amturnip
08-04-2007, 09:44 AM
A distinguished panelist wrote (and then locked his thread),
> Apparently, unbeknownst to its own members,
> the leadership of SEG America has unilaterally
> decided to dissolve the organization and
> distribute its remaining assets.
* Segway cold-shoulders the 20,000 original scooters. Few parts and no trade-ins! What owners' organization negotiated better terms?
* Segway concentrates on institutional sales and ends production of the last model that could be propelled up ordinary stairs. Anyone with stairs at home, sorry about that! What owners' organization raised a ruckus and elicited a promise from Segway to correct the oversight?
* Maps don't show whether roads are scootable. The government knows -- sidewalks, shoulders, lanes for bikes or parking -- but the map industry doesn't think anyone cares. What owners' organization worked with Google Maps to add a Scooter View?
* Anecdotal reports of bad batteries abound, but the company isn't talking. What owners' organization marshalled a "Consumer Reports" view of the problem?
* You get the Shake of Death at night, it won't start up again, you're miles from home. What owners' organization do you phone up for "emergency roadside" assistance?
* Congress holds a hearing on fuel economy and gets steamrolled by the Hummer interests. What scooter lobby with a small office in Washington, DC, keeps us respectable?
* Buildings are still being built without secure indoor scooter parking/charging space. What owners' organization plants an occasional article in architects' trade magazines?
* Your homeowners insurance amends your policy, expressly to deny inclusion of EPAMDs. What owners' organization negotiates with the insurance companies to encourage them to explore the scooter niche in states where it remains unfilled?
A (politely) adversarial organization would be much more useful than a distributor of an annual feel-good bumper sticker to people who don't have bumpers. But it would also require a vastly bigger membership.
> Apparently, unbeknownst to its own members,
> the leadership of SEG America has unilaterally
> decided to dissolve the organization and
> distribute its remaining assets.
* Segway cold-shoulders the 20,000 original scooters. Few parts and no trade-ins! What owners' organization negotiated better terms?
* Segway concentrates on institutional sales and ends production of the last model that could be propelled up ordinary stairs. Anyone with stairs at home, sorry about that! What owners' organization raised a ruckus and elicited a promise from Segway to correct the oversight?
* Maps don't show whether roads are scootable. The government knows -- sidewalks, shoulders, lanes for bikes or parking -- but the map industry doesn't think anyone cares. What owners' organization worked with Google Maps to add a Scooter View?
* Anecdotal reports of bad batteries abound, but the company isn't talking. What owners' organization marshalled a "Consumer Reports" view of the problem?
* You get the Shake of Death at night, it won't start up again, you're miles from home. What owners' organization do you phone up for "emergency roadside" assistance?
* Congress holds a hearing on fuel economy and gets steamrolled by the Hummer interests. What scooter lobby with a small office in Washington, DC, keeps us respectable?
* Buildings are still being built without secure indoor scooter parking/charging space. What owners' organization plants an occasional article in architects' trade magazines?
* Your homeowners insurance amends your policy, expressly to deny inclusion of EPAMDs. What owners' organization negotiates with the insurance companies to encourage them to explore the scooter niche in states where it remains unfilled?
A (politely) adversarial organization would be much more useful than a distributor of an annual feel-good bumper sticker to people who don't have bumpers. But it would also require a vastly bigger membership.