By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
Bob
Craig
Bob
It's a very common operation so I'm sure it will go well. ;-)
tom
DaveM
-Dave
Best of luck to Deb.
Steve
~Colin
-juice
Prayers from here to there, Bob & Deb.
ph
This is vague because I don't have the whole picture, but I will share what I deduced from several conversations with those people.
Even back then, people wondered if someone with her job title was the right person to be the on-line community contact for SoA. One of the male managers I spoke with seemed to think it should have been someone in his department. Yet he didn't even have anyone specific in mind!
My position, then and now, is that Patti is the best suited person, and she's proven it time and time again. She has dedicated 3+ years of her personal time and made close friends in the process.
I am certain that Patti enjoys being part of the Subaru Crew, she doesn't have to tell me because I've seen it myself, heard it from others, even felt it.
In my opinion, Patti is the best choice for the SoA contact for the Subaru Crew, there is no doubt in my mind.
A distant 2nd choice would be Super Girl, but I hear she's fictional. ;-)
If it takes a letter writing campaing, that's what we'll do. But before we jump into that, your fearless leader wants to know how YOU feel.
Let's open the floor for discussion.
-juice
So I say let's take this time and get our thoughts together, figure out a plan of action, and hopefully by the first of the year jump on this with full vigor.
Bob
If her continued presence here doesn't jeopardize her new position at SoA, then why not? However, I'd rather lose her for a recommended replacement than have her jeopardize her promotion & mess up her family life just for the sake of being here.
I see absolutely no harm to Subaru in her continued participation @ Edmunds. And you can tell 'em I said so!
Cheers!
Paul
I'll be back on the 5th.
I'd love to hear suggestions now, though.
-juice
And while a replacement is perhaps better than nothing, I bet almost everyone would prefer Patti. In fact the only thing holding people back is a concern that it might get in the way of her promotion.
But deep down we all want her to stay. Am I right?
I'd like to hear from all the regulars, please chime in.
-juice
I really want to make it clear to Patti that she should not feel obligated to Edmunds or the Crew. I am sure she feels some sort of loyalty and obligation to us, but we should not encumber her and her new job role in any way; the last thing she needs is pressure from her old responsibilities and duties! Let's wish her well in her new job and give her all the support she needs. If she continues to participate here, let it be her decision and her perogative (she can be a "regular" like the rest of us).
What we should do is ask SOA to provide continued presence here on Edmunds. I think a letter writing campaign would be very effective at that, coupled with using Patti as a SOA insider to make the right connections and help sell our cause. The combination of the Crew and Patti should effectively sell the idea to SOA. Who knows, maybe we can get even more participation from SOA now!
Craig
Craig
She is respecting the request of her employer and can't really comment.
So we have to go by gut feel.
For those who have seen her in person, did she seem tired when you saw her? Frustrated? Overworked?
In my experience, not at all. Patti has always been upbeat, happy to be around, glad to put faces to the names she's so familiar with.
-juice
You can count me in for trying to keep Patti around. That is assuming it does not mess up her career. Her job is a lot more important than her official participation on Edmunds. After all she has done for everyone here, that is the least we can do.
If she can not participate here officially anymore, then we must petittion SOA to maintain an official presence here on Edmunds. It is definitely a selling point to people to see a manufacturer willing to discuss it's product with the customers first hand (so to speak.)
Mark
Mark
Honestly, I wouldn't be asking if I didn't think she wanted to stay.
Patti has good friends here, I'll tell you that.
-juice
patti is/was great. never slammed subaru ( what subaru is unlike every other company and does nothing wrong ? ), helped people when they were lost in the system, brought clarification when she could. she helped some people remain subaru customers and god knows we read about it here and tell our friends. geez subaru getting rid of patti here will really help your move upscale as all of us upscale people want to be lost in the corporate maze.
she is/was the best representive for any company. patti, i and my friends will really miss you.
corporate dorks just dont get it. they think this move was benign, pun intended, xxx patti
Bob
Bob H.: My sincere best wishes, thoughts and prayers to Deb and you.
Everyone else: good luck with your own maladies - I can tell you I haven't been this wiped by a "bug" or whatever it is in a long time.
Patti, wherever you are (shades of Mrs. Calabash): I hope I'm still able to interact with you in some capacity as a person, even if it's not in any official or quasi-official role via SoA.
Generally speaking: It would behoove SoA to have a continuing presence here. It's clear that this board has had some influence on SoA direction and activities, including features incorporated into future products. Though I've heard people say only half-jokingly that Subaru owners are something of a "cult," it's this level of inetraction that will IMO allow the company to maintain if not increase its level of brand identity, rather than (as many fear) having it slide down the slippery slope of becoming just another division of GM - a slope on which Saturn and Saab have fallen much faster and farther.
Ed
Bob
RE: Patti - My thoughts are here: subearu Dec 3, 2004 8:56pm
I'd love for Patti to stay with us as the SOA rep - but if allowing to stay here prevents her from accomplishing her new role at SOA, I'm not going to pull her away from her new role/job. As long as we get someone with the same commitment and attitude of Patti, I'm all for a replacement Patti.
I do hope that Patti would still be able to participate in the discussions here just as a 'regular' when she has a chance too. I'd hate to see her banished from the TH. She is one of the great things that makes the Subaru Crew one of the better online communities, IMHO.
-Brian
Bob: Positive thoughts and prayers for Deb!
-juice
SOA - How will the Customer Service department feel about a Marketing department member "overseeing" their issues?
Patti - As an official or unofficial participant, will she be stepping on toes in the Customer Service department? How do her actions with customer service and customer satisfaction tie into her marketing position?
