PriusChat Mileage Database - ideas and input for features needed!

[SageBrush]

Originally Posted by sfvb

Not to be argumentative, but seriously, how is Jason's database any different than whatever Danny comes up with? Either one could sell, shut down, or make the data inaccessible.

Steve

The difference is their respective histories.

[Danny]

Originally Posted by Rxmxsh

So, I noticed the original post from Danny is quite old. I assume this project is no longer something that's being worked on? I'll be honest and say that I didn't read the 6 pages, so I apologize if I missed it.

The quotes that I received to have the system done are currently not in a ballpark that PriusChat and I (as a company) can handle. Now that I'm done with a couple of other things on the site, I'll put my focus back on this project, get in touch with Jason, and see what's best for PriusChat.

I'm going to get some more quotes from programmers and then might enlist the community to donate to an effort to build the database. I think it's an important component for the community as we enter the 3rd generation of the Prius' life, so it is definitely something that is coming to PriusChat in one format or another.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by sfvb

Not to be argumentative, but seriously, how is Jason's database any different than whatever Danny comes up with? Either one could sell, shut down, or make the data inaccessible.

Steve

Jason started greenhybrid.com as a forum and mileage database. People like the database and community and the website grew. When the internet traffic reached a certain level Jason sold the website. I'm not knocking Jason for selling the website. It was a collaborative effort between Jason as the founder and administrator and the members who provided the data. Each needed the other. If it had stopped there I would have no issue.

What bothers me is that Jason apparently had a falling out with the new owners of GreenHybrids.com. Now he has set up an identical database myhybridcar.com and is trolling around Priuschat, greenhybrid, cleanmpg, etc advertising his new site. He wants us to stop using his old site, which he sold for a profit, and start using his new database. I'll assume when this new website gets enough hits per day to be sold he will sell this new site like he did the last one.

All in all this has put a sour taste in my mouth about using a database on a private website. For that reason I've stopped contributing to my greenhybrid.com mileage log and will be using Fuel Economy instead. I'd much rather spend my time entering data for research use by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory then building up a website for Jason to sell for personal gain.

[sfvb]

Originally Posted by JSH

...
What bothers me is that Jason apparently had a falling out with the new owners of GreenHybrids.com. Now he has set up an identical database myhybridcar.com and is trolling around Priuschat, greenhybrid, cleanmpg, etc advertising his new site. He wants us to stop using his old site, which he sold for a profit, and start using his new database. I'll assume when this new website gets enough hits per day to be sold he will sell this new site like he did the last one.
...

Thanks for the info. I did research his site before I entered my info, as I always do, and found that he did/had owned GreenHybrid.com and also owns Volconvo.com and possibly a few others. The contact for GreenHybrid.com was Domains by Proxy, Inc., so I thought possibly he still owned it, but didn't want his actual contact information out on the web.

Steve

[JasonS]

I'd be happy to talk with any of you on a one-on-one basis if you'd like some direct information. I'm sure I could clarify a few things.

[sfvb]

Originally Posted by JasonS

Steve,

Now that you've added your car to the myHybridCar.com database, but you didn't add your car to PriusChat's, why don't you tell us?

I'd prefer to see what you have to say in regards to JSH post

[JasonS]

Originally Posted by sfvb

I'd prefer to see what you have to say in regards to JSH post

Sure.

Originally Posted by JSH

Jason started greenhybrid.com as a forum and mileage database.

This is true, and I think it's fair to note that GreenHybrid's old mileage database was the largest of its kind—anywhere.

Originally Posted by JSH

When the internet traffic reached a certain level Jason sold the website.

This is true but somewhat misleading. I did not solicit offers, even after the site became very popular. I received a respectable proposal from Internet Brands around the time I was preparing for college, and I decided I needed to be flexible during my only years at university. In the hands of a well-resourced company, I thought, GreenHybrid would have the best chance. In retrospect I was incorrect.

Originally Posted by JSH

Now he has set up an identical database myhybridcar.com and is trolling around Priuschat, greenhybrid, cleanmpg, etc advertising his new site.

