What Cobb Really Thinks About Us

[kingpin748]

Check out post 17.

http://forums.cobbtuning.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53017&page=2

[kingpin748]

"About Us" dammit.

[STeeLy]

I don't know the whole story, so I would love to hear the other side of it. But what if they're saying is true, then they have all the right in the world.

When you make anybody feel under appreciated/unappreciated for what they do, they no longer have the motivation to do it.

If I was a business owner and my own clients are like that, I'd turn them down too and focus on the clients that act more professionally and with respect.

[x_o_k_x]

yep its true, im official COBB dealer and I heard many stories about them from people like you in different forums. Truely I have no idea why.. But many also prefer CPE over Cobb. All I know is Cobb is just like CPE and they work just as hard on brining best products to the market for all Mazdaspeed enthusiast. Hopefully this would not hurt their company in anyway, but direct them into a beter future in business world.

[silvermist99]

great, now they are leaving all those people with AP hoping they can get more out of the engine hanging. They brought the AP thinking Cobb will release newer map which will get more out of the engine... Way to do business 8-)

The other reason they are probably pulling out is big power cannot be gained on the DISI without blowing stuff up... which is not what most mazdaspeed owners want to hear. Result in the cussing. It doesn't help that most mazdaspeed owner thinks their cars can gain easily gain 100+ hp like other dodge & Subaru platforms.

This car has enough power. Cobb should focus on the other stuff, mounts, reinforcements, suspension etc. Their stage 2 suspension kick ass on the track.

From a business standpoint, they should have scrapped the mazdaspeed projects all together since the beginning. That would have saved them money & hassle. The platform is not stable enough to get good gains from and they realized half way when things started going wrong and have to spend tremendous amount of resource supporting their products. This just sounds like an excuse to get out.

[mleblond]

Another sad day in mazdaspeed development. They are pretty much handing over their business to CP-E. What happen to all the cobble cobble heads?

[ptfire]

Maybe Cobb pulling out on MS3/MS6 isn't such a bad thing. It seems that many cars running the Cobb AP were blowing engines and they couldn't figure it out, so they blamed it on "variances in the vehicles from Mazda".

[3GFX]

Its a shame if they go.

COBB is a major tuner and one that is very recognized for good gains. Their effort in the Mazdaspeed arena should be apreciated.

[Mazda3X2]

That is pretty sad.

It's often the case that the ignorant or less informed speak out the loudest and have the most to say. Like Metallica said in one of their songs, "the empty can rattles the most".

Too bad things have gone this way for Cobb and the Mazdaspeed owners with Cobb products. I am pretty new to the tuning market for the MS3 and didn't even realize there was such an outcry going on amongst the community. I am not sure of the ratio but as usual would expect that for every person who speaks up in this manner there are many more quietly observing and waiting.

IMO a copany like Cobb should take these kind of things in stride as part of buisiness in the information age.

[chinsterr]

What gary from Cobb posted is absolutely true about the Mazdaspeed community, and this mentality is even replicated here on this forum. It's sad to see a reputable tuner with potentially really good products leave in this manner. The internet can be a touchy-feely place, but nothing should ever be taken to heart. But like anything else in life, everyone always seems to remember the bad experiences and forgets about the good ones.

[-cj-]

This isn't a popularity contest. I can't believe they're leaving because their ego is bruised. Companies like Microsoft are bashed every day by like every angle and they still keep rolling out new products. Business is business. As long as there's a market with demand, who cares what people think. They continue to buy your product... Maybe they need to close down the forums and just support their products in a more traditional manner. Mind you, I like the forum idea, but I'd rather they continue to support the MS community without hurt feelings...

They are taking everything too personally. It's a company. A faceless entity. People are buying up their products (I just ordered 3 different Cobb products yesterday and bought an AP 1.5 months ago...) so I don't understand what the deal is.

[SilentJay]

Really, like some guy posted on that thread, welcome to the internet. A harsh place where your audience reaches the far corners of the globe, but is populated with loud-mouth, overbearing smart-arses. In keeping with web-use demographics (predominantly younger people), what sort of maturity level were they looking for?

