Got a cool letter from Porsche yesterday!
01-31-2005, 03:29 PM
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Racer
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Got a cool letter from Porsche yesterday!
Apparently, I have been chosen by PCNA to participate in some survey. The wording on the letter says they want my impressions on various new p-vehicles. It’s supposed to take 2.5 hours and I get paid $200 (whoo hoo) for it. I’m supposed to get a call in the next 2 weeks from the marketing company to get things in motion. I’m wondering whether the “impressions” are strictly related to what I hear/see around me or whether I’m actually going to get paid for some seat time in a new 911/Pepper/Box/??? I’m psyched to do either one! 
01-31-2005, 03:32 PM
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HAHA! niice...200$ and you don't even have to buy a timeshare 
.
if you get a chance, please tell them: FIX RMS, LIGHTER WEIGHT, MAKE 997 GT3 Very Hardcore.
.if you get a chance, please tell them: FIX RMS, LIGHTER WEIGHT, MAKE 997 GT3 Very Hardcore.
01-31-2005, 05:58 PM
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Let's see what direction this takes whenever their marketing firm's rep calls me up. At a minimum, I want to get across these points (if they let me!):
1. Address the RMS issue for the current owners ala what BMW did for the e46 m3.
2. PSE should be standard equipment on any p-car (well maybe not for the v6 Pepper but everyone else).
3. ROW 030 should be the standard sport suspension for US as well.
4. Protect the brand equity dilution that is occuring with each iteration of the 911. I.E, make the base car less of a GT.
5. Offer PCNA approved extended warranties to any p-car owner willing to fork up the bucks.
6. And lastly, don't forget that it is the customers (& the currency hedging) that have made Porsche #1 in profitablity. Can't do a thing about the hedging part but you got to keep delivering value (read: Doesn't mean lower the price, hell raise it even a bit), repeat value, to your customers. With Corvette biting at the heels on one end, BMW raising the stakes with each iteration of the ///m brand, and F-car reliability improving ( and used f-car prices falling faster) on the other end, you are going to get squeezed hard in the sweet spot. So, build loyalty now so that you may enjoy record profits for years to come.
1. Address the RMS issue for the current owners ala what BMW did for the e46 m3.
2. PSE should be standard equipment on any p-car (well maybe not for the v6 Pepper but everyone else).
3. ROW 030 should be the standard sport suspension for US as well.
4. Protect the brand equity dilution that is occuring with each iteration of the 911. I.E, make the base car less of a GT.
5. Offer PCNA approved extended warranties to any p-car owner willing to fork up the bucks.
6. And lastly, don't forget that it is the customers (& the currency hedging) that have made Porsche #1 in profitablity. Can't do a thing about the hedging part but you got to keep delivering value (read: Doesn't mean lower the price, hell raise it even a bit), repeat value, to your customers. With Corvette biting at the heels on one end, BMW raising the stakes with each iteration of the ///m brand, and F-car reliability improving ( and used f-car prices falling faster) on the other end, you are going to get squeezed hard in the sweet spot. So, build loyalty now so that you may enjoy record profits for years to come.
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01-31-2005, 06:38 PM
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Hey Chicago,
Tell them to use something other than margarine in the paint as a binder...I think you can actually make a hole in the paint by staring too hard :-)
Tell them to use something other than margarine in the paint as a binder...I think you can actually make a hole in the paint by staring too hard :-)
01-31-2005, 10:12 PM
#10
I did one of those a few years back about the Cayenne prior to its intro. It's a complete waste of time. Let me explain...
It's a focus group run by a marketing firm. You sit in a hi-rise downtown conference room with a two-way mirror and it's tightly run and guided by a moderator. My group had about 8 people in it (myself and 1 other 996 owner and enthusiast, 1 guy who bought a 996 because it was good to drive his big dog around in, 1 guy who bought one for his wife (he drove it 3 times and damaged it each time) and the rest were women who didn't own P-cars and could care less about cars). The moderator asks a bunch of stupid marketing questions (what adjectives do you think of when you hear "Porsche"?) related to image, etc. There's some vague talk about the new model. Any pertinant comments from you as an owner/enthusiast that don't mesh with the thinking of the moderator get pushed aside for gibberish from the people who've never even owned, let alone driven, a P-car.
