[Bonnie Scotland]

Wow, i aint managed to log on for a while, but, when this subject gets brought up in another mini website forum then it must be bad.
Goes without saying how much i value Mikes work, i've read that some folk drive a long way to Mikes, i drive over 300 miles each way every time and will continue to do so as long as he is in business.
in fact, my classic mini is heading his way again.

It's sad to hear you being treated this way, i also didn't realise that the site had been sold and moved on.
So, there goes another long term member contributing to this thread, plus, you can kiss any sponsor money from me making it's way to Mini2

[minibee]

Do think this forum will end up as a pay to post forum .

[DaFlake]

Guys, let me make this clear. The mods hear you and some agree and disagree but this is not within our control. This is a decision that the new owners need to make and all we can do is wait for that decision to be made. We have all voiced our opinions on this matter and hope that Mikey will stick around until we can get a final resolution. I hope you guys understand.

[Jim Ray]

Damn, if this keeps up I will have to buy a Fiat 500.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jim Ray (original)

Damn, if this keeps up I will have to buy a Fiat 500.

Ewwww....

[Bonnie Scotland]

Quote: Originally Posted by DaFlake (original)

Guys, let me make this clear. The mods hear you and some agree and disagree but this is not within our control

I don't think that it's unclear, i think it's fair to say that mods moderate as per the site rules and that goes for any site

[RVW]

Quote: Originally Posted by Jim Ray (original)

Damn, if this keeps up I will have to buy a Fiat 500.

Already looking

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bonnie Scotland (original)

I don't think that it's unclear, i think it's fair to say that mods moderate as per the site rules and that goes for any site

My point was that all we can do is list the concerns and hopefully the owners hear it and agree. I will always back new attempts at making things run smoother and even give new ideas a shot, but when they start to fail it is time to revert back and re-think what we are trying to achieve. This was a change that was made by the owners when they took over. We tried to support it and make it work but clearly some are not happy, including some of the mods and people. So, we have voiced our concerns but we are not the ones that have the ability to make the change back. That falls on the owners and what they want.

[Greenie1]

Strike....everybody out!!!!

[appmacguy]

I noticed since Paul took a back seat the news section doesn't get updated on the front page.

[Beastmaster]

This is very shoddy indeed. I haven't personally been a customer of Mike's but everyone I know has been and all speak highly of him. When things like this happen it stops this place from being a cosy little corner of cyberspace. Faceless people making rules is not helpful, fun or pleasant.

Clearly we can't pretend anymore that this is a forum for the members run by the members and when all the current excellent mods have been driven away by frustration, God spare us from the yes men replacements.

[DaFlake]

Guys, we are not saying that it can't change but there is a new layer of bureaucracy that we have to deal with so changes are slower. Give them a chance to review and possibly correct this.

[minicabrio]

Mikey, it's a crying shame that we're going to lose you, but I can totally sympathise with everything you've said. Your work on developing new products for the MINI, posting of advice and continued support for events such as the Charity Ball means you have my total respect.

It's terrible that this tight knit community has unfortunately become a small fish in a big AutoForum pond leaving the members somewhat bewildered by the lack of presence from the owners. The first rule of business though, if you don't listen to your customers, you won't please them.

Mikey, I wish you all the best for the future - may your ventures bring you happiness and prosperity.

I'll still see you on the 29th though for the TV

[Ant FR]

I will provide one small bit of advice on this subject. The perfect example that was one of the biggest forums on the internet. The Seatenthusiasts site. It was huge, probably had more postings per day than here and at the last event the club attnded being TRAX 2005 they ended up with largest club of show award and had well over 110 cars on their stand.

Then, they started to change things like advertising bits and pieces, and how and where certain people could post, then they added fees etc...

2 years on where is www.seatenthusiasts ??? Yep thats right, its dead, killed itself and it was surprising how quickly it did.

