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Sorry to hear this, it was tough watching someone so passionate feel like they've been pushed aside. Stay strong and keep the information and videos coming!
I think you've done a great job Rick, so has Bob, and you guys can't blame yourselves on this one. So, are no dealers invited is what you are saying? We have such a small Vette turnover, I was not expecting anything on our end, but I would have thought for sure you would be going, or at least someone from Coughlin.
Detached from the whole thing, I can see why Chevy wants their top Vette customers there when there is limited space, it is the customer's car and the customer's event, and it will be a great event I'm sure, but I believe there will still be plenty more to be said about the car even after the reveal. I do not believe GM is going to give all the info on 7-18-19, and so there will still be plenty of opportunities to bring value to your channel in the months to come with exclusive C8 intel.
I can also see why it is important to send GM's best Vette salesmen in the country to the event. It is a missed opportunity on their behalf not to have you out there talking about the car.
Great video, and I know it is frustrating being in the car biz when people use your time and buy from someone else. If you ever want to give a shout out that even the Byers family members buy their cars from you, it won't bother me any. When we are out of allocations, you are the guy we come to see.
A few years ago, one of my best friends, he gave me a call and said he wanted to buy a used Vette. I could tell within the first minute of the convo, that we did not have the car at our store that he wanted, and when he mentioned one he liked was at your store, but asked if I could find him something similar at the auction etc, I did not hesitate to tell him to buy it from you... and he did. You do an exceptional job, and that is putting it mildly.
I think it is going to be a great year, and people do pay attention to you, and you are not being forgotten. All is well my man. Tell Bob for me that I said hello, I will be in to talk to you guys soon, I'm waiting until closer to the 7/18/19 date to put in another order for a new 2019 C7.
Brandon B.
PS, I am sure whoever you guys have elected to go, would not hesitate to put together a small 5 min video, thanking you, and thanking Coughlin for sending them out there, and that is something you can be very proud of, because lets face it, we don't have such a gift to offer any of our customers. All the more reason to buy their car from you, and return to you, we never know what may come your way to give to your customers next, on Chevy/Corvette's behalf, for doing such an exceptional job with the Corvette brand, month after month, year after year.
Those 2 lucky attendees will each make a great video for you I'm sure, and you can point them to this thread so that they can see people do want them to make a video on your behalf.... even the competitors down the street
Maybe a few cool short stories about how you've always been there for them over the years, in the middle of the c8 event, after the confetti falls and the party is happening afterward. Make sure they read this, and you will be taken good care of. Have a good evening Rick.
I am sorry.
Last edited by bbbvettes.com; 06-14-2019 at 01:26 AM.
That really sucks Rick!!! The top sales people are the face of Corvette and should be rewarded with being there for the reveals. You build your life around their product and they should appreciate it. Personally I feel GM has taken a nasty turn towards trying to maximize profits at all costs.
Last edited by Steve Garrett; 06-13-2019 at 07:40 PM.
Sorry to hear this, it was tough watching someone so passionate feel like they've been pushed aside. Stay strong and keep the information and videos coming!
just kind of you, thank-you so much....
I know we have a lot of great stuff coming so I need to be ready!
I've felt similar emotions during my many years in the automotive world; fact is, the real enthusiast relationship is between the owners, the people, guys like you selling them, etc...GM makes this as simple as business and that's it. GM...I've been very critical of their marketing tactics and choices over the years. I've been very turned by Harlan at events (I went to a C7Z private reveal event at Detroit), having asked him about various facets of Corvette marketing via GranTurismo, IMSA, and others. I felt a strong disconnect in place and a lot of marketing without follow through. I've said it before...the same thing that damns Corvette is the same thing that has made it possible...and it's the larger corporation that runs it. It's the passionate people within the machine that have often kept it alive..Russ Mclean, Jim Perkins...people who burned their careers for the car, in some ways, but GM...disposes of people, that's all there is to it. You even go to the races, the energy and effort GM puts forth is minuscule, despite the repeated dedication of guys for a LONG time to support it and keep the enthusiast side running. You Rick, definitely have to find the positive here, and pivot now...put the obstacle behind and find the next entry point to the car.
My suggestion: Look/contact Monticello Motor Club...see if they're doing an early drive (this is where I drove the LFA approx 8 months before the first buyer received one and before most media even touched it). Many manufacturers do drives there, and GM did the C7 stingray there. Ari Straus is a guy I worked with a bit, very nice guy (he is President and partner..I can give you an email) and if you'd go there and give some marketing value with this channel, I think you can still get early in the driver seat possibly, or at minimum near the car very early. I'd really explore this, because Monticello ran the CTS-V delivery program and always had ZR1's on site, so their GM connect is very long term, etc. Spring Mountain seems to be way later in the cycle, versus Monticello is big money buyers and a lot of journalist access, near NYC, etc. I'd switch focus from missing the reveal, and see what kind of early contact you can have with the car.
Me in the LFA in Sept 2010, first delivery was Q1 2011...this is the original yellow LFA, and the only remaining one Toyota still owns
It's the age of youtube influencers. All the top ones will be there. You may sell a lot of corvettes but don't have the following as they do. That's the world that we live in now.
So let me get this straight: Among the biggest marketing tools outside of the C8 itself and social media are the dealers who can use this new reveal as a promotional tool to their potential customers, and they're not invited in any capacity? I'm sorry, but that's stupid. At the very least, Chevy should limit the invitation to the Top 10 or 15 C7 sellers from 2013 to 2019 (for example). 1 or 2 tickets; it doesn't matter. That would at least provide some incentive and internal competition amongst the dealerships looking to sell the vehicle Chevy is trying to promote.
