AcuraZine acquired by Internet Brands!!

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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:01 PM
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Exclamation AcuraZine acquired by Internet Brands!!

I'm excited to announce that <a href="http://www.AcuraZine.com"><strong>AcuraZine</strong></a> has been acquired by <strong>Internet Brands Inc.!</strong> <a href="http://www.internetbrands.com">IB</a> operates leading automotive sites such as <a href="http://www.carsdirect.com">CarsDirect.com</a>, <a href="http://www.greenhybrid.com">GreenHybrid.com</a>, <a href="http://www.newcartestdrive.com">NewCarTestDrive.com</a> as well as <a href="http://www.wikicars.com">WikiCars.com</a>. Keeping this news from you guys over the past <em>several months</em> has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever accomplished in my life!!<br>

There are no plans to integrate <a href="https://acurazine.com">AcuraZine</a> into any of their existing sites, it will remain a stand-alone site, run by the same people who have been doing so for years, with the exception of <a href="https://acurazine.com/forums/member.php?u=1">soopa</a> who has chosen to move on from <a href="https://acurazine.com">AcuraZine</a>. I have been offered the opportunity to remain behind as your site <a href="https://acurazine.com/forums/member.php?u=2">Admin</a>, and I can’t wait to start leveraging <strong>Internet Brands</strong>’ technology and content resources to enhance the site, and your experience while here. I will continue to play an active role in the community and in the growth of the site. There are no major changes planned for <a href="https://acurazine.com">AcuraZine</a>, other than moving to bigger, faster servers sometime in the near future, so rest assured you should not notice any differences from the way things have always been.<br>

If you have any questions at all, please don’t hesitate to <a href="https://acurazine.com/forums/private.php?do=newpm&u=2">PM</a> them to me. I’ll reply to any and all queries, just bear with me if it takes a day or two. There are a few FAQ’s about the acquisition below, we will also be discussing the topic in the forum thread below. Also, besides any questions you might have, I’d like to hear any ideas you may have for how to better serve the <a href="https://acurazine.com">AcuraZine</a> community going forward!<br>

Thank you.<br>

Robb, Adam & everyone else who is a part of the AcuraZine team!<br>

<strong>FAQ’s</strong><br>

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

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

<strong>Q: Are <a href="https://acurazine.com/forums/member.php?u=1">soopa</a> & <a href="https://acurazine.com/forums/member.php?u=2">astro</a> going to continue at AcuraZine? </strong>
A: Yes <a href="https://acurazine.com/forums/member.php?u=2">astro</a> will continue his current level of involvement on the site and in the community. <a href="https://acurazine.com/forums/member.php?u=1">soopa</a> has chosen to move on from AcuraZine. He has other projects which take up the majority of his time these days.<br>

<strong>Q: What changes can we expect to see on AcuraZine?</strong>
A: It's hard to predict far into the future, but for the time being, AcuraZine 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 <a href="https://acurazine.com/forums/member.php?u=2">astro</a> 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 AcuraZine about improvements that would make the site more useful.<br>

<strong>Q: How will the acquisition help AcuraZine? </strong>
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.<br>

<strong>
Q: Will my AcuraZine log-in or password change?</strong>
A: No you will still access AcuraZine as you always have.
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:21 PM
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wow

so does this mean that we will stop getting volvo ads?



oh, and it seems I heard about this a little early (at least a rumor)...does that matter?


oh 2, are we all banned now?

Last edited by revitupwriteitoff; Oct 30, 2007 at 03:25 PM.
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:24 PM
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:28 PM
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wow this is shocking news, I sure hope things don't change around here. This is a killer forum so let's keep it that way. And if theres anyway to remove those windows live words that automatically get highlighted for the love of GOD internet brands and Astro please do it.
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:31 PM
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I have mixed feelings about stuff like this.

The good part of it is now AZ will have an actual backer that can provide the tech and financial resources that may have been out of reach before.

The bad is the possibility for the unforeseen. With new owners - I've seen websites totally changed since the name was out there, and it was generating traffic. For all I know, this will cease to be the AZ community as we know and it will be used to sell cars. It's a stretch, but IB didn't buy the site just to give us bigger servers and make us happy. (Not to say that all change is bad - but I remain skeptical).

Hey!!!! - Maybe this will mean AZ stickers.... lol Had to throw that in there since I just brought this up a couple weeks ago.

HEY YOU...... IB...... WE NEED STICKERS TO REPRESENT
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:32 PM
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I just hope everything remains the way it is.

Best wishes to Adam and to the new bosses of AZ...
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:32 PM
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How much?


