Subject:
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Re: NDAs
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.lego.direct
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Date:
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Mon, 12 Feb 2001 21:20:35 GMT
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Viewed:
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827 times
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In lugnet.lego.direct, John Neal writes:
>
>
> Lorbaat wrote:
> > A gift? Please.
>
> No really. We all considered it a privilege to be invited.
A priviledge, yes. A gift? No.
LEGO got just as much, if not more, out of the meeting than you did.
It's important to remember that LEGO is a company. LEGO is not your friend,
it's not your enemy, it's not Santa's workshop. They don't do things out of
the goodness of their hearts- nor should they be expected to do so.
> Sure, LD has something to gain-- otherwise, as you say, they wouldn't have
> invited
> us. But a lot of the conversation was about how TLC can help out LTCs and
> what
> they are doing. We are talking about a 2 way street.
Yes, I do know that LEGO was soliciting ideas about how to better service their
customers, and how to better get realtively cheap advertising out of LTCs.
Nothing wrong with that, certainly.
Still doesn't constitute a "gift".
> > In any event, this was not a "gift". They traded whatever they gave you for
> > what you gave them- which is invaluable information for figuring out where
> > their business is going to go.
>
> hehe, as if *we* have all the answers
Well, frankly, I think you're underestimating how important your opinions as
hardcore LEGO consumers is to the company. Let's not forget, they've been
floundering lately. Sales flagging, layoffs, etc. They are in desperate need
of figuring out a way to better their product offerings and maximise sales.
And as consumers, you know what you want.
> And even if I said, "You should offer X element in bulk, because I know a lot
> of
> people would buy it", and they do and they make a mint off of that advice, who
> really benefits? Win-win.
Uh, well, yeah.
I think you're mistaking my trying to point out that this was not a "gift" for
meaning that I somehow think the whole thing was flawed.
Far from it! I think that both of these meetings- train and CAD- are excellent
moves on LEGO Direct's part. I think it's an awe-inspring step closer to the
consumer community, and clearly they value your input, or they wouldn't waste
their time and money.
However, the important thing to realise is that they *do* value your input, and
that's why you were there, not because LEGO was trying to do something nice for
you (or anyone).
> > Frankly, even if they did pay your room and board, in my mind you would have
> > done well to ask for a consultant's fee as well, and made *them* sign NDAs
> > about the direction that the LDraw community is going to go in.
>
> This isn't about money, it's about our love for the brick.
That was a bit of a joke, and I failed to make it clear. My fault. It was an
exercise in reaching the logical conclusion about these meetings being a
business move on LEGO's part, not a social gathering.
To be clear, were I to be invited to a similar event, I would be excited and
happy to take part. I would more than gladly trade my time and energy to help
make LEGO a better company, and would feel honored to be invited.
Once again, I think these meetings are a good business move for LEGO. I think
it's smart for them to solicit fan/consumer feedback in such a serious and
meaningful way. I'm excited by the possible outcomes in the consumer
fields.
But the meeting, while a great thing, was not a "gift". It's an important
distinction, and a lot of the realisation that LEGO is a company, and acts like
a company, is getting lost around Lugnet lately. I think everyone's
expectations would be better filled if we all managed to remember what LEGO the
company is, and what role LEGO Direct plays in that company.
eric
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Message has 6 Replies:
 | | Re: NDAs
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| "Lorbaat" <eric@nospam.thirteen.net> wrote in message news:G8nxyB.FC4@lugnet.com... (...) And that's OK. (...) True for the company - but my experience with the individuals in the company is that they are good people and they do do things out of the (...) (24 years ago, 12-Feb-01, to lugnet.lego.direct)
| | | Re: NDAs
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| Mostly agree, so mostly snipped. (...) Can you elaborate on this? I agree that knowing that LEGO is a company and does things for company-ish reasons is important... I mean, I've been saying since *forever* that LEGO is a company and that things (...) (24 years ago, 12-Feb-01, to lugnet.lego.direct)
| | | Re: NDAs
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| (...) I didn't say it wasn't. (...) I didn't say anything about the individuals in question. I have no opinion of any of the individuals in question, never having met any of them. Even if I were to meet them, though, it would be important to (...) (24 years ago, 12-Feb-01, to lugnet.lego.direct)
| | | Re: NDAs
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| (...) Sure. Lately people have become infected with the idea that LEGO Direct will or won't like us based on posts in lugnet.lego.direct. They've somehow gotten the idea that LEGO Direct, as a part of The LEGO Company, will or won't form an (...) (24 years ago, 12-Feb-01, to lugnet.lego.direct)
| | | Re: NDAs
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| (...) But the meetings were just the beginning. They are history. The dialog continues here with all AFOLs. We should all continue to provide input to help make TLC a better company. (...) Okay, your point is well taken. The term "gift" probably (...) (24 years ago, 12-Feb-01, to lugnet.lego.direct)
| | | O Lar, you brute... (Was Re: NDAs)
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| (...) That is the biggest piece of hogwash I have seen come from you yet. I don't believe there has really ever been a "we want it because we want it" crowd -- that's just a straw man of your own creation so that you can make yourself seem important (...) (24 years ago, 12-Feb-01, to lugnet.lego.direct)
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Message is in Reply To:
| | Re: NDAs
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| (...) No really. We all considered it a privilege to be invited. (...) Sure, LD has something to gain-- otherwise, as you say, they wouldn't have invited us. But a lot of the conversation was about how TLC can help out LTCs and what they are doing. (...) (24 years ago, 12-Feb-01, to lugnet.lego.direct)
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