Indeed, it's sad when a major contributor to a platform decides to leave the fray, but instead of looking for internet validation, why not reach their users/buyers for direct feedback?

http://www.blackratchet.org/etc/waaahmbulance.jpg

[Dave_The_BMXER]

Wow thats weird never heard of a situation like this before.

[Aitch]

I think that's part of the problem. Its not just random people bashing their products, but also people who have bought the products and are very vocal about their displeasure with them. Sure, you have to roll with the punches on the internet, but when you have experience with different support communities for the different platforms you support, and one of them stands out as being very unhappy/ungrateful, why would you want to deal with them in the future? I can understand where they're coming from.

Its their business, if they feel they would rather focus on other markets, that's fine. There are plenty of tuners who don't work on all cars.

[-cj-]

Another way of looking at this is that all the other cars that Cobb supports are in a higher price catagory. It's possible that the MS crowd is younger and more willing to be vocal. I'm sure if they offered products for the Cobalts or SRT's, they would be in the same situation. Are any of the RX8 owners being as vocal?

Either way it doesn't make it right. If nobody was buying their product and everyone was complaining, then sure either try to find out why or exit the market... but there's a demand with a mix of people whining... Who cares? You will never make everyone happy.

[Fobio]

How many of you actually emailed Cobb and talked with Christian on the phone?

How many of you tested beta maps for them and sent logs to Cobb on your own wear and tear and gas $$$?

How many of you defended Cobb against all the nay-sayers and anti-fanboys that bash Cobb (or anyone else) every chance you get?

How many of you actually bought Cobb products?

How many of you actually know about the current development of the MS3/6 DISI engine?

If you haven't answered "yes" to at least 2 of these question, then you have nothing to qualify your statements with.

The Mazdaspeed community is tight-knit, informed, knowleegeable AND UNITED. We'll take care of our own. None of you haters have to worry.

[MattC]

lmao, that guy should be "replaced"

so his logic is, instead of making money on an untapped market, we will be even more childish than their customers.

I am guessing that they tried, and failed cracking it, and it's easier to blame the customers than admit incompetence.

[Fobio]

lmao, that guy should be "replaced"

so his logic is, instead of making money on an untapped market, we will be even more childish than their customers.

I am guessing that they tried, and failed cracking it, and it's easier to blame the customers than admit incompetence.

Thank you for your level headed thinking.

[-cj-]

That's their head marketing guy... Scary isn't it.

[kingpin748]

lmao, that guy should be "replaced"

so his logic is, instead of making money on an untapped market, we will be even more childish than their customers.

I am guessing that they tried, and failed cracking it, and it's easier to blame the customers than admit incompetence.

That really sums up the whole situation. Rather than admit they were having trouble whit our overzealous ECU they are blaming us an excuse.

I can't imagine what their "Marketing Director" was thinking when he posted that. Why not just sit there and sell they products they have left? Why insult the community?

[chinsterr]

lol so only you can comment on this issue becuase you can answer yes to those questions?

People are allowed to formulate their own opinions.

Its the internet .

Chill.

Have fun trying to resell all your cobb products.




How many of you actually emailed Cobb and talked with Christian on the phone?

How many of you tested beta maps for them and sent logs to Cobb on your own wear and tear and gas $$$?

How many of you defended Cobb against all the nay-sayers and anti-fanboys that bash Cobb (or anyone else) every chance you get?

How many of you actually bought Cobb products?

How many of you actually know about the current development of the MS3/6 DISI engine?

If you haven't answered "yes" to at least 2 of these question, then you have nothing to qualify your statements with.

The Mazdaspeed community is tight-knit, informed, knowleegeable AND UNITED. We'll take care of our own. None of you haters have to worry.

[silvermist99]

How many of you actually emailed Cobb and talked with Christian on the phone?

How many of you tested beta maps for them and sent logs to Cobb on your own wear and tear and gas $$$?

How many of you defended Cobb against all the nay-sayers and anti-fanboys that bash Cobb (or anyone else) every chance you get?

How many of you actually bought Cobb products?

How many of you actually know about the current development of the MS3/6 DISI engine?

If you haven't answered "yes" to at least 2 of these question, then you have nothing to qualify your statements with.