It's all BS. The marketing people have these predetermined ideas that they want the "public" to rubber stamp so they can use it as a CYA if things go bad down the line. If you don't mouth what they want to hear, you're ignored.
One interesting discussion area involved motorsports. Myself and the other car guy said that P-car owners want to see Porsche compete at the highest levels of road/endurance racing again and that this was a common feeling among owners. We were shouted down by the others who didn't attend, watch or care about races. They came to the brilliant conclusion that Nascar or F1 would be a good place for Porsche to be...if it had to do some racing.
Take the 200 bucks, eat their snack foods & soda and try not to get too frustrated by some of the stupidity you'll see & hear. Maybe your focus group will be more interesting than the one I participated in, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.
It's a focus group run by a marketing firm. You sit in a hi-rise downtown conference room with a two-way mirror and it's tightly run and guided by a moderator. My group had about 8 people in it (myself and 1 other 996 owner and enthusiast, 1 guy who bought a 996 because it was good to drive his big dog around in, 1 guy who bought one for his wife (he drove it 3 times and damaged it each time) and the rest were women who didn't own P-cars and could care less about cars). The moderator asks a bunch of stupid marketing questions (what adjectives do you think of when you hear "Porsche"?) related to image, etc. There's some vague talk about the new model. Any pertinant comments from you as an owner/enthusiast that don't mesh with the thinking of the moderator get pushed aside for gibberish from the people who've never even owned, let alone driven, a P-car.
It's all BS. The marketing people have these predetermined ideas that they want the "public" to rubber stamp so they can use it as a CYA if things go bad down the line. If you don't mouth what they want to hear, you're ignored.
One interesting discussion area involved motorsports. Myself and the other car guy said that P-car owners want to see Porsche compete at the highest levels of road/endurance racing again and that this was a common feeling among owners. We were shouted down by the others who didn't attend, watch or care about races. They came to the brilliant conclusion that Nascar or F1 would be a good place for Porsche to be...if it had to do some racing.
Take the 200 bucks, eat their snack foods & soda and try not to get too frustrated by some of the stupidity you'll see & hear. Maybe your focus group will be more interesting than the one I participated in, but I wouldn't get your hopes up.
01-31-2005, 10:18 PM
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No RS in the US. - bummer
basically i want another US edition cup car (964 RS Basic in 964 ROW terms) - a better way to think about the car is an "R" not an RS.
Price it 20-30% above the GT-3 and i'm in - as a new car!
Frindge - yes - sellable in 1000 units WW - yes, 500 units for the US - Probably
and the 356 (done with a rear Flat 4), i'll place an order today.
<good point above - but you don't get if you don't ask>
basically i want another US edition cup car (964 RS Basic in 964 ROW terms) - a better way to think about the car is an "R" not an RS.
Price it 20-30% above the GT-3 and i'm in - as a new car!
Frindge - yes - sellable in 1000 units WW - yes, 500 units for the US - Probably
and the 356 (done with a rear Flat 4), i'll place an order today.
<good point above - but you don't get if you don't ask>
02-01-2005, 12:44 AM
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I was asked to do one of those last year, 4hrs for 200$. Don't think so, I cost more than that. I've been in several focus groups for med/surg items, almost always a waste of time, but they pay much better than this.
Last edited by C4S Surgeon; 02-01-2005 at 10:42 AM.
02-01-2005, 09:37 AM
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Holger, appreciate the heads-up. If they wanna speak marketing speak, I can dust off an old text and try to use words that resonate with them ( I goto the best marketing b-school in the country, so maybe I'll wear a t-shirt with its logo on it or something 
C4S, it's not the $200, although I'll take it, I just like the thought that as an owner/enthusiast, I can have some input into the process (however illusory that input may be!)
Cheers!
C4S, it's not the $200, although I'll take it, I just like the thought that as an owner/enthusiast, I can have some input into the process (however illusory that input may be!)
Cheers!