The Whole World Wonders ...

[Brooster]

Let me preface this post by saying it's great that Doug is holding an open meeting with the community on February 4th ... I hope we get some answers and some exciting new information. But just a few random questions in the meantime ...

--Whatever happened to the "Ticket to Ride" program? Don't we want to get new people on the HT? Or is that Brookstone's job now?

--Why is Segway's "Calendar and Events" Web page still almost always empty, with the exception of the odd trade show, nearly a year after the product launch?

--In our little Segway ring-binder books, which we early adopters received nearly a year ago, it says on the first page: "We will be updating your book with additional items over time." Can we realistically expect that to happen?

--It's been said that Segway LLC might come up with some sort of wallet-sized marketing or "information" cards for early adopters to hand out to interested people. Might we expect that to happen?

--Many of us received "tax refund" checks, in varying amounts, with absolutely no explanation. While getting money back is always a good thing, why is this? If we were overcharged to begin with, was interest paid on our money?

--Europe is more than ripe for the Segway HT, and seems like a natural market. With "petrol" prices out-of-sight in Europe, the HT seems like a great fit. Why isn't that opportunity being vigorously pursued? Whatever happened to BAE Systems being the European Disributor?

--The January/February issue of "Business 2.0" (granted, not the greatest magazine in the world) lists Segway as one of their annual "101 Dumbest Moments in Business." What's being done to proactively counter this sort of thing?

--And my final question for the moment ... is there something in the water in New Hampshire that puts people to sleep? Hello? Hey! Wake up!

[:P][8]




Brooster

[Ground Loop]

I think it's a great idea to run some questions by SC before using 'valuable chat time' with Doug Field. Here are my questions.. feel free to shoot them down (preferably with answers):

- I've heard it recommended that the HT batteries be completely discharged periodically by leaving the HT in balance mode resting against a wall. Is this really a good idea? How often should this be performed? (My first and only attempt took over 12 hours to run the battery down.)

- Would Segway PLEASE consider making available the headlight mount as an accessory without requiring the purchase of another light. The mount is also useful for things like GPS units.

- What is Segway doing to improve public perception of the HT with regard to the Infamous Recall or sidewalk safety?

- Would Segway LLC consider having 'official' participation by an employee in a public forum like Segway Chat? It's nice to have this one-shot talk, but Segway is quite possibly the most MUTE company ever to grace the planet. Some communication would be much welcomed.

- How about an on-line ordering system for the accessories online?

- The Version 12.0 software upgrade is widely regarded as reducing top performance even with a full battery charge. Can we expect any other software upgrades or enhancements in this area?

[Brooster]

Month ... after month ... after month ... go by, with no action. I honestly wonder what some of the LLC people do all day.

Sorry guys, but that's the way I feel right now.

Brooster

[pt]

quote:Originally posted by BroosterMonth ... after month ... after month ... go by, with no action. I honestly wonder what some of the LLC people do all day. Sorry guys, but that's the way I feel right now.

broo...maybe it's time ya take a break?

cheers,
pt

[Florida Ever-Glides]

Europe would seem like a great market for the Segway but I understand that they have been outlawed for sale/riding by the European Union in all but France and Italy where the top speed is 3mph. Doesn't make much sense.

Sure Segway could be doing much more forward marketing than they have been. I'm anxiously waiting to see how their 'new blood' top people will re-introduce the Segway HT as a viable and safe form of transportation. The more that the Segway is percieved as a 'toy' the harder it will be.

I am certain that what we are riding now will be a 'model T' compared to the gyro vehicles 50 years from now. I am thrilled as all of you are too, to be part of this revolutionary form of transportation.

Tom Jacobson

[Zorba9]

Hey Brooster! The inaction by LLC is very frustrating to all of us who really care about their product and how they seem to be doing such an inadequate job of marketing the machine we all love. Hang in there and please don't take a break! We need you here and we all value your input such as it is.
My questions would be ---
How about telling us about the "new" model of Segway that is being tested right now as we speak!
How long has this been in development?
When will it go on the market?
How much will it cost?
Why on earth would you keep this new product development secret????? You have no competition that would run with this football!!
I am sure Ron Bills would be totally behind this project considering his Polaris background. (No folks this is not an off-road Segway - well not strictly speaking anyways)
Doug, wouldn't this be an opprotune time to tell at least the Segway world about this new project?
And this would be a question from one of the SC members other than myself ----
Is Zorba9 full of S**t or can folks really get his M model thru him and LLC like he has laid out to us?
(I would love to hear that answear as I only deal with middle/higher echelon executives at LLC and still don't know if I'm dreaming all of this - somebody pinch me!)-:)

KOG


Zorba9.....

