Hot off the press

kommando said:

Its hidden unless you log in as its in a members only forum, News and Views and currently top topic.

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Found it now. NOC website had logged me out.

Ian

At present the proposal is to get member's views on entering into dialogue only.
The overwhelming consensus is negative, based on the NOC forum.
I await the list of volunteers for 'Norvil Motorcycle Company New Bike Warranty repair Manager'

Training provided courtesy of Father Jack....
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81XOySA3JP8[/video]

I think there might be some unused dungeons available for "customer correction activities". "You want to return what?" :twisted:

I wrote another rant to Roadholder 5 minutes after reading this. Agree with all the comments and made most of them myself in my letter. Hopefully some changes at the AGM this weekend will return sanity to what has been in the past a good club to be part of.
Don't give up on the club, change it! I've made countless great friends by being a member and attending and organising events, although if think this forum is excellent it doesn't replace face to face contact whilst having a beer at meetings.

Gino Rondelli said:

I wrote another rant to Roadholder 5 minutes after reading this. Agree with all the comments and made most of them myself in my letter. Hopefully some changes at the AGM this weekend will return sanity to what has been in the past a good club to be part of.
Don't give up on the club, change it! I've made countless great friends by being a member and attending and organising events, although if think this forum is excellent it doesn't replace face to face contact whilst having a beer at meetings.

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Hi Gino,

Trouble is the only way to change the club is via the AGM. When only 2.5% of members can attend then the decisions made cannot be said to be representative of the wishes of the entire membership. The EC have no intention of proposing a change to the voting system, a club referendum is too expensive allegedly, yet in the EC's opinion the wholesale purchase of Emery's shop is obviously not. If the final straw for me had not been the way the EC pander to the whims of S. Garner and Chris Grimmet's forum censorship, then the latest display of corruption would have. I agree about the club rallies and will continue to attend when and where I can, see you at this years Borders rally if not before,

Simon.

I have to be diplomatic due to my position in the trade so tried to hint at certain facts on the NOC forum.

My impression is there are forces at work behind the scenes that the common-and-garden member will never get to know about. If the NOC are so keen on spares why did they miss out for the last twenty years? And why is the committee so keen- the committee of a club for a hobby, mind!- to compete with people whose daily bread the Norton spares are? And why sponsor a party on occasion of retirement that is well-off due to selling spares part of their working lives, hence needs no alms?

Clever to suggest to the members they only want permission to talk... One should have thought the parties have a clear idea what they want to discuss, and what sums are involved. "Talks" sound non-commital and don't cost anything (yet).

Incidently, I had an offer for a business in the Norton spares field only last week. Rang the man yesterday and asked what he wanted. Got a sum straight back by phone. Obviously it is negotiable, but should I want to pursue the matter I'd mention the sum to my family and my team in Andover.

Sadly, members may have to cast a vote with their feet. If there is a mass exodus of members who say they will not pay dues nor shop at the prescribed spares outlet, then the scheme will fall badly on its face. I am not a member and I have no fear that I will be able to find parts for my bike regardless of what the NOC decides to do.

Russ

To put the purchase and running of a business by an eclectic group of individuals into perspective, imagine if it were purchased by the collective members of this forum.

I wouldn’t give a dime for the purchase, but I would pay dearly for the privilege of watching it being run.

Within 2 hours of receiving the news in the Roadholder, I emailed the president and the vice president of the NOC to say if one penny of club funds goes to Les Emery I will leave. I've been a member for well over 30 years. It's a good club but this is the wrong direction.

I think this is the perfect time for de-centralisation of government of the NOC i.e sack the EC, or easier still, wholesale departure of branches from the NOC. The EC would have you believe the club would fall apart if it wasn't for all there hard work - bollocks. The branches already run themselves and branch to branch communication network already exists or could easily be set up. I don't know of a single thing the EC has done in recent years that couldn't have been done without them or has been a genuine benefit to the typical member. As far as I was aware my £19.50 subscription fee contributed toward production of the club magazine (which does nothing a website can't do but far more costly) and EC meetings, lunches, lap-tops, travelling expenses (including flights). A motorcycle clubs criteria should be;

1) enjoy riding motorcycles.
2) enjoy motorcycle rallies.
3) making sure top quality beer is available to enjoy at motorcycle rallies.

Anyway, enough of this futility, work is required on the motorcycle.

Why not create a Facebook page.... If you each invite other Friends/parties that you know who have an interest in the club can join.. The view of many can be vented or applauded in a dedicated forum and possibly a "Poll" could be activated to cast a vote....... Im not saying dont talk about it here.. Cos there are/would be many other who dont use this forum but have an interest in that "EC Activity".... Just a thought!!

From the NOC forum:

Posted by Chris Grimmett at Monday 09:59

The Club has decided to end this conversation here. The matter was discussed at the AGM and the meeting voted for the EC to pursue exploratory talks with Norvil.

Webmaster

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:lol: :lol: :lol: Must be getting toooo hot in the kitchen!!!!!!!!!!.

ZFD said:

From the NOC forum:

Posted by Chris Grimmett at Monday 09:59

The Club has decided to end this conversation here. The matter was discussed at the AGM and the meeting voted for the EC to pursue exploratory talks with Norvil.

