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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Leonard Hoffman wrote:
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I dont follow your logic there. You seemed to be thinking that the
purpose of the Ambassador program was to be representative of the global,
and I was trying to correct that view. Obviously the more countries that
participate, the better. However, Ive found that it is generally theme
representation that is more important than national or regional
representation. Trainheads from California and Germany tend to have the same
LEGO-related issues, whereas a Minifig customizer and a Spacer both from
South Carolina tend to have very different issues that need to be brought up.
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Well Ill have to take your word for that, since I really have no idea what the
Ambassadors do. So far the exchange of information seems to be decidedly one
way, if it happens at all. Apart from the occasional marketing survey, we (the
general AFOL population) have heard nothing from the ambassadors in an
ambassadorial role. We hear nothing about what goes on in the secret ambassadors
forum. We have no idea what the ambassadors are telling the company that we as
AFOLs want from them.
So I ask this: for whose benefit is the Ambassador program being run? From the
information I have at hand, which is admittedly scant (see above), it seems to
be solely for the benefit of the marketing arm of the company. Ok, maybe itll
feed back to us eventually with products we like, but ultimately, that requires
us trusting the ambassadors to represent the communitys interests. Without any
information one way or the other, Im afraid I cant give that trust. Its not
that I think the ambassadors are untrustworthy, I just DONT KNOW.
As far as I can tell, the Ambassador Program is merely a fancy name for a
marketing focus group, which is fair enough. Maybe if wed had this a couple of
years ago they wouldnt have changed the colours. But please call it what it is,
and how about a bit more transparency? I know youre under and NDA - perhaps it
needs revising.
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I missed the tongue-in-cheek part. Definately keep working on that, and
maybe someday, just someday, you might be able to make a post that is
seriously hilarious. Keep trying Tim, I know you have it in you. The spark
of humor is there, it just needs to be nurtured, cared for, and lovingly
petted from time to time, and it will grow. Oh yes, it will grow.
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Oh, Lenny. You do make me laugh.
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You think Russia is in Asia? Well, part of it is... And the Middle East
tends to cover as much of North Africa as it does of Southwest Asia, which is
why I differentiated that. But not that it is all that important, since both
of us left out the Pacific Islands. Poor Micronesians, TLG doesnt seem to
care about them, and neither does Lenny or Tim for that matter. Once again,
I am brought to tears...
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Does that include New Zealand? No-one cares about New Zealand.
a
| | | | | | | | | | | | | In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Allister McLaren wrote:
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No-one cares about New Zealand.
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Theyre mostly sheep there anyway arent they????
ROSCO
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Allister McLaren wrote:
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Well Ill have to take your word for that, since I really have no idea what
the Ambassadors do. So far the exchange of information seems to be decidedly
one way, if it happens at all. Apart from the occasional marketing survey,
we (the general AFOL population) have heard nothing from the ambassadors in >
an ambassadorial role. We hear nothing about what goes on in the secret
ambassadors forum. We have no idea what the ambassadors are telling the
company that we as AFOLs want from them.
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Let me try to shed some light on the LA program without revealing things I am
not supposed to. First off, I will (later today), ask some of the new
ambassadors to review what we have done in the past 2 cycles. Then, Ill ask if
any of the new ambassadors wants to carefully format a statement as to whether
we have been doing things for the AFOL community. Im pretty sure they will be
quite positive. The thing that is currently working against the flow of
information is time. There are several projects underway, in whch the
ambassadors are asked to help design entire lines of product. For instance,
Project Theme XXXX 2007. This is a project that started many moons ago, but due
to competitors in the toy market, the marketing department will not reveal
ANYTHING till a few months prior to launch of the product, which is still over a
year ahead of us. Thus, till then, we CANNOT tell you what we have been doing.
We can guarantee you that many of us have been working hard. Once the initial
few cycles have past, and the first tangiables are devlivered, you will
undoubtedly know that AFOLs had a part in designing, stategizing, etc.
As far as letting you know what we are telling the company, a similar
restricting exisits. We, as LAs, are gaining more and more trust of the LEGO
employees, and more and more do they approach us for feedback, or ask us to work
with them. The questions that they ask are tightly linked to future product
lines, and thus the answers are rather specific, and for now, we cant make
public what we advise the LEGO people on.
I do see this can be very frustrating, but take a look at the list of LAs. They
do represent hard-core fans, and many have been around for several cycles. The
few that have not re-aaplied/were not reselected, are likewise very happy with
the program, but lacked the time commitment it sometimes takes.
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So I ask this: for whose benefit is the Ambassador program being run? From
the information I have at hand, which is admittedly scant (see above), it
seems to be solely for the benefit of the marketing arm of the company. Ok,
maybe itll feed back to us eventually with products we like, but
ultimately, that requires us trusting the ambassadors to represent the
communitys interests. Without any information one way or the other, Im
afraid I cant give that trust. Its not that I think the ambassadors are
untrustworthy, I just DONT KNOW.
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The answer is clear: the program was designed for, is, and will continue to
benefit BOTH the AFOL community, and the company. About trust, I am with you.
Trust is something you gain over time, and that will have to be the way. Anyone
who asks me if the LA program is good for the AFOL community, I tell YES! I am
sure if you ask any other LA, or past LA, theyll say YES as well. Again, as
time passes, and the first bigger deliverables may be not too far away, we are
confident we will earn that trust, so for now, sit back, relax, and build...
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As far as I can tell, the Ambassador Program is merely a fancy name for a
marketing focus group, which is fair enough. Maybe if wed had this a couple
of years ago they wouldnt have changed the colours. But please call it what
it is, and how about a bit more transparency? I know youre under and NDA -
perhaps it needs revising.
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Im sorry, but you are wrong here. We are not a marketing focus group, we do
work at many different levels with LEGO employees, and other fans. Had the
ambassadors been around 5-6 years ago, I am sure wed not have seen the color
change. Im saying 5-6 years because it simply takes a long time for the LAs to
gain trust with the LEGO employees. Now, do you see a paralel here......? Yes,
in the beginning, we had a hard time convincing employees within LEGO to contact
us for FB, help, etc. Now, more and more we are accpeted, and TRUSTED. In the
beginning, they would not even give us pre-views of sets that were going to be
publically marketed the next day. Now, from time to time we get to see stuff
many months ahead, and now we get to help design some of it, so we see the stuff
years in advnace. It was easier for them to quickly trust us, because they
immediately see the work we do/Feedback we give. We still have some roads to
travel within the compnay as far as trust goes, but we are moving ahead. As far
as the NDA, this is necessary. If LEGO wants to be financially healthy, they
cannot afford to give away their plans for future sets too far in advance. Other
companies, with lesser care for quality, could cranck out the same idea faster,
but no as good, but kill the market for that line by doing so.
Hope this sheds a bit of light on the program, and believe me, we too are
frustrated we cant tell you more of what we are doing, as we know that would
gain us that trust quickly, but have we understand why we are under NDA, and
work with that the best we can.
Paul Janssen,
LEGO Ambassador
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Paul Janssen wrote:
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Let me try to shed some light on the LA program without revealing things I am
not supposed to.
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snip
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Hope this sheds a bit of light on the program, and believe me, we too are
frustrated we cant tell you more of what we are doing, as we know that would
gain us that trust quickly, but have we understand why we are under NDA, and
work with that the best we can.
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Thanks, Paul. That was exactly what I was asking for. Its certainly more
information about what goes on in the LA program than weve ever had before. It
should happen more often ;) I look forward to seeing the fruits of the LAs
labours. I hope theyre as good as you say.
Cheers,
a
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