The Mazdaspeed community is tight-knit, informed, knowleegeable AND UNITED. We'll take care of our own. None of you haters have to worry.

no to all questions. I just know Cobb AP cannot gain big power on its own[yet]

Nowadays enthusiast are used to being spoon-fed everything, pay a couple hundred dollar for a product that will instantly transform their turbo car & gain 50hp/80 torque while retraining 100% reliability. Thats the mentality most vw & subaru owners have. Cobb was not able to deliver that with the mazdaspeed AP & got bashed. It was bad because they hyped it up way before launch and after numerous delays, the results were not as good as the Subaru’s. People got fustrated and started hatin'

[Unoriginalusername]

Hard to believe that 2-3 CPE sponsored fanboys (some even without an MS3 now) have been able to be vocal enough to drive cobb away from the mazdaspeed platform.

Its unfortunate for the other 99% of the world who pays for their mods and doesn't act like a child.

[-cj-]

Just bought the sri today and put in an order for the inlet and the stage2 springs... Makes me sort of regret it now. All of my mods have been from Cobb... Sort of feels like I've been slapped in the face.

[Fobio]

I'm sure some of you mean well...but most here have no clue about what the hell is going on. And your assumption that it's one of your own that's at issue here rather than an outsider who's trying to make money off the community is laughable...

silvermist99: be cool man...you, at least knows how to drive a car well...

[Cardinal Fang]

What gary from Cobb posted is absolutely true about the Mazdaspeed community, and this mentality is even replicated here on this forum.

BEFORE THIS GET'S INTO A PISSING CONTEST I'm going to stop you right here. Don't paint all Mazdaspeed owners with the same brush. There are a few bad apples on every board. But the same is also true of the Mazda3 owners if you look closely.

This isn't about one community vs another.

[Hives]

its the US guys who talk too much smack

[kid_icarus]

Here is the mentality on THIS BOARD ....

If you don't own a mazdaspeed3 you know nothing about the car

please feel free to name names
i know i am not one of them but there's no harm pointing out those you think act arrogant or look down on regular owners


but "nothing" vs "very little are vastly different"

i can argue that i don't know a mazda 3 as well mazda 3 owners.
and the same can be said for the opposite

i know what i read on paper, and what i read on the forums
this is what i call a "secondary" source

the same can be applied to everything in life and around us
aka u don't know marriage until you're in one. if someone came up to me and tried to tell me off about marriage and give me their opinions but had never been in one... what do they really know other than what they've read/seen/watched on dr. phil.

the only animosity that happens here is when ppl start raising comments like yours where everyone is against another and that's not needed.

you can have your opinion but in all honesty

until you're the person driving that car daily
until you're the person dishing out thousands on cobb parts and using them daily
you're opinion has very little substance vs someone who actually is right in the fold.

i just don't understand why it's always us against them or they against us.
let's just take everything with a grain of salt and move on.

everyone is entitled to their own opinion
it only becomes a problem when ppl try to shove that opinion down someone elses throat.

[Cardinal Fang]

Walks in an pours water on thread*

Right then!

We've all taken out our e-penis' and we all agreed that they're huge. So now back on topic. Next post about the character of Mazda3 vs Mazdaspeed owners gets deleted.

[silvermist99]

I'm sure some of you mean well...but most here have no clue about what the hell is going on. And your assumption that it's one of your own that's at issue here rather than an outsider who's trying to make money off the community is laughable...

silvermist99: be cool man...you, at least knows how to drive a car well...

:chuckle Just explaining why cobb got bashed. They were brave stepping into an unknown market, too bad the results wasn’t up to market’s expectation, so people started whining & complaining.

Make sense for Cobb to pull out, their reputation was going down with impatient people and the mazdaspeed market is small. They cannot justify spending large amount of R/D & support in the middle of a recession for this community when there are better platforms & bigger community to go after.

I'm sure people like Christian who worked so hard on the mazdaspeed is upset with this decision but he is not calling the shots. Company restructure in times like this is critical to save cost.

Who knows how they are doing financially, pulling out on mazdaspeed community could mean saving the company from layoffs etc. I highly doubt a ‘marketing director’ says he is pulling out because of some negative comments when a lot of MS modders are still buying their products. Maybe they will come back one day. Its just business.

IBTL

[Mazda3X2]

How long has Cobb been in the Mazdaspeed tuning market?

