Subaru Ambassador (main thread - information)

this is a family show!

As an aside, I have never heard of this. is it a cult?

 

Yes...

 

And it's closing down this month for program refresh. Spend your cash. Who knows if it'll come back.

 

I got that email, too. I can't imagine it's gonna come back but I guess we'll see what happens.

 

"yeah keep evangelizing.... that's cool. maybe we'll do something for you."

 

I've been waiting for them to kill the program since the coupons were removed. I just keep buying clothing and mugs. No meets or anything. After almost a decade of this, much of my casual wardrobe, water bottle/mug collection and winter hats are Subaru branded.

I did just order a BRZ, though, so I'll use my (last?) personal coupon.

 

Expired yesterday... probably.

 

I got a couple hats and things for me, kinda wish I did more. I have a bag full of goodies that I keep in the trunk. I roll up on something cool, they get swag on the windshield wiper. They are standing there? They get choice. They sell me something (not at a discount)... you're gonna take all the **** I want to get rid of and I'm gonna tell you that it's rare and everyone wants it.

 

States 90 days so I'll hold the dealer to it. I issued it since I didn't want to forget before the site shut down. Car is supposed to be here this month, so should be ok.

I used to carry around a bunch of stuff to give away. Past couple years I've just been getting stuff for co-workers with Subarus and outfitting my wardrobe. I have enough long-sleeve shirts (use mainly as pajamas) to last me a lifetime.

If you check the Ambassador forum, they state no more Staples Promotional dollars for the rest of the year. That's a long time to 'revamp' the program. I bet it's over. It was amusing while it lasted.

 

Has anyone else on here started getting emails for the new "SubieCrew" that's launching soon?

 

Hmmm... not yet. Maybe I'm not part of the SubieCrew anymore. They heard I sold my WRX.

Just saw this site. https://thesubiecrew.com/ Looks like it's just another forum.

 

So back in December I got a couple emails saying something new was coming soon. One of them was kind of a brief/vague explanation of what was going to happen followed by a survey to fill out.

"Hello Subaru Family,
For years, Subaru Ambassadors have been the heartbeat of our community. Now, we’re building something even more ambitious around the spirit of those who make every drive into a story worth sharing.

Introducing SubieCrew, a reimagined ambassador experience built around regional chapters, defined roles, and the shared love that drives every Subaru owner.

Check out this video we put together about the SubieCrew and read below for more information on the program.

Each chapter will include a mix of roles–Leaders, Directors, Creators, Connectors, Gearheads and more. These roles culminate in an organization that is greater than the sum of its parts. Through them, each community chapter will bring Subaru’s spirit to life through events and initiatives with the support of Subaru.

We’ve prepared a brief survey to help us identify and select our core group of Ambassadors. The information you provide here will be used to help us place you in the right regional hub and in the role that best suits your interests. Please click the button below to complete the survey before January 1, 2026."

 

All that said, I filled out the survey because why not, right? Going through all of the questions and given the answers I was giving lead me to believe that this would probably be the end of my ambassador "journey" because I'm really not that all "involved" and social butterfly-like like I'm assuming they kinda want people to be. I kinda fell into the category of "I really like Subarus, I like working on them (usually... Haha), I really like free swag and goodies, but I'm not really the super outgoing type and kinda prefer to keep to myself, and I'm also not really active on social media anymore".

Well much to my surprise I got "picked"(?) to be a "Gearhead" for this new phase of ambassador-ship. Haha. I'm still pretty unsure of what exactly that means but I guess I'll find out in the near future. Here's the content of the follow-up email I got about that "position".

"Hello,

Thank you for your continued commitment to the Subaru community. Your recent survey responses made one thing very clear: you’re ready to take on a bigger role in shaping the future. Based on your technical know-how and hands-on experience, we are thrilled to officially invite you to step up as a Gearhead for SubieCrew!

The refreshed SubieCrew Ambassador Program is built around regional chapters and the communities that bring Subaru ownership to life locally. At the heart of the program are chapter-led events. From small meetups to volunteer initiatives and larger community activations, these gatherings are where connections are made and the culture of each chapter takes shape.

As a Gearhead, you are the go-to expert for your chapter. Your role is to speak the language of mods, maintenance, and performance, making you a trusted voice for everything about the Subaru.

Your Role: This is an elevated position designed for those who help others understand, customize, and care for their vehicles. Whether you are sharing expertise at a local meet or creating digital guides, you will:
Share your enthusiasm and knowledge through workshops, videos or live demos on Subaru gear and vehicle care
Support your chapter’s Creators and Connectors by providing gear-focused content, technical insights, and event ideas that highlight Subaru’s capability
Help showcase Subaru’s engineering and accessories in real-world ways

The Road Ahead: Once we receive your confirmation, we’ll hit the ground running:
We will introduce you to your Chapter
You’ll receive an Onboarding Guide covering the program structure, the new ambassador portal, and key expectations for our creative team

Are you ready to shift gears? Please reply to this email to formally accept your role by Monday, April 6.

We can’t wait to see how your vision will help shape this next chapter of SubieCrew and define what this community becomes.

Best,
The SubieCrew Team"

 

I'm guessing if their production crew ever films in the area, you will be in charge of picking up the dog poo. And maybe giving the lesbians full body massages.

 

I ain't touching no dog poo... Haha.

 

Lesbians, on the other hand....

 

I received no surveys, invites, or otherwise. I guess my free swag days are over?

 

There's a reason I left that part out. Haha.

Although I'd probably have to see them first before I consent to anything...

 

Well, I emailed the SubieCrew contact address. Apparently this is a scaled back version of the program. I'm cut, apparently. Which is fine as all I've done for the past 5 years is give out swag. Legz, I'll be curious what their expectations are for you now.

 

I'm actually pretty curious as well because I've yet to really get a description of my "position" and what their expectations are. It's kinda weird.

 

I'm in the same boat, got picked as a director. I'm still clueless on what we are actually suppose to be doing now.

 

I got an email inviting me to join as an Ambassador Alumni. Not super clear, but it seems to imply that the main expectation is to attend events. I really didn't glean anything beyond that. Otherwise lots of flowery language about wisdom and knowledge as an Alumni to be offered to blah blah blah.

 

I inquired about coupons and swag dollars and such. This was the response that confirms the current structure of the SubieCrew, or at least the Alumni role:

"Regarding your question about perks, at this time there are no specific merchandise or coupon allotments for Alumni to hand out directly to others. Instead, we are shifting toward a more event-focused model of engagement. Moving forward, perks will be shared with Members, Alumni, and general community members who attend local SubieCrew chapter events. These items will be distributed on-site by the active Ambassadors coordinating the activation."

 

Interesting. They sent us "active ambassadors" an email about all of the exciting new perks we get, which are basically just discount codes for a bunch of things/websites I've never heard of. We also get a fat 15% off of the Subaru Gear page instead of getting a quarterly allowance now.

And I still have zero idea of what my "role" entails. Haha.

 

Oooo, 15% off. Whee.

If they are making this all about events, they'll have very little participation. This seems like a lot of effort on their part for something that will be pretty invisible.