[wayne]

quote:Originally posted by Brooster


--And my final question for the moment ... is there something in the water in New Hampshire that puts people to sleep? Hello? Hey! Wake up!

[:P][8]




Brooster





Broo,

Take it easy or Frank will put you on the "chip" list with me.LOL

On the refund: The couple of hundred dollars I received back from LLC was because they charged me 8.5% tax. I believe they were only suppose to charge me the state tax (4%). I'm sure this is what most of the refunds were for.

This past year would have been better for everyone (even LLC) if LLC would have been involved in the discussions here on SC.
Frank and the rest i'm sure have a lot of time in this site and this site does promote the Segway HT. You would think LLC would appreciate it and wake up and contribute to the questions and concerns.
Making a nuclear bomb, having an affair on the side and playing poker
are some good reasons to keep a secret, but trying to sell a product?


Seg-On
Wayne

[Dwarf84396]

Hey Zorba,

I'll ask that one for you!

Ben

I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once
Ashleigh Brilliant

[dhugger]

Zorba, are you serious? Is there really a new model?? If so, LLC, do tell!

-Derek Hugger-

[Zorba9]

As a heart attack Derek!

KOG

Zorba9.....

[Zorba9]

Of course the way this chat is set up with our moderators(?I hope?)fielding questions so LLC can decide to answear or not, we will never know what all the questions are anyways, just what they decide to talk with us about at the present time. They may well choose this time to tell us (and the world thru us of course) about whats new and what their plans for the future really are. We all hope this new policy of talking with us like this will do exactly that!
We shall see.

KOG

Zorba9.....

[Brooster]

quote:Originally posted by pt
[brbroo...maybe it's time ya take a break?


I understand what you mean PT, and I apologize if anything I've said seems inappropriate or disrespectful.

I don't think many will disagree that for a long time--and particularly during my tenure as a moderator here--I was one of Segway's biggest "cheerleaders." I put a lot of heart, soul, and time into contributing to the successful introduction of the HT.

Y'know, it was fun while it lasted, but being a "cheerleader" just isn't my job anymore. I'm just an owner ... who'd really like to see some signs of life from the people I've worked so hard to help.

Again, I apologize if anything I've said was inappropriate.



Brooster

[np]

Broo, I think one of the many keywords is _voluntary_ as far as you
being a cheerleader.

Then again, I may be wrong.

quote:Originally posted by Brooster

quote:Originally posted by pt
[brbroo...maybe it's time ya take a break?


I understand what you mean PT, and I apologize if anything I've said seems inappropriate or disrespectful.

I don't think many will disagree that for a long time--and particularly during my tenure as a moderator here--I was one of Segway's biggest "cheerleaders." I put a lot of heart, soul, and time into contributing to the successful introduction of the HT.

Y'know, it was fun while it lasted, but being a "cheerleader" just isn't my job anymore. I'm just an owner ... who'd really like to see some signs of life from the people I've worked so hard to help.

Again, I apologize if anything I've said was inappropriate.



Brooster

[BruceWright]

I don't think anything's wrong with what you said, Brooster. I also think those are great questions.


I won't be able to attend the Chat, but I'd love to throw in some questions.

Questions like:


We've heard various battery tips at various times. Things like running a full discharge by running it against a wall. Things like unplugging it for a few minutes, then plugging it in again to top it off... How long to leave it unplugged? we don't know. How long to plug it in again before going ? That wasn't answered either... So I think we're each left with a kind of battery voodoo that we all kind of try our own version of. CAN WE PLEASE get ONE comprehensive, answers EVERY little PART of battery usage DOCUMENT online where ALL of these little voodoo tricks are described in full?

Is there a reliable sales path for people we meet who AREN'T on the Internet? Is there any way for them to get information on a Segway? You know, like when you go to the car dealership and they give you a brochure? Is there still not a printed brochure on the Segway? Is there any way that a person NOT on the internet or in a lucky town with a dealership can:

1: make a phone call to a 1 800 number.
2: get a brochure and video mailed to them.

I can get that for a rascal. I can get that for a craftmatic adjustable bed.




I'd like to reiterate the Ticket To Ride question, and suggest that on the internet site, right on the front, there be a "Try It Today!" Button. That would link you RIGHT to where you can try it today in your town, or where you could sign up for a Ticket to Ride event next time there's one near you. As it is, folks are still being asked to buy one sight unseen.

Anyway, I hope someone asks these questions for me. I have more, but these are my main ones.