What does this mean for people who have the AP? Are they without any "new" support or updates?

I do not have any Cobb products installed but had been thinking about the AP for later this year. I really had no idea all the controversy going on.

[Fobio]

To an outsider there's really nothing going on; ATP and ATR is coming out. We will continue to tune. Life goes on. Problem is this Gary's attitude towards the community shortly after taking the marketing helm. Like the uninformed he took AP owners' dissatisfaction as bitching and bashing. And instead of responding positively he went on to antagonize and belittle the community. This post by him is just salt on injury and is totally uncalled for. That's the gist of it. They are abandoning the platform due to diminishing returns not because of the community. That's truth.

[kid_icarus]

To an outsider there's really nothing going on; ATP and ATR is coming out. We will continue to tune. Life goes on. Problem is this Gary's attitude towards the community shortly after taking the marketing helm. Like the uninformed he took AP owners' dissatisfaction as bitching and bashing. And instead of responding positively he went on to antagonize and belittle the community. This post by him is just salt on injury and is totally uncalled for. That's the gist of it. They are abandoning the platform due to diminishing returns not because of the community. That's truth.

+1 that sounds most accurate
i can't say i've been following this cobb soap opera before today
but from a business perspective it just seemed like a cop-out way of telling the community, you're not worth it anymore.

which is fine if he said that they can't 'support' it in a business frame of mind
but he had to come out using a personal frame of mind where feelings were hurt... lines were crossed... hearts were betrayed scenario.

i guess my "future" downpipe will be cp-e, should i choose to boldly go where many ms3 owners have gone already

[silvermist99]

They are abandoning the platform due to diminishing returns not because of the community. That's truth.

+1. They have a business to run and families to feed.

CPE is probably jumping up & down right now and raising their production lol.

[chinsterr]

+1. They have a business to run and families to feed.

CPE is probably jumping up & down right now and raising their production lol.

I was thinking the same thing.

[Mazda3X2]

From reading their forums it seems that he wasn't the only one feeling like Cobb's efforts were "under appreciated". I know that from a business standpoint that sounds ridiculous. From what I gather the general consensus is they are using this as an excuse to back out of a failing project, or at least one that proved more difficult than expected?

I just have a hard time understanding that a company could do something like this in this manner. What a way to lose face.


To an outsider there's really nothing going on; ATP and ATR is coming out. We will continue to tune. Life goes on. Problem is this Gary's attitude towards the community shortly after taking the marketing helm. Like the uninformed he took AP owners' dissatisfaction as bitching and bashing. And instead of responding positively he went on to antagonize and belittle the community. This post by him is just salt on injury and is totally uncalled for. That's the gist of it. They are abandoning the platform due to diminishing returns not because of the community. That's truth.

[Fobio]

Just a little taste of how things actually gets done thru Cobb...these guys are humans too, and we understand it...Cobb is not a bunch of Gandalf's in Ivory Towers sprinkling pixie dust on our cars:

http://forums.cobbtuning.com/forums/showthread.php?p=590866

The guy JoeGR is like Christian...helpful and somewhat understanding....that's the Cobb that I know and have dealt with.

This Gary guy is something else...and is not the Cobb I know...:AH

[Big Dad]

lol so only you can comment on this issue becuase you can answer yes to those questions?

People are allowed to formulate their own opinions.

Its the internet .

Chill.

Have fun trying to resell all your cobb products.


Why is it that you feal the need to continually make negative comments on the mazdaspeed forums?

[craigrodrigues88]

shitty...
after waiting so long for the COBB SRI I guess I am going with Cp-e

[brecker]

Or hang in their a bit and buy my COBB intake.

[Scottobot]

shitty...
after waiting so long for the COBB SRI I guess I am going with Cp-e

+1

[omalak]

Not a Speed3 owner, so my opinion is worth nothing i guess.

BUT! The post on COBB forums could have been better handled, for whatever reason the comapny chose to leave the mazdaspeed tuning market they could have worded it much better.

There are corporate and politically correct ways to make a statement. Many people would have understood had it been said professionally.

I don't think calling out a whole community was the right thing to do, especially since "the few don't always represent the majority"

Too bad they decided to discontinue development, they need to work on wirtten and communication skills in the marketing department..

