Dear ScoobyNetters,

After 8 years at the helm of ScoobyNet, it is with a mixture of sentimental sadness and optimistic excitement that I can announce ScoobyNet has been acquired by Internet Brands, Inc., which operates leading automotive web sites such as CarsDirect.com, GreenHybrid.com, NewCarTestDrive and Wikicars.com.

ScoobyNet is getting bigger and better all the time, and my personal business commitments have increased significantly in the last 12 months, so I decided to open discussions with a selection of the many interested parties.

As many of the old timers here will know, I originally took on ScoobyNet as a labour of love, and as such, had a very clear view of the type of company I was willing to hand the keys over to. I wanted to be confident that the community would be in good hands going forward, and after hundreds of conversations with many, many different potential buyers, it was very clear to me that Internet Brands are the perfect fit, and I'm delighted to be working with them.

The plan is to maintain ScoobyNet as a stand-alone site, while leveraging Internet Brands’ technology and content resources where they can enhance the site. There are no changes planned for ScoobyNet at this point – other than moving to bigger, faster servers – and I will continue to play an active role in the community and in the growth of the site, certainly for the near future.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to PM me. There is an FAQ about the acquisition below, and we’ll be discussing the topic in the forums. Also, beyond any questions you might have, I'd enjoy hearing any ideas you might have for the future.

Finally, I just want to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly, and warmly thank our fantastic moderators, and all of you for your support of me and ScoobyNet over the years. I've always tried to put the community first and do exactly what I think you all want. While you can't please everyone all the time, on the whole I really hope I achieved that.

Thanks for a fantastic chapter of my life.

Simon


FAQ’s

Q: Why did Internet Brands buy ScoobyNet?
Internet Brands’ mission is to empower consumers to make better decisions about buying and maintaining their most important purchases, such as cars and homes. ScoobyNet’s users offer outstanding advice and support for Subaru owners and drivers, newbies and veterans alike, which should be a very good fit with the rest of the Internet Brands Automotive sites.

Q: Will ScoobyNet become part of another Internet Brand site?
A: Internet Brands plans to keep ScoobyNet a separate, thriving site and to continue expanding its content, community and traffic.

Q: Is Simon going to continue at ScoobyNet?
A: Yes. Simon will continue his current level of involvement on the site and in the community, certainly for the near future.

Q: What changes can we expect to see on ScoobyNet?
A: It's hard to predict far into the future, but for the time being, ScoobyNet will remain essentially unchanged. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The main near-term addition you’ll probably notice is that Internet Brands will figure out with Simon the most logical places to put links to relevant content on other IB Automotive sites. Beyond that, Internet Brands plans to brainstorm with the admins and moderators of ScoobyNet about improvements that would make the site more useful.

Q: How will the acquisition help ScoobyNet?
A: The main benefit will be having more infrastructure and technology resources behind the site. Better servers and hardware will mean better performance for the site and admin tools. And more technology resources will mean faster bug-fixes, quicker turnaround on site changes and more frequent updates in site software, like vBulletin or photo-posting applications.

Q: Will my ScoobyNet log-in or password change?
A: No you will still access ScoobyNet as you always have.

 

Simon,

We wish you well & hope scoobynet contiues in the way it is currently going, all for the better of course.

Paul.

 

Can long-standing members expect a windfall?

 

Q: How much did you get for it?

 

Does this mean some chav webmaster will appear and start moderating the site to death?

The moderation at the moment is perfect

 

Good luck to you fella.

is the Sunseeker yacht on order then?

 

Good Luck Simon

Hope the Sailing Lessons work out

 

What the score with Shauns future involvment?

 

So sad to see you stepping down Simon.

I am sure that I reciprocate many people on here by saying. You have done a fantastic job building this site. Long may it continue.

Best Regards

Ant

 

Shocked ... All the best.

 

All the very best my friend....

 

Hi Guys

Thanks for the really nice comments. Those of you who know me well will know they mean a lot.

I'm afraid I'm limited as to what I can say about the sale, so please forgive me (you nosey git!! ) but I can't say.

Hehe. A great guy called Ryan Porter will be along at some point soon. He's a really good guy, and I've been delighted with how he (and the rest of the IB team actually) have handled the whole thing, and their plans really seem to just be to continue to grow the site on its current path, but just do everything a little better, such as faster servers, etc.

The current moderator team is unchanged.. they're some of the best in the world IMHO.

In short... no

But, I'm sure Ryan can answer this kind of question better than I can.

-

Shaun has been an absolute trooper over the years, and has been my partner in crime on ScoobyNet. Shaun's direct involvement in the webmastering side has reduced significantly over the last 6 months, and with this change he will gradually step down now. It shouldn't be forgotten just how much of an impact Shaun has had on the safe running of ScoobyNet, and he's made such a difference for me over the years, as there have been a number of times when I would honestly have had to close the site if it hadn't been for his support.

 

Well done, lend us a tenner

 

Good Luck

Hope we will still see you around Simon. Thanks for all your help in the past

 

I think you owe him a pint or two then?

 

Please, nobody tell him its been sold!!!

 

Simon, you'll be a (very) hard act to follow ScoobyNet is a brilliant site.

Good luck with your other work.

Very best personal regards,

Richard.

 

well done to you and Shaun

hope you stick around hunni

 

Congrats I guess are in order. Just hope the changes at the top dont change too much for us at the bottom, end user and all.

heres to an even bigger SN.

 

Congratulations Simon, you've made a success of the site, I just hope all your hard work isnt undone by others.

 

well done simon congrats for all the wonderful work you've done on here , i myself am still new to this but have always heard great things from the nysoc members.

Thanks again

 

Simon,

Good luck & all the best for the future. Its been a pleasure, your wit & humour at times has had me in knots. But if i can ask one favour ?? ...... Get rid of NACRO

Stephen

 

Now Internet brands have taken over you are going to find that I will be making sure they keep a very tight rein on racist and politically incorrect behaviour.
I hail this as a new dawn for scoobynet.

Congratulations to Simon for making a packet out of the users here.

 

Will you be making sure people don't come up ith random sale prices for internet sites?

 

Now thats not very nice is it?

 

Great News!

Where do we send the begging letters????LOL!!!!!!

 

What? Turning a forum/community based on ownership of a japanese sports saloon into a personal cash cow while charging the people that make it and then selling it to some faceless brand company?

I agree. How about a vote from the 'community' first eh?

 

Fair play SDB you old git

Shame to be loosing yourself and Shaun, but I'm sure snet will evolve for the best Good luck m8

 

^ **** innit

 

Well done simon and crew