EDIT: Umm.. maybe not.
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:34 PM
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I have it on good authority that stickers are forthcoming
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:35 PM
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Wow, congrats and best of luck to you soopa. I'm glad to hear everything will stay the same. I wouldn't know what to do without AZ.
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:36 PM
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From someone who's been around since way back when.... holy shit.
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Yumchah
I just hope everything remains the way it is.

Best wishes to Adam and to the new bosses of AZ...


^^^

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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:38 PM
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Originally Posted by astro
I have it on good authority that stickers are forthcoming

my
- my car is blacked out, so a black sticker would be nice
- I <3 AZ how it is right now enough to put a sticker on my new Lexus. Let's not change it too much...

Last edited by revitupwriteitoff; Oct 30, 2007 at 03:42 PM.
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:41 PM
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Wow, congrats guys! How long did it take you guys to find a buyer?
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:45 PM
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Originally Posted by astro
I have it on good authority that stickers are forthcoming
Internet Brands stickers?
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:46 PM
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*puts on raincoat for the shitstorm* The postwhores are coming, the postwhores are coming!!!
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Whiskers
Internet Brands stickers?



resize & print to your heart's desire
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Whiskers
Internet Brands stickers?


AZ ones
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:50 PM
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better servers!

congrats on the new ownership Acurazine.

edit: i've been itching for some AZ gear. any word on this?
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:51 PM
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Said this long ago, but again congrats to astro and soopa
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:52 PM
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Great news. Glad the annoucement came. Shouldn't be long before I'm banned! j/k
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:54 PM
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well, congrats all!!
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:55 PM
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congrats
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 03:56 PM
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no wonder you didn't like the astr-o-lantern I made at your request...you were too busy
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 04:02 PM
  #24  
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It's All Good!

This announcement heralds the beginning of improvements that we can all appreciate.

Everything I have seen will improve our forum experience.

And the new Post Whore destroyer works very efficiently.
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 04:03 PM
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This was an interesting thing to stumble across at the top of the forum...congrats on the sale and good luck to all whose duties/responsibilities/life/whatever changed. I'm interested to see what happens to the site once everything shakes out.
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 04:07 PM
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Originally Posted by joerockt
Wow, congrats guys! How long did it take you guys to find a buyer?
I wasn't actively looking for a buyer. The buyer found me.
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 04:27 PM
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Mmmm Azine stickers, gear too boot?
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 04:38 PM
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The best forum site has just now gotten even better! Best wishes to all the moderators, administrators and astro



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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 04:50 PM
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Originally Posted by soopa
I wasn't actively looking for a buyer. The buyer found me.
A sign of owning something good IMHO.
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 04:53 PM
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Interesting.......I bet the off-topic section will be forced to calm down and more censorship of profanity.......ideas?
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 04:56 PM
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Crazy stuff, but as long as the helm is being steered by the usual suspects, then it's still "Captain Picard Day" everyday on AZ!

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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 04:59 PM
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Originally Posted by The Dougler
Mmmm Azine stickers, gear too boot?
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 05:03 PM
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Congrats to everyone! I really really hope things don't change.
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 05:04 PM
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 05:06 PM
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Originally Posted by lembowski
Interesting.......I bet the off-topic section will be forced to calm down and more censorship of profanity.......ideas?
it'll slow down traffic (posting) and run people off if they do that enough...

just because some of the people in Rambling joke around a lot doesn't mean they don't spend $$$. Just my (pun intended)
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 05:10 PM
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was it part of the deal that kept his post count?
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 05:11 PM
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best of luck ,and thanks for the great community
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 05:11 PM
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Originally Posted by revitupwriteitoff
it'll slow down traffic (posting) and run people off if they do that enough...

just because some of the people in Rambling joke around a lot doesn't mean they don't spend $$$. Just my (pun intended)
Not saying they don't spend $$, but normally the mentality of a growing company is based off proven models that are traditional. So in making this a profitable family friendly environment for informed shoppers, I'm sure lewd language and jokes might be tolerated less.......

Just an idea, I've worked for a fun laid back company that was acquired by a larger company and this was what was forced on us.
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 05:16 PM
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Originally Posted by lembowski
Not saying they don't spend $$, but normally the mentality of a growing company is based off proven models that are traditional. So in making this a profitable family friendly environment for informed shoppers, I'm sure lewd language and jokes might be tolerated less.......

Just an idea, I've worked for a fun laid back company that was acquired by a larger company and this was what was forced on us.
I assumed they were keeping this as a "community"...on their website, the comparables to AZ are under "community" instead of being under e-commerce (more like what you described)
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Old Oct 30, 2007 | 05:31 PM
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it should be noted that IB also purchased several other forum communities along with ours, they haven't made overt changes to any of them and I have their full assurance that AcuraZine will remain as it always has been. This applies to ramblings as well.
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