While I would love to have Patti stay in an official capacity and most definitely as a regular member, I think that may cause issues for her and within SOA. Until there is a new "official" SOA rep on Edmunds, it will be difficult for her to participate as an "unofficial" regular. Since she is so dedicated to customer service and client satisfaction, I think she would have a hard time biting her tongue when customer issues arise.
I think the best situation would be to have another Customer Service department member officially and actively participate.
Once there is official presence, Patti should be able to return as a regular but she cannot be perceived as "watching" them.
DaveM
By that I mean what if they only allow the official person to participate?
Should she have to give up a hobby/interest just because she was promoted?
-juice
She would have to bite her tongue unless she was asked to step in and provide assistance.
DaveM
That "official" presence is not a given. We don't know that (assuming Patti can't contribute, God forbid) that there will be any SOA rep here.
I'm hoping that we can get Patti back (first) and (second) SOA will finally recognize how important the Edmunds Crew has been in promoting SOA, and make this site a priority for them.
Bob
DaveM
I'm honestly so fetup with Subaru and how they manage things.
I understand the Subaru has to 'protect' whatever their secret plutonic atmospheric nucleus ambient molecular structure they have; but it would've been alittle more easy to deal with if they hadn't done it cold turkey!!!
Worse case scenario... get a 'substitute' or someone to replace her... which will be very difficult for anyone filling in her shoes. Yep, she's made friends and has a solid reputation here. If it's going to jeoperdize her position, then I understand; but if Subaru would stop thinking with their feet and use some common sense, then these things wouldn't be happening with so much frustration!
Hey Patti, if you're reading (and not posting), I wish you the best and hope to see you here soon. You've made the Subaru community much more family oriented and fun! You'll be missed and thank you for all you've done.
PS- I haven't been on the chat for sometime... the last time I was on, none of you guys were on, so the few that were on, we were just making fun of you guys... lol!
No Patti =
Count me in for any support to bring back Patti.
But I agree with Craig that we should try and align ourselves with Patti's best interests.
Good point about the irony of the Drive article and this recent decision. The same thought popped into my mind too.
We helped Patti establish an official presence here so maybe we can do it again!
Ken
WANT
PATTI
WE
WANT
PATTI
;-)
-juice
If they do have someone else as a rep here, I fail to see how Patti being here as a regular crew member would cause any problems.
Cheers Pat.
I hope to see Patti around .. I NEED an estrogen fix in here now and again ...
Ken
Actually, new strategy - we just send Brenda to Cherry Hill!
-juice
As for Patti, yes she works for SOA, but we also consider her a friend just like the rest of the crew. Hope you won't keep her from visiting friends once in a while.
Jim
This channel between the actual car owner and SOA provides an exchange of information, feelings, impressions, etc that no marketing analysis, survey or product research could ever provide.
It targets the right audience - current and potential Subaru owners. It's open for issues that are good, bad, and sometimes, really ugly. For the most part it's free!
The crew is here because they believe in their Subarus. They show their continued support by 1. buying more Subarus, 2. providing assistance and direction to anyone who is in need, and 3. for the most part, being extremely positive regarding the product and the company.
Based on many past postings and instances, The Crew has also become a sales and marketing machine for Subaru. Again, for free!
It was nice to know that Patti was always listening. She knew when to step in, and provide assistance or advice. When things went wrong, she did all she could to either make it right, or explain why she could not resolve it. She took our feedback, ideas and input to SOA, in order to understand what the owner of a Subaru wants, needs, likes, and hopefully will see this in future models.
At this point, it is understood that Patti (the person) may not be able to continue participate given her new capacity. Removing Patti (the presence) would be removing a key element of interaction between SOA and the owners, that have an honest opinion of product.
I beleive that this is the most I have said to date! Rob M.
Bob and Deb: our prayers and thoughts are with you...
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT!.......................................................- ............................ RALLY LATKES!!!
Rob: another excellent post, I think you nailed it.
<light bulb goes on>
The two of you just gave me an idea.
I believe Colin called it the "Patti Factor". So let's survey the Crew to ask if that has an influence on their purchase decision. Please answer this multiple choice question, I'd like to see every one please respond to this, be honest and tell us how you feel.
Does having Patti here on the Edmunds.com Town Hall Subaru Crew influence your decision to purchase another Subaru in the future?
Are you...
Much more likely to purchase another Subaru
More likely to purchase another Subaru
Same/No more or less likely
Less likely to purchase another Subaru
Much less likely to purchase another Subaru
For now just respond in this thread. Maybe Edmunds could even create an on-line survey? If not we'll just tabulate right here.
-juice
Several actually. For me and my family, 5 so far, 4 of those purchases directly influenced by Patti's participation on Edmunds.com.
I could add several friends I've referred to Subies, but I think we'd lose count.
OK, chime in everyone, how do you feel?
-juice
Bob
Bob
I started with a 92 Loyale 4WD wagon.
I replaced my wife's 87 Lebaron GTS with a 96 Outback.
I replaced the 92 Loyale with the 99 GT LTD 30th Sedan.
I replaced the 96 Outback with an 03 Outback.
Am I a repeat buyer? Yes.
Am I a loyal customer? Yes.
Do I have my cars serviced by Subaru? Yes
I will be replacing the 99 GT with 116k miles in the very near future. When the car was new, I purchased the 100k Gold warrantee. Every time I had a problem, I felt that the dealer was not motivated to work in my favor. I put up with oil leaks for almost 2 years. I had an intermittant power antenna issue for a year and a half. It was extremely difficult to get any repairs done under extended warrantee.
In the fall, I took to test driving Acura's.
Two things happened over time. First, getting established with the members of The Crew, and Patti. Second, a test drive in the GT Sedan.
Knowing that Patti is there makes dealing with my local dealer more palatable.
Will I purchase another Subaru? Most Likely.