They are not catering to their base either. The Museum is putting on a trip but not going to be at the actual reveal. Will get to see the car the next day at some event. They are going to get just one set of tickets to the reveal and auction them off. Just 2500.00 bucks per couple. Not me or the couple of buddies I've talked to. Glad I went to the C7 reveal but this deal just sucks.
In the mafia just before they whack someone they say, “don’t take it personal, it’s only business”. Don’t take this personal Rick: it’s only only business. I know you fell worse than having gotten whacked on this.
So let me get this straight: Among the biggest marketing tools outside of the C8 itself and social media are the dealers who can use this new reveal as a promotional tool to their potential customers, and they're not invited in any capacity? I'm sorry, but that's stupid. At the very least, Chevy should limit the invitation to the Top 10 or 15 C7 sellers from 2013 to 2019 (for example). 1 or 2 tickets; it doesn't matter. That would at least provide some incentive and internal competition amongst the dealerships looking to sell the vehicle Chevy is trying to promote.
There are some dealers and top salesmen that have been invited.
Rick, while I can appreciate your disappointment in not having been invited to go to the reveal, I think you need to take a step back and realize that you are not alone. There are HUNDREDS of Corvette employees that have played a huge role in bringing this, and previous, Corvettes to market that have not been invited to the reveal. There are probably hundreds of loyal Corvette customers that have had 3-4+ Corvettes over the years that haven't been invited. Not everyone can go.. simple as that.
Second, I think you need to reexamine exactly how well you have conducted yourself as a salesman over the last several years. Yes, you can sell a car darned well. You do your thing and you sell cars and build relationships. But, having watched you over that timeframe I don't know how well you have conducted yourself for the company. Over the years you have done everything you can to dig up insider information from your computer and use that to spoil reveals.. whether it was the engine being used in the ZR1 last year, or whether it has consistently been digging through the systems to spoil any information that was to be revealed at every Bash (paint colors, new options, etc.) Some of your vlogs have been outright distasteful. I'm sure that has not gone over too well with the Corvette brass.
And K.I.T.T..... I am not sure if you realize that Harlan is not the Marketing Manager. This is not his show. And for someone who puts his heart and soul into giving every customer what they want, when and where possible, in this car... I'm sure if he sees your continued insults they'd still hurt coming from someone that obviously doesn't know him.
And K.I.T.T..... I am not sure if you realize that Harlan is not the Marketing Manager. This is not his show. And for someone who puts his heart and soul into giving every customer what they want, when and where possible, in this car... I'm sure if he sees your continued insults they'd still hurt coming from someone that obviously doesn't know him.
He is the marketing and product manager for Corvette, I'm quite certain he plays a role here. I'm sorry if my comments offend him, but I'm speaking upon the basis of my own experiences, which is my right. I felt the guy to be a bit disingenuous and dismissive. I am not referring to one isolated incident either, but multiple. I wish I felt differently, but I don't. I have met many in the Corvette upper echelon and based upon my information, feedback and responses...I am sure the guy enjoys his position but...I feel someone could fill that role better. GM marketing in general has dropped a lot of *****...with media cars, the racing side, etc. I get that it's a machine and the numbers have to make sense...I know guys jump through hoops...I'm not blaming one person...it's a machine...pure and simple...it's not personal, it's business.
headed home for the night and cannot thank all of you enough for the kind words of support, seeing this here on my channel, I am fired up again and so appreciative
So let me get this straight: Among the biggest marketing tools outside of the C8 itself and social media are the dealers who can use this new reveal as a promotional tool to their potential customers, and they're not invited in any capacity? I'm sorry, but that's stupid. At the very least, Chevy should limit the invitation to the Top 10 or 15 C7 sellers from 2013 to 2019 (for example). 1 or 2 tickets; it doesn't matter. That would at least provide some incentive and internal competition amongst the dealerships looking to sell the vehicle Chevy is trying to promote.
Stupid? Yet Street Speed 717 was the 1st person to own a manual ZR1 and has 900K+ subs versus Rick 14K+ subs. Before the internet, television was the biggest tool in marketing not dealerships. Chevy is flowing with the times hence a mid engine corvette.
He is the marketing and product manager for Corvette, I'm quite certain he plays a role here. I'm sorry if my comments offend him, but I'm speaking upon the basis of my own experiences, which is my right. I felt the guy to be a bit disingenuous and dismissive. I am not referring to one isolated incident either, but multiple. I wish I felt differently, but I don't. I have met many in the Corvette upper echelon and based upon my information, feedback and responses...I am sure the guy enjoys his position but...I feel someone could fill that role better. GM marketing in general has dropped a lot of *****...with media cars, the racing side, etc. I get that it's a machine and the numbers have to make sense...I know guys jump through hoops...I'm not blaming one person...it's a machine...pure and simple...it's not personal, it's business.
No, he is the Product Manager. He is NOT the Marketing Manager. Sorry you didn't like him, but he's a pretty damned cool guy. He knows his **** and has gotten you guys a lot of the features on the C6 and C7 that you enjoy the most. He'd fight for you regardless of your feelings about him. Can't win them all.
There are HUNDREDS of Corvette employees that have played a huge role in bringing this, and previous, Corvettes to market that have not been invited to the reveal. There are probably hundreds of loyal Corvette customers that have had 3-4+ Corvettes over the years that haven't been invited. Not everyone can go.. simple as that.
Yep. Not the Corvette, but I've put thousands of hours and piles of overtime into some cool projects, but I don't get invites to the reveals. Doesn't really bother me, I understand who and what such events are for.
06-13-2019, 06:36 PM
A Real Conversation - Rick will NOT be at Reveal
