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Back in the days of the black-and-white television the marketing gurus created the Money Back Guarantee. I can hear it now, "If you're not completely satisfied with the Electro-Fiber 2000, you can..."
Geez.
Somewhere in the same timeframe was the "no money down and/or easy payment plan." Look around, both of the marketing tactics are still widely used. (Think about all those home shopping channels, wow.)
In today's world of instantaneous information, the marketing buzzword is feedback. So, with great pleasure we would like to share some comments from our readers, a couple of celebrity-types, and a background piece from the Editor.
Enjoy and thanks for your support. Also thank you for allowing us to indulge in a bit of braggadocio.
This testimonial from TDR member "chop suey":
"I have been a member for a few decades. I love this magazine. I know that you all do exceptional work and it is time consuming. I say THANK YOU to each and every one of you for your diligent work in giving us an irreplaceable magazine. I do miss my Kevin "OILMAN" fix. An encore appearance would be appreciated, in any form. I always enjoy reading Mark Barnes, the nuanced twisty turns careening off the walls of his cranial cavity spewing onto the ink splattered pages. Joe Donnelly should be inducted into the Cummins (Mentoring) Gearhead Hall of Fame. However, it doesn't exist (yet.) One must always have a base to build on. That Joe Donnelly should be the first inductee. But, of course, there always must be founder - Robert Patton. He is rather that now, would you not agree? Alas poor Yorick! A great magazine made greater by everyone's dedication. You must know that Clessie Cummins is smiling, knowing that his baby is cared for by a multitude of loyal and tireless enthusiasts. This issue (TDR 95) is a little late, but the TDR magazine is worth the wait. My wait makes it even more enjoyable. God bless you ALL!"
From Writer/Member/Owner Sam Memmolo with a foreward by the Editor:
Before the days of "Angie's List," internet product reviews, internet like-me's and owner testimonials the advertising world had the good 'ole Celebrity Endorsement.
Geez, nothing really changes. Aren't you still amused when you channel surf and run across Pat Boone sell the latest "Safe Step" walk-in bath tub? I digress.
So, who do you trust , those "independent" reviews or the paid spokesperson? Tough to say, and depending on the money trail, they could be one-in-the-same.
The testimonial for TDR comes from one of our writers, Sam Memmolo-you know, the celebrity dude that you watched back in the 90s with the "Shadetree Mechanic," then "Crank and Chrome," "Two Guys Garage," "Motorhead Garage" and today, "Sam's Garage." I've had many a dinner with Sam. He is a regular guy just trying to make a living. Not an ounce of pretense.
From Spring '98 to Spring '08 Sam owned a Ram Turbo Diesel truck. We were fortunate to have and share his insight into the grinding "new kid in town" world of television; the school of hard knocks as an SAE certified mechanic; and his occasional get-away to work and accessorize his truck in his garage.
Sam's life was, and continues to be, fast-paced. You can tell as much form this regular column that was written for our Spring 2004 magazine. Without further delay, the TDR's celebrity endorsement by Sam Memmolo.
I was have the week from Hell, and it was only Thursday. I had to spend Thursday at a meeting of Advance Auto Parts commercial managers. I attended on behalf of one of "Tow Guys Garage" TV sponsors. The day started with a foray onto Atlanta's crowded freeways on a dark, cold, rainy morning about 6:30am.
For those of you who have not witnesses this spectacle, words cannot describe what a melee this can be. For most commuters, traveling less than 40 minutes can take upwards of two hours on a fine morning like this. It's sort of like an etoufee of demolition derby, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and a "Who's Who" in the wrecker business, all rolled into one.
One messy traffic morning brings out the best the wrecker rollback industry has to offer, sporting more strobe lights than a presidential motorcade. One will notice quite a few Turbo Diesels in the mix, all rattling their way to profitability. The only sure thing is the realization that, should the rains persist, the homebound journey would yield much of the same. Do folks in your hometown forget how to drive when it rains too?
Upon arrival home about 7:30 pm Thursday evening, I quickly kicked off my shoes and rummaged through the day's mail. There it was, in all its 168 pages of glory, the TDR, Issue 43. Now for a cup of coffee and quick scan of the magazine.
My eyes were tired, and when I propped myself up on the pillows, I was sure there was no chance of making it past the first few pages. Boy, was I wrong.
The glitzy cover photo of the Ram 3500 single wheel in its knight-in-shining-armor silver choice was just the beginning of several hours of intense reading. Oh sure, I breezed through the ads to see the latest and greatest offerings designed to allow up to make more power out of light truck diesels than the laws of physics allow, but there were more than a few great articles that truly inspired me to stay awake, reading intently.