Again, let's be fair. I posted in this thread to be transparent and open to discussion. I'm not trying to siphon users from PriusChat; instead I'd like to partner with Danny and the community. I also haven't even posted at CleanMPG since 2006, to my recollection.

Originally Posted by JSH

I'll assume when this new website gets enough hits per day to be sold he will sell this new site like he did the last one.

I suppose I can't convince you otherwise, but what I can do is offer you simple downloadable spreadsheets of your data so that if this were ever the case, you could quickly and easily restore your data elsewhere.

I'd much rather spend my time entering data for research use by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory then building up a website for Jason to sell for personal gain.

I also gather you refuse to post here at PriusChat because the owner makes significant revenue from advertising and the store? Nonsense. You're here for the community, as am I. And owners, managers and administrators ought to be able to make some income for providing infrastructure and features, purchasing software and advertising, and enabling dedicated consumers like you.

How's that, sfvb?

[Rxmxsh]

Originally Posted by Danny

The quotes that I received to have the system done are currently not in a ballpark that PriusChat and I (as a company) can handle. Now that I'm done with a couple of other things on the site, I'll put my focus back on this project, get in touch with Jason, and see what's best for PriusChat.

I'm going to get some more quotes from programmers and then might enlist the community to donate to an effort to build the database. I think it's an important component for the community as we enter the 3rd generation of the Prius' life, so it is definitely something that is coming to PriusChat in one format or another.

Thank you, Danny for your reply. I know you're a busy guy. I'm sure we'd be happy to pitch in, I know I would.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by JasonS

.I also gather you refuse to post here at PriusChat because the owner makes significant revenue from advertising and the store? Nonsense. You're here for the community, as am I. And owners, managers and administrators ought to be able to make some income for providing infrastructure and features, purchasing software and advertising, and enabling dedicated consumers like you.

I'm aware that Danny makes money from this site and I have no problem with that. If he decides to sell PriusChat and make some more money that is his business. However, if after he sell PriusChat he comes back to tell us all about his new site PriusTalk and how we should should all switch to his new site, he will get the same response from me that you did.

Again, I have no issue with you selling GreenHybrids.com. It is your return for seconds that bothers me. I'm not interested in helping you build up a new site so you can repeat the profit cycle. Your trolling here on PriusChat for new users and attacks on your old site is what completely turned me off to your new site.

Specifically this post: Introducing myHybridcar.com

"Hi, this is Jason Siegel, the founder of GreenHybrid.com. I'd like to introduce the all-new myHybridcar.com, which I've launched as a direct competitor to the site which I believe has been razed under the ownership of Internet Brands.

There you'll find an easy-to-use fuel economy database and other discussion areas for consumers.

For all your Prius needs, priuschat.com is it. For everything else, there's myHybridcar.com. I hope to see you there!"

[bwilson4web]

Originally Posted by JSH

I'm aware that Danny makes money from this site and I have no problem with that. If he decides to sell PriusChat and make some more money that is his business. However, if after he sell PriusChat he comes back to tell us all about his new site PriusTalk and how we should should all switch to his new site, he will get the same response from me that you did. . . .

There is a technical issue that has to do with finding a place to keep and share mileage records. As I and others have pointed out, there are many options that have strengths and weakness. Personally, I'd prefer to see a private web site that has evidence of active development followed by a government web site that might have some legs.

In life we have two guarantees, death and taxes. Everything else is negotiable and I'm not here to claim perfection in any of the available mileage databases. I'm just looking for one that matches my 'cognitive style' realizing that my criteria may not match what other seek.

Now some of us are Southerners and as such, share some cultural aspects. One of which is the ability to forgive, perhaps not forget, but at least understand that as long as we are human, we will make mistakes. When that happens, we acknowledge the problem and then make a new plan. One of our best Southern traditions is when we recognize this and not nag someone over and over again.

The old GreenHybrid database is dead and the last time I tried to use it, the Internet Brands version of a GreenHybrid database has structural flaws that make it unusable. So I needed a place to keep my mileage records and do engineering studies. I've chosen to go with a database that comes closest to my technical goals and objectives. Discussing personalities, nagging them, really doesn't contribute to the technical issues.

Bob Wilson