GM Press Embargoes

[jwilliams]

So, GM finally officially unveils the new Z06, and by the time they did it was old news...

Rob, I'm curious about your feelings on how this all went down. Personally I think GM handled all of this very poorly. It appears they have no control of release of information, threatened a citizen and can't even have the courtesy to release the MSRP with the OFFICIAL:eyerole unveiling. I know many think the guy who claims GM threatened him in texas is not legit, however when a print media entity such as Autoweek reports on it I gotta think it may be credible. I'd love to hear from Hib as well being that he spent a career writing and dealing with this type of stuff.

Rob, I commend your courage to cave in, but part of me wonders that maybe CAC should have posted information as you do run a quasi-media operation. In part I come here to get the latest news about vette's. I like this forum the best for vette info and seems as though we (CAC) were the only group honering the embargo. Thank you for all the time you put into this site and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Jay

P.S. My fellow CAC'ers please chime in with your thoughts too!!!!

 

[Hib Halverson]

There was a great piece in the WSJ on Monday on just that topic.

In short, the story suggests that GM lost control of launch of the Z06 in the weeks leading up to 1/10.

I agree.

 

[LT4man]

I feel that GM has dropped the ball on this one. The information is created by them, therefore they have complete control over when they release it. Instead of giving the info out to the media outlets ahead of time, perhaps they need to keep control until they release to everyone. A shame that we follow the rules and then are the last to know. I applaud you, Rob, for going along with the program. I find myself getting all my info from CAC. I believe that loyalty and integrity are still very important.

 

[c5vetter]

It is rampant in society - lack of ethics - used to be, a man's word was just that - now it means ****!

lack of MSRP should not alarm anyone, manufacturers usually don't release these until they are closer to production

 

[Rob]

Jay,

I guess in short, I'm disappointed. I'm more than willing to work with GM in any way possible to honor their embargos and get information out to our users. Clearly, the last few weeks prior to the 1/10/05 embargo date proved that the way GM handles their embargoes needs to be reviewed, and possibly revamped.

Part of the reason why I'm more than willing to work with GM, is because I'd like to position the Corvette Action Center so that we are the first to be able to release new Corvette information out to everyone; for two reasons:

1. I want the information we provide here to be 100% reputable and accurate, and there is no better source than straight from the horse's mouth: GM.
2. It helps generate traffic to the site. If people know that we'll be releasing information to the site as soon as GM's embargoes are lifted, and no other sites have the information, then people will be coming here for that information.

Unfortunately, my intentions repeatedly fail since the system GM uses is obviously not very secure since all the other sites are getting the information before we do and have no problem dishonoring the embargoes and posting it immediately.

In my opinion, GM needs to gain a tighter control on how they handle the release of proprietary information to the media because it's quite obvious that what happened over the last 3-4 weeks, is a clear indicator that the process they currently use is anything but secure and under control.

To view all my thoughts on this issue in their entirety, please see the article I wrote in the Wheelspin forum:

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60566

 

[Z06 Tom]

Rob,
The last thing I'd ever do is be smooch a--, but I think you handled the situation the only way you could. If you hope to stay in GMs info loop, you have to abide by their wishes. We don't, but you do. If one of us says or does something that the powers-that-be at GM find offensive, screw 'em, but YOU have to stay above all that junk.

You've put together a great site here. I find myself coming back here more often then I do CF and on par with Z06Vette.com, and I've been a member over there since the site came up. You're doing a top notch job, hang in there!:BOW

 

[Rob]

Rob,
The last thing I'd ever do is be smooch a--, but I think you handled the situation the only way you could. If you hope to stay in GMs info loop, you have to abide by their wishes. We don't, but you do. If one of us says or does something that the powers-that-be at GM find offensive, screw 'em, but YOU have to stay above all that junk.

You've put together a great site here. I find myself coming back here more often then I do CF and on par with Z06Vette.com, and I've been a member over there since the site came up. You're doing a top notch job, hang in there!:BOW

Thanks Tom. I appreciate your comments and I'm honored that you're comfortable here at the CAC.