Webmaster

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Joe, I understand that you are also going to be involved in the consultation.
At least that's good news!
I fully appreciate that you may not want to divulge any confidences, but I for one am grateful that the future dialogue will consider a variety of viewpoints.
The NOC membership have already had a flavour of how that is likely to progress... :roll:

Is it fair to assume that no commitment can be entered into without the permission of the majority of the membership?
Or just the EC?

I'm still at a loss as to what the NOC will do with 50% of a trademark and 100% of the inherited 'goodwill'.

Their website is rather good though, contains a lot of useful information, and I for one would miss that - perhaps that's what the NOC are after? :wink:

Joe, I understand that you are also going to be involved in the consultation.
At least that's good news!
I fully appreciate that you may not want to divulge any confidences, but I for one am grateful that the future dialogue will consider a variety of viewpoints.
The NOC membership have already had a flavour of how that is likely to progress... :roll:

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Bogus,
I was as surprised as you were to read this. We have not been approached by either the NOC or any other party about being part of the discussions. Not that I yearn to be, for that matter.

To make it perfectly clear: Andover Norton has nothing to do with the NOC considering to take over whatever part of "Norvil" Motorcycles. All we did was offer the Club- yet again, as it was done before at least 5 years ago, eye-to-eye at a Norton Motors Ltd Open Day- to supply the NOC Spares scheme with decent spares to save their members disappointment with the pattern stuff they are getting.

The offer wasn't taken up for reasons we were never told five years ago, and we will see if it is now.

ZFD said:

Bogus,
I was as surprised as you were to read this. We have not been approached by either the NOC or any other party about being part of the discussions. Not that I yearn to be, for that matter.

To make it perfectly clear: Andover Norton has nothing to do with the NOC considering to take over whatever part of "Norvil" Motorcycles. All we did was offer the Club- yet again, as it was done before at least 5 years ago, eye-to-eye at a Norton Motors Ltd Open Day- to supply the NOC Spares scheme with decent spares to save their members disappointment with the pattern stuff they are getting.

The offer wasn't taken up for reasons we were never told five years ago, and we will see if it is now.

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Oh dear - looks like some 'information management' at play.
For the benefit of the forum members who aren't in the NOC:

The meeting voted that the Executive Committee (EC) should pursue its exploratory discussions with Norvil. It also agreed that the EC should talk to Andover Norton as part of the exercise.

I've never been a fan of 'club politics' since I was Secretary of a local club many years ago, but this is in a different league altogether

I have no problems with the owners club speaking to AN regarding commando spares supply

But I think the old problem of the AN retail price point will become an issue

basically I do not think AN could offer the owners club a big enough discount off their retail structure to make it work ( for readily available spares )

just a few example 06-0673 air filter AN £19.50 most other Norton parts suppliers £12.50

06-3282 ex valve AN £22.85 most other Norton parts suppliers £10.50

Members would be looking to save 10 % off normal UK retail prices so AN would have to offer massive discounts to the spares scheme to have any chance of moving product

kiwi said:

I have no problems with the owners club speaking to AN regarding commando spares supply
.....
Members would be looking to save 10 % off normal UK retail prices so AN would have to offer massive discounts to the spares scheme to have any chance of moving product

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As far as price of spares is concerned, there's a value associated with quality, and above that, comeback when problems arise.
I have to say I've had various issues with stuff from all the main players in the UK - mistakes do happen, and I've been 100% satisfied with the resolution with 3 of the suppliers.
The other one left me seriously out of pocket on the deal, and feeling rather insulted.
No prizes, etc.

The inescapable fact is at present, the club is looking to buy the Company: - stock, premises etc. would be by separate negotiation.

Every good brand has a value above mere parts and storefront - who will start the bidding?

Kiwi

Please do not compare prices but compare like for like.

I will only sell chain that lets me sleep at night. I sell iwis at £40 yet I could sell
another brand and make more profit. No names no pack drill the other brand is
sold by many companies as a "quality " product. I can buy this product at a third
of the price of iwis, yes a third, sell it on and mke a whole load more % profit.

Why dont I, simple I value my 40 years experience and value my client base. As
I said above I sleep well. Meeting clients at shows I would prefer compliments
rather than complaints.

Andy

kiwi said:

just a few example 06-0673 air filter AN £19.50 most other Norton parts suppliers £12.50

06-3282 ex valve AN £22.85 most other Norton parts suppliers £10.50

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Most probably true, but I beg you to compare what you get. The air filters are, at least from two big suppliers, of a size that will not fit into the original filter housing (the Chinese supplier has probably never seen one...) . The valves are miles apart from our stellite-tipped, chrome-stemmed valves qualitywise. Ask a good toolmaker or engineer for a second opinion, if you like!

I know where to get all the cheap pattern stuff and we could obviously sell that at these "competitive" prices with a healthy profit, but- probably because I tend to ride one of my Commandos to work and for pleasure, as well as race other Commandos- I just don't want to touch these pattern parts.

If price is the only criterion, we'll never break ice with the NOC.

Joe/Andover Norton