[Fobio]

Not a Speed3 owner, so my opinion is worth nothing i guess.

BUT! The post on COBB forums could have been better handled, for whatever reason the comapny chose to leave the mazdaspeed tuning market they could have worded it much better.

There are corporate and politically correct ways to make a statement. Many people would have understood had it been said professionally.

I don't think calling out a whole community was the right thing to do, especially since "the few don't always represent the majority"

Too bad they decided to discontinue development, they need to work on wirtten and communication skills in the marketing department..

Your comments are completely qualified in the sense that you have an understanding of proper business conduct and the issue at hand. This has nothing to do with the so called "name calling" as in the business world, there's no such thing as feelings. It doesn't take a MS3/Cobb owner to understand basic human decencies and relationship building.

[omalak]

Your comments are completely qualified in the sense that you have an understanding of proper business conduct and the issue at hand. This has nothing to do with the so called "name calling" as in the business world, there's no such thing as feelings. It doesn't take a MS3/Cobb owner to understand basic human decencies and relationship building.

Exactly..

Had they followed proper business practicies, they may still have had a loyal customer base who would live and die by their products even though they may be discontinued. Sure you exited the scene but atleast have some decency and respect for customers who actaully supported the company and bought their products..

Oh well, COBBs loss is another company's gain.. CPE will learn about this, and i can garuntee you will see them reaching out to the community to win over new customers.

Key #1 to successful business: Build a relationship with your customer!!!

I guess they did not think what may happen later on down the road when some mazdaspeed owners upgrade to other cars supported by COBB.. I guess they didn't think about the friends mazdaspeed owners may have who buy COBB products..

Word of mouth travels faster than anything..

alright i'm done... it;s lunch time :pop

[Fobio]

The joys and follies of being a consumer...Cobb's official apology from Gary Sheehan himself:

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/forum/mazdaspeed-3-6-ecu-computer-tuning/25290-apology-cobb-tuning.html#post199673


I have had some time to reflect on the developments over the last couple of days and I feel that I owe the MAZDASPEED community an apology.

I am relatively new here at COBB Tuning and am very excited to be a part of this team. I believe in what COBB Tuning is trying to accomplish in the marketplace and know that we have the talent to accomplish the goals that we set for ourselves. I have a great deal of respect for the engineers and calibrators that dedicate so much of their time and put forth huge effort to make the AccessPORT products the best they can be. I see the long hours that sales and tech support put into taking care of our customers' needs. Over the past six months I have come to know the people that are the driving force behind the company you know as COBB Tuning. In my enthusiasm for being a member of this team, I have taken the comments on several MAZDASPEED forums as personal attacks on me and my fellow COBB Tuning employees, and have vented my frustration in an inappropriate way.

I allowed a small minority of offensive forum members to get the better of me, and in lashing out at them, I have inadvertently offended a large population of the community that was not the target of my criticism. The part that I find most embarrassing is that I was influenced by people that have no interest in our products whatsoever, who post solely to stir controversy. I want to offer my sincere apology to the entire MAZDASPEED community for comments that you found offensive and promoted a negative stereotype for the community as a whole. Just like all other forums I have participated in, the vast majority are good natured people sharing a common enthusiasm for a cool car. I do know better, yet I let my emotions cloud my judgment.

I would also like to offer an additional apology to all of the MAZDASPEED enthusiasts that have supported COBB Tuning throughout the development of our products and stuck with us through the difficult times as we explored and learned about this platform. Although it was not intentional, I do see why my comments were perceived as a "slap in the face" and how you feel you are being unjustly punished and abandoned. Our decision was based on the actions of a minority, and the COBB supporters that have remained quiet and faithful, anticipating future features, were the ones we asked to bear the burden of that decision. That was not a fair decision for us to make.

In an effort to make reparations, COBB Tuning will move forward with implementing the Launch Control and No Lift Shift features on the MAZDASPEED AccessPORT that so many have been waiting for. Launch Control and No Lift Shift will be implemented in the same form as on other platforms. Launch Control will allow the user to set an RPM that the engine will rev to, building partial boost pressure, while the clutch is in and the throttle is at maximum. No Lift Shift will allow the user to set an RPM that the engine will maintain between shifts while the clutch is in and the throttle is at maximum, maintaining partial boost pressure. Development on these features is not complete and we will provide availability dates when we are 100% confident in their accuracy.