-Bruce Wright

Segway: Vehicle of Dream

[Ground Loop]

I can see a small sample of Segway's dillema right here. Personally, I view my HT not as a "new viable and safe form of transportation", but a lot of fun.

It's fun like a motorcycle is fun. Sometimes I go ride around just because I enjoy seeing the scenery, feeling fresh air, and taking turns. Sometimes I need to go somewhere. The Segway is the same thing, with shorter range.

There is no "movement" here, no "revolution", and my two-wheeled balancing scooter isn't going to Change the World 10MPH at a time. The sooner Segway LLC relieves themselves of TopSecret Super Hero status, the sooner they will have a viable business model.

That doesn't make me a detractor, does it? I wouldn't have plunked down my FIVE THOUSAND dollars if it didn't have a whole lot of appeal. But I'm no cheerleader. Segway got my cash, and I got a fun ride. I'm just here to share some ideas with other owners and keep up-to-date, not boost LLC with pom-poms. If I have time, I give demos, and I usually end up agreeing with every person that they're overpriced and limited in utility. So is a jet-ski! Life is fun, get outside, take risks.

Uh, what was I talking about again?

[dhugger]

quote:I usually end up agreeing with every person that they're overpriced and limited in utility. So is a jet-ski!
...and atvs, and fancy cars, and plasma tvs, and dirt bikes, snow mobile, boats, horses (i know about this one first hand)... there's so much. the seg is just another. however, the ht has all the others beat in its engineering, originality, and feel... and i don't think anyone will disagree with me there.

-Derek Hugger-

[BruceWright]

Agreed, you two.

The one place I see just a little more utility for a Segway is the ability to multi-mode with rail. That's the main user-benefit here. But that's a very limited market.

The Fun market is for EVERYONE!

-Bruce Wright

Segway: Vehicle of Dream

[QuadSquad]

Brooster,

Don't be so sensitive!

Clearly from my perspective you will always be thankfully remembered for your kind words and support when LLC was giving training to that "guy in the wheelchair" in Chicago last February or March (I forget). Because of you I tuned in to segwaychat.com and because of you I went to the Segfest.

In terms of people who have been important to me and my segway experience you rank right up there!

You rank up there with, Fred Kaplan and Jerry Miller and Bruce Wright and Mike McWilliams and Chris Walker, and Leonard Timm, and Ron Reich, and probably a few others I'm missing whose motives with regard to the segway are pure.

Your comments are always relevant. Sometimes we don't want to hear things that are relevant! But things don't get so moldy if you shine a little light on them from time to time.

[4Seg]

quote:Originally posted by QuadSquad

Brooster,

Don't be so sensitive!

Clearly from my perspective you will always be thankfully remembered for your kind words and support when LLC was giving training to that "guy in the wheelchair" in Chicago last February or March (I forget). Because of you I tuned in to segwaychat.com and because of you I went to the Segfest.

In terms of people who have been important to me and my segway experience you rank right up there!

You rank up there with, Fred Kaplan and Jerry Miller and Bruce Wright and Mike McWilliams and Chris Walker, and Leonard Timm, and Ron Reich, and probably a few others I'm missing whose motives with regard to the segway are pure.

Your comments are always relevant. Sometimes we don't want to hear things that are relevant! But things don't get so moldy if you shine a little light on them from time to time.

Jerry,
You are an inspiration to all of us, thank you. I hope we have a chance to kick back and have a broosky or two soon, esp. since the cold weather set in.

be keen, keep clean, glide green.
Help support FIRST http://www.usfirst.org

[pt]

broo-

basically the way i look at it is this, if you put a lot of time on something you have some expectations, they (segway) may never do what you specifically want.

that's the way it goes, and the forum is full of ideas, suggestions and all that (which is why it is great). but- at some point if someone posts- post after post of negative stuff it might be time to take a break. not saying yours are like that, but you know what i mean.

i don't read all the posts here and i'm 100% clear on how you feel about segway now :-]

cheers,
pt

[Zorba9]

Hey Jeff! You are perhaps the most eloquent spokesman we have here on SC. You ALWAYS seem to hit the nail right on the head. I for one, have appreciated your naysaying because the "squeeky wheel" is the one that always gets the grease!!! If it weren't for you and a couple others there would NOT be a Doug Field interview this wednesday. Because of some obscure, secretive corporate reasoning, if SegwayChat was not in existence, LLC may well have already gone belly up. I guarantee you some of those people read us EVERYDAY!
After the corporate shake-up they've had recently, the wiser heads have prevailed and hopefully wednesday will show us all that LLC actually means business from here on out. This is their chance.

Very cool new avatar Jeff!

KOG



Zorba9.....