tunch123 said:
Hi Charlie,
You are one of the oldest member in Autopia. I hope you know us at 3D by now. We never use Autopia as a platform to Hype our products.
Thanks for your response, Tunch, but with all due respect I have to disagree with that sentiment. First of all yes, I have been around Autopia among other detailing industry forums since their earliest days, and the way 3D has run this site over the past few years is markedly different than some competitors run their forums. However I don't think it would be fair to say Autopia is never used as a means to market 3D products -- after all, you and I both know that supporting a site like this is a sizable expenditure; there would be no business case for its continued existence without it generating at least some degree of revenue or otherwise serving a purpose related to your company's business goals.
In the case of this particular thread, however, I look at the way it started (Mel posting a fairly cryptic message and the rah-rah battle cry "Get ready to OD on HD!", followed immediately by two replies from people who have never posted here before thanking 3D for allowing them to be on the testing team, and being equally cryptic while doing so. That smelled to me an awful lot like what I've seen some competitors do (no need to name names here, I'm sure we both know who I'm referring to). Kinda rubbed me the wrong way; I feel that there are other/better ways to create buzz.
I never understood why there needs to be so many compounds, so many degreasers , so many waxes, and so many polishes.....If there is a good tire dressing why have 50 different choices?
My personal experience has largely been that there is no such thing as a cookie-cutter approach that will work 100% of the time in 100% of situations; having different options and different techniques available in a detailer's wheelhouse to cover himself will always be a necessary reality in the high end market.
On the other hand if you're targeting the express or volume detailing market, I absolutely agree with the concept of a core set of products that require little to no thought on the part of the technician to complete his job quickly/efficiently/profitably while providing the level of results average consumers tend to desire and be satisfied with.
Therefore we came-up with an incredible "Paint correction" products that anyone with little or no experience using DA will come up with professional results. We will announce it at April 2nd. This is not a Hype but a reality.
Well, at least that gives us some idea of what to expect; should be interesting to see what it does and where it slots into the marketplace. Thank you for the insight.
I will never delete this reply. You can count on my words.
Otherwise I will look foolish if I am wrong. Well this is a pretty risky and bold statement...and I stand behind it. In my 25 years career I was never this happy and this confident. So please buckle-up and see whats coming in April 2.
Tunch Goren
I have absolute faith in you, Tunch, and I wish nothing but success to you and the rest of the 3D team!
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