Still Seatcupra.net got stronger as result and quickly took over to become one of the busiest forums on the net. A lesson Mini2 should maybe learn. have a look how they run their site would give some great tips, they too have tuner specific areas, and advertisers areas, but no restrictions on where advertisers say about things. its a service as much for the user as the seller when a tuner posts up about a new thing they are selling. It works so well, 18 months on from selling my SEAT i'm still there.


Thats my 2 pennys worth.

[Carlos.]

Quote: Originally Posted by minicabrio (original)

if you don't listen to your customers, you won't please them.

.....and thats exactly what I feel like at the minute; a customer.

Mikey, I have bought one or two bits from you in the past, and would never have found out about you other than via M2, and I was nothing less than impressed by the service and advice you have offered.

It seems a crying shame that your expertise and knowledge has been censored, to a degree, and I really implore the new owners of this site to reconsider their position. I have no knowledge of the owners or their intentions, and tbh, I'm not that interested *who* owns MINI2, but I do know that by not addressing this issue, and addressing it in public, you are doing the members of MINI2 a great disservice.

To lose your support, Mikey, would be a tragic loss to this community...........I hope that a resolution can be found, and found quickly.

I'd also like to doff my cap to the mods that have posted in this thread, rather than discussing the situation behind the closed doors of the Mod forum - it is encouraging to see that the frustration is global, and that you clearly feel that this issue is worth making a stand for - thanks guys

[supa-dupa-cooper]

El Calor
Offline
Administrators
Last Activity: Feb 5th, 2008 10:08 PM

[supa-dupa-cooper]

dascrow
Offline
MINI2 Administrator
Join Date: Nov 23rd, 2007
Total Posts: 8 (0.11 posts per day)
Last Activity: Jan 25th, 2008

[Carlos.]

Quote: Originally Posted by supa-dupa-cooper (original)

El Calor
Offline
Administrators
Last Activity: Feb 5th, 2008 10:08 PM

Perhaps we could apply the OT&B rule for people that are absent for extended periods, and page / PM the user in question

[specky 1]

SAD !!!!! Thats just not on Mikey. Sorry to see you go. TBH i only come on Mini2 for a bit of advice/ fixes and to see if theres owt new out there. And to maybe help out fellow mini owners if i can. My online time will deffo drop now i know you wont be around tryin to get us to SPEND SPEND SPEND !!!!! LMAO.
SEE YOU AROUND DUDE!!!!

[Mini Moo]

I spend my days sorting out problems such as these for companies. These things usually follow a set pattern:

1. Acme Round Widgets start off in Mr Acme’s spare room selling round widgets.
2. A few people buy the Acme Round Widgets and find that they are actually quite good.
3. They tell their friends who also buy the Round Widgets.
4. Mr Acme starts to do quite well and suddenly gets an offer from Global Widgets Inc. to buy the company.
5. Global Widgets Inc. assures the customers that it will be business as normal.
6. Global Widgets Inc. is run by men in suits.
7. One of the men in suits says “It’s too complicated making Round Widgets, lets make them square”.
8. They announce to their customers, that they will no longer be selling round widgets, only square ones.
9. The customers say, “we wanted round widgets not square ones”.
10. Global Widgets say, “rules is rules”.
11. Customers leave.
12. Global Widgets say, “they’ll come back”.
13. Customers don’t.
14. Global Widgets say, “sh*t, let’s start selling the round ones again”.
15. Customers still don’t come back.
16. Global Widgets Inc. learn a valuable lesson in listening to what its customers want. (This usually coincides with the company being dissolved or being bought back by Acme Widgets). . .

Now it doesn't take a brain surgeon to work out that things go wrong at point 6. There are, therefore, 2 solutions:

1. Shoot the men in suits (sadly, illegal in most countries).
2. If it ain't broken don't try to fix it.

Megaforums Inc, or whatever you're called, I strongly suggest that you listen to what your customers are trying to tell you! (I normally charge £10,000 for that bit of advice, you can have it for free). . .

Toodle Pip,

MM