Letter from a Chrysler dealership owner that is closing, to Chrysler...
05-27-09, 11:18 AM
#1
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Letter from a Chrysler dealership owner that is closing, to Chrysler...
May 19, 2009
Letter from a Dodge dealer
letter to the editor
My name is George C. Joseph. I am the sole owner of Sunshine Dodge-Isuzu, a family owned and operated business in Melbourne, Florida. My family bought and paid for this automobile franchise 35 years ago in 1974. I am the second generation to manage this business.
We currently employ 50+ people and before the economic slowdown we employed over 70 local people. We are active in the community and the local chamber of commerce. We deal with several dozen local vendors on a day to day basis and many more during a month. All depend on our business for part of their livelihood. We are financially strong with great respect in the market place and community. We have strong local presence and stability.
I work every day the store is open, nine to ten hours a day. I know most of our customers and all our employees. Sunshine Dodge is my life.
On Thursday, May 14, 2009 I was notified that my Dodge franchise, that we purchased, will be taken away from my family on June 9, 2009 without compensation and given to another dealer at no cost to them. My new vehicle inventory consists of 125 vehicles with a financed balance of 3 million dollars. This inventory becomes impossible to sell with no factory incentives beyond June 9, 2009. Without the Dodge franchise we can no longer sell a new Dodge as "new," nor will we be able to do any warranty service work. Additionally, my Dodge parts inventory, (approximately $300,000.) is virtually worthless without the ability to perform warranty service. There is no offer from Chrysler to buy back the vehicles or parts inventory.
Our facility was recently totally renovated at Chrysler's insistence, incurring a multi-million dollar debt in the form