We understand that many of you just want to use the AccessPORT with OTS maps, but variance of the MAZDASPEED from the factory has prevented our OTS maps from working properly on some vehicles. In an effort to assist these customers, COBB Tuning will release a full featured beta version of AccessTUNER Race software for the MAZDASPEED3 & 6. There will be no charge for this beta version of AccessTUNER Race and the software will be released on April 20th as previously stated.

In closing, I must admit that this has been quite a learning experience for me. For what it is worth, I assure you that I will not let my emotions generate another outburst like this in the future. I hope that each of you will accept my apology and not allow my indiscretion to tarnish all of the positive advances that my COBB Tuning colleagues have brought to MAZDASPEED enthusiasts.

Sincerely,

Gary Sheehan
Director of Marketing
COBB Tuning

[kid_icarus]

great apology and well written and thought out.
guess it goes to show we can all make mistakes when we make impulsive comments especially on the internet.

[mleblond]

The joys and follies of being a consumer...Cobb's official apology from Gary Sheehan himself:

http://www.mazdaspeedforums.org/forum/mazdaspeed-3-6-ecu-computer-tuning/25290-apology-cobb-tuning.html#post199673

About time, I was expecting something. But Still a soap opera this story.

[Unoriginalusername]

when cobb lets him go maybe I will take them seriously again, great appology but the fact is he said what he said and there are consequences to that

[-cj-]

Has it been confirmed that it really was Gary / Cobb posting that or was it just a prank? IE: Did they follow up on their own forums? (Goes to check)...

[Fobio]

Has it been confirmed that it really was Gary / Cobb posting that or was it just a prank? IE: Did they follow up on their own forums? (Goes to check)...

Verified :): http://forums.cobbtuning.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54133

[-cj-]

Best f**ken news I've heard all day =) I wonder if he's just trying to keep his job... Trey implied that the whole company stood with Gary... Ah well, whatever, as long as we get launch control I'm happy ;)

[Fobio]

To be honest, I wouldn't be surprised if the apology was written by someone else and Gary just signed it. Regardless, this will be a better long wknd now.

[Mazda3X2]

That was a good read. I was wondering when reading the original post if Gary had acted on his own or did he have the backing of the company and reflect the general frame of mind within Cobb Tuning, now I know.

I am happy for all you out there with Cobb products, namely the AP that you will see further development and support.

[RX9]

i am confused！ therefore，COBB back on speed3s again？i just throwed AP out of my window。=，=|||

[-cj-]

I think all we got in the end is an apology and flat shifting /launch control...They're still dropping the platform. Oh, and free beta software...

[WhiteSpeed3]

well i just read this thread and i can see where cobb is coming from, i for one was never sold on the AP yet just b/c i havent seen any real improvements that makes me wanna get it, although it is a great product it hasnt caught my eye but with the racing tunning options coming out now it is something to consider for me.

and i believe cobb completely about the mazdaspeed community (some not all) cuz look at what happened with turbo xs, when i got my speed they were coming out with all sorts of stuff and i got most of it, and now what nothin has been released from them in a year, maybe cuz some ppl really bashed them and there products also

[RX9]

i though the speed3's community is small. the car has just been made since 07 and its limited as well. COBB tuned suby before they started their own company, thats the reason why suby got the better software. And plus there are tons of non-speed owner or wannabe-speed owners bitching around.
the main point is THEY DIDN'T MAKE ENOUGHT MONEY THAN THEY THINK. Well, we are on ourown, goodbye COBB.

[-cj-]

Today's d-day, have they released their beta software yet?

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

Realize this is an old thread, but it seemed appropriate, not to mention funny... NOTE: NSFW due to language.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V6h1e-M5zI

[EvilEric]

Realize this is an old thread, but it seemed appropriate, not to mention funny... NOTE: NSFW due to language.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_V6h1e-M5zI

LOL did you watch the rest of them? There was one about Medievil.

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

LOL did you watch the rest of them? There was one about Medievil.

Yah, I saw that one too. It was pretty funny, but way too long.