do this than Kevin could handle and they almost stopped it last year because someone complained that they didn't see enough of their car being built. People will complain about anything I guess.
It was certainly worth $350 to see it built but if they are going to charge that they will need to figure something out about scheduling. I got to see only the last few steps of MY car but then spent a great deal of time with the rest. If I'm going to pay (more than airfare, hotel, meals etc.) then I better see 4 hours, at least, of my car.
Maybe Kevin can "retire" and get hired by the NCM.
The other thing Kevin provided was early VIN and build dates - they should provide some web based car tracking system for us nuts.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 10,348
Likes: 0
From: Franklin, Tennessee NCM Life Member #1631
Cruise-In VI, VII & XII Veteran
St Jude Donor '07-'08-'09
I just finished a nice letter to Wil about Kevin. I hope if enough of us respond maybe a compromise can be reached.