Next, Sam does a a recap of the things he learned from our Spring 2004, Issue 43 magazine and then comes to the conclusion.
Why am I wearing you out with this recap? Most (if not all) publications would kill to have writers with such diverse skills and expertise. Page after page of great information, running the gamut from maximum tow capacity to detailing.
Now, here's where the TDR separates itself from the pack. This publication is for enthusiasts and thinkers, plain and simple!
I called Robert (editor Robert Patton) a few days after reading Issue 43, and he accused me of insomnia! It was quite the opposite. I was dog tired, cold and just basically whipped when I dug deeply into the best 168 pages I have ever read. If you just breezed through it, you owe it to yourself to grab a cup of your favorite beverage, and get a lot deeper than that.
Happy Motoring!
Sam Memmolo
TDR Writer
The Editor makes a sensational endorsement:
First things first: With a sensational headline like the above, I want to give Mr. Leno’s television show an endorsement. A new season of “Jay Leno’s Garage” is televised on Wednesday nights on cable network CNBC.
Now, let’s talk about you, the TDR membership.
Mr. Leno frequently writes for Autoweek magazine and I always find his column interesting. Back in March (3/7/16) he wrote “Looking for Mr. Goodpart.” The article was a look back in time at the auto parts store and the owner/expert that you would often find working behind the counter.
He comments, “When you find the guy with ‘the knowledge’ he’s a treasure.” He laments that with the big box stores and mega-websites a lot of knowledge is gone now. But, he still has a parts store, Burbank Auto Parts (Mr. Leno plugs them, so I also should) that serves many of his automotive needs.
This is where the TDR comes in. Leno writes, “Finding that kind of place (Burbank Auto Parts) is like uncovering a treasure trove. It’s better if you find a specialist who knows your particular make. If you have an old car, no matter what it is, there is a club for it, and they too are priceless.”
Now, more from Leno and more about you: “If there’s an old guy in your car club, get a tape recorder, or a video camera, sit him down and have him tell everything he knows. Many years from now, someone’s going to want to know that stuff.”
Realizing that TDR members have spent countless hours contributing to our website forums (the BEST in the business) and our magazine is the number one resource for Turbo Diesel information , we're thankful to be the "old guy" that knows the "stuff."
Geez.
Somewhere in the same timeframe was the "no money down and/or easy payment plan." Look around, both of the marketing tactics are still widely used. (Think about all those home shopping channels, wow.)
In today's world of instantaneous information, the marketing buzzword is feedback. So, with great pleasure we would like to share some comments from our readers, a couple of celebrity-types, and a background piece from the Editor.
Enjoy and thanks for your support. Also thank you for allowing us to indulge in a bit of braggadocio.
This testimonial from TDR member "chop suey":
"I have been a member for a few decades. I love this magazine. I know that you all do exceptional work and it is time consuming. I say THANK YOU to each and every one of you for your diligent work in giving us an irreplaceable magazine. I do miss my Kevin "OILMAN" fix. An encore appearance would be appreciated, in any form. I always enjoy reading Mark Barnes, the nuanced twisty turns careening off the walls of his cranial cavity spewing onto the ink splattered pages. Joe Donnelly should be inducted into the Cummins (Mentoring) Gearhead Hall of Fame. However, it doesn't exist (yet.) One must always have a base to build on. That Joe Donnelly should be the first inductee. But, of course, there always must be founder - Robert Patton. He is rather that now, would you not agree? Alas poor Yorick! A great magazine made greater by everyone's dedication. You must know that Clessie Cummins is smiling, knowing that his baby is cared for by a multitude of loyal and tireless enthusiasts. This issue (TDR 95) is a little late, but the TDR magazine is worth the wait. My wait makes it even more enjoyable. God bless you ALL!"
From Writer/Member/Owner Sam Memmolo with a foreward by the Editor:
Before the days of "Angie's List," internet product reviews, internet like-me's and owner testimonials the advertising world had the good 'ole Celebrity Endorsement.
Geez, nothing really changes. Aren't you still amused when you channel surf and run across Pat Boone sell the latest "Safe Step" walk-in bath tub? I digress.
So, who do you trust , those "independent" reviews or the paid spokesperson? Tough to say, and depending on the money trail, they could be one-in-the-same.
The testimonial for TDR comes from one of our writers, Sam Memmolo-you know, the celebrity dude that you watched back in the 90s with the "Shadetree Mechanic," then "Crank and Chrome," "Two Guys Garage," "Motorhead Garage" and today, "Sam's Garage." I've had many a dinner with Sam. He is a regular guy just trying to make a living. Not an ounce of pretense.
