Rebuttal Letter from Ed Wellburn regarding GM's design direction

[fad1]

can you say pwnage. I hate when ignorant media people dont know what they are talking about. Good Ed W. straightened this guy out.

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by McGruff

You guys kill me. Every topic does not have to be WOOO! GM Rocks!!! By having a different opinion, I am not a troll.

"In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum or chat room, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional response[1] or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troll_(Internet)

Originally Posted by BlackCamaroSS

Oh good lord...


"Would you sit back and make no rebuttal"?

Again, let me hold your hand and walk you through it. If one of the semi-literate kids that populate this forum spewed out a critique of GM in the ever so popular text message jargon, such as : "gm, U suck 4evr", do you think Welburn should stop-down and respond? Are you kind of getting it now?

Sorry some were unable to grasp my message; there are those who are so focused on being a zealot that they choose to ignore the obvious in an attempt to make a statement.

The problem though is that this article was written by a .. well... a professional (so he says anyway) on a webpage that draws a lot of viewers. Unfortunately, most American's are easily swayed by opinionated articles like these. So while I agree that such an uneducated article really shouldn't warrant a response from a GM VP, it is necessary due to the reality we live in :( But trust me, i completely agree that letter was ridiculous.

[AMERICANMADE]

I agree with Wellburns rebuttal. I'm also a designer and can tell he is a very passionate individual in the words he chose. I'm glad it was published. BUT, I think the point missed is realizing Mr. Sindell is a way left columnist with a stict liberal attitude that anyone at a management level is the reason for GM's current situation. Hopefully this opinion fades and guys like Wellburn can get back to work and do the things they do best instead of having to feel like the need to respond to the kinds of bias idiots like Sindell and the Huffington Post! Now I will never post another political response again. I want to look at hear about 2SS Camaros!

[GTAHVIT]

Originally Posted by AMERICANMADE

I agree with Wellburns rebuttal. I'm also a designer and can tell he is a very passionate individual in the words he chose. I'm glad it was published. BUT, I think the point missed is realizing Mr. Sindell is a way left columnist with a stict liberal attitude that anyone at a management level is the reason for GM's current situation. Hopefully this opinion fades and guys like Wellburn can get back to work and do the things they do best instead of having to feel like the need to respond to the kinds of bias idiots like Sindell and the Huffington Post! Now I will never post another political response again. I want to look at hear about 2SS Camaros!

good cus we don't allow them..

[greenrail]

My 2SS is one of the most awesome GM designs in years!

Damn, it is hot lookin'!!!


(In support of Americanmade's last post!)

[AMERICANMADE]

Thanks, dealer says my Rally Yellow 2SS is still at 3000. That's okay I can still look at yours.

[trm0002]

"...I would be happy to take you, Mr. Sindell, on a personal tour

of GM Design Headquarters in Warren, MI. I implore you to see what we’re

working on; and then let folks know what you think..."



So, if I say the Buick Lacrosse sucks can I get the personal tour?

[Zhawk]

Great letter as a reply. And it is important.
The initial letter was posted as an open letter in Huffington Post and while the reply may not change the mind of the person who started this, others may read it and have a more open mind.

I have seen massive improvement in GMs products over the last couple of years, and even better is supposed to be in the pipeline. Let's hope the product continues to get stronger and people are intelligent enough to see it.

[greenrail]

Originally Posted by AMERICANMADE

Thanks, dealer says my Rally Yellow 2SS is still at 3000. That's okay I can still look at yours.

I really hope your's arrives soon. I have seen a couple of Yellow Camaro's in the area here. (Can't say what model as they wetre headed the opposite direction on the freeway.)

But Yellow really stands out!

You will love this car when you get it home!

[Vash]

And with quality USA built small cars like Cobalt why do we need even smaller subcompacts?

It will damage GM's reputation if people start getting killed in these things. The lawsuits will fly. Just bad tires alone killed off the Explorer's long dominance and damaged Ford's market share. As an example of safety being important.

[AMERICANMADE]

I actually saw a post someplace earlier today of a new owner who was still listed at 3000 and their car was in their driveway. I am a mere March pre-order, but that gives me hope that the database just isn't updated. Can't imagine being an October buyer and still wondering what went wrong. I really feel for them!

[sabrescamaro]

That's awesome! I need to make a website bashing GM if it gets a free tour... Need a guest for your personal tour, Sindell? That's a well written letter.

[KJS]

To those who say the letter is a waste of time....

I ask when does a "turnaround" start? Do you just send out an email to your employees, the media and put up signs in the lobby, showrooms and newspaper ads? "Hey - we're new and improved - believe us and now buy our product?" Nope.

Or do you go into "hibernation mode", go off quietly producing a better mousetrap and hope the world notices?

You do it in rebuttal letters, in each car you design, each factory you build in, each car you produce, one showroom at a time, one day at a time. You have set backs, mis-steps and then...the buzz changes. When you're committed to change, things will go from poor, to getting better, to good to great. Hopefully you have the time and money to change it up. And in GMs case their on a very tight timeframe and buget. So they do it as quickly and as best they can.

It happens with sports teams, with quality issues, with developing software and in complex and simple organizations. But if you don't start making the important systemic changes and concurrently making positive statements, infusing hope, challenging the nay-sayers, re-orienting the way people (employees, customers, yourself) perceive you, you can't get it done. No matter how much you wish it would happen, it doesn't.

It starts one letter, one committment, one day at a time.

So Ed, hats off to you. Keep up the good fight and let the world know you're trying and GM will succeed.

[McGruff]

Instead of acknowledging the things GM is actively doing to make the changes you would like to see, you decided to take a cheap shot.

I know GM makes good cars...I'm buying one of them. Most people here know that. I just don't think words from GM will change public opinion, the cars and reviews will have to do the talking. That is just my opinion though. It would have been a one-time post had I not been insulted.

Get your hand out of that cage...

Don't feed the animals... Gees...

Stuff like that is just immature, especially as a mod, which made me defend myself. I voiced my opinion but did not make fun of any particular person when doing so. Please do not single people out in the future for having different opinions by calling them trolls and laughing at them if you're going to be a neutral moderator for the forum, it sets a bad example.