From Spring '98 to Spring '08 Sam owned a Ram Turbo Diesel truck. We were fortunate to have and share his insight into the grinding "new kid in town" world of television; the school of hard knocks as an SAE certified mechanic; and his occasional get-away to work and accessorize his truck in his garage.
Sam's life was, and continues to be, fast-paced. You can tell as much form this regular column that was written for our Spring 2004 magazine. Without further delay, the TDR's celebrity endorsement by Sam Memmolo.
A LOT DEEPER THAN THAT!
by Sam Memmolo
by Sam Memmolo
I was have the week from Hell, and it was only Thursday. I had to spend Thursday at a meeting of Advance Auto Parts commercial managers. I attended on behalf of one of "Tow Guys Garage" TV sponsors. The day started with a foray onto Atlanta's crowded freeways on a dark, cold, rainy morning about 6:30am.
For those of you who have not witnesses this spectacle, words cannot describe what a melee this can be. For most commuters, traveling less than 40 minutes can take upwards of two hours on a fine morning like this. It's sort of like an etoufee of demolition derby, 24 Hours of Le Mans, and a "Who's Who" in the wrecker business, all rolled into one.
One messy traffic morning brings out the best the wrecker rollback industry has to offer, sporting more strobe lights than a presidential motorcade. One will notice quite a few Turbo Diesels in the mix, all rattling their way to profitability. The only sure thing is the realization that, should the rains persist, the homebound journey would yield much of the same. Do folks in your hometown forget how to drive when it rains too?
Upon arrival home about 7:30 pm Thursday evening, I quickly kicked off my shoes and rummaged through the day's mail. There it was, in all its 168 pages of glory, the TDR, Issue 43. Now for a cup of coffee and quick scan of the magazine.
My eyes were tired, and when I propped myself up on the pillows, I was sure there was no chance of making it past the first few pages. Boy, was I wrong.
The glitzy cover photo of the Ram 3500 single wheel in its knight-in-shining-armor silver choice was just the beginning of several hours of intense reading. Oh sure, I breezed through the ads to see the latest and greatest offerings designed to allow up to make more power out of light truck diesels than the laws of physics allow, but there were more than a few great articles that truly inspired me to stay awake, reading intently.
Next, Sam does a a recap of the things he learned from our Spring 2004, Issue 43 magazine and then comes to the conclusion.
Why am I wearing you out with this recap? Most (if not all) publications would kill to have writers with such diverse skills and expertise. Page after page of great information, running the gamut from maximum tow capacity to detailing.
Now, here's where the TDR separates itself from the pack. This publication is for enthusiasts and thinkers, plain and simple!
I called Robert (editor Robert Patton) a few days after reading Issue 43, and he accused me of insomnia! It was quite the opposite. I was dog tired, cold and just basically whipped when I dug deeply into the best 168 pages I have ever read. If you just breezed through it, you owe it to yourself to grab a cup of your favorite beverage, and get a lot deeper than that.
Happy Motoring!
Sam Memmolo
TDR Writer
The Editor makes a sensational endorsement:
JAY LENO ENDORSES THE TDR
First things first: With a sensational headline like the above, I want to give Mr. Leno’s television show an endorsement. A new season of “Jay Leno’s Garage” is televised on Wednesday nights on cable network CNBC.
Now, let’s talk about you, the TDR membership.
Mr. Leno frequently writes for Autoweek magazine and I always find his column interesting. Back in March (3/7/16) he wrote “Looking for Mr. Goodpart.” The article was a look back in time at the auto parts store and the owner/expert that you would often find working behind the counter.
He comments, “When you find the guy with ‘the knowledge’ he’s a treasure.” He laments that with the big box stores and mega-websites a lot of knowledge is gone now. But, he still has a parts store, Burbank Auto Parts (Mr. Leno plugs them, so I also should) that serves many of his automotive needs.
This is where the TDR comes in. Leno writes, “Finding that kind of place (Burbank Auto Parts) is like uncovering a treasure trove. It’s better if you find a specialist who knows your particular make. If you have an old car, no matter what it is, there is a club for it, and they too are priceless.”
Now, more from Leno and more about you: “If there’s an old guy in your car club, get a tape recorder, or a video camera, sit him down and have him tell everything he knows. Many years from now, someone’s going to want to know that stuff.”
***
Realizing that TDR members have spent countless hours contributing to our website forums (the BEST in the business) and our magazine is the number one resource for Turbo Diesel information , we're thankful to be the "old guy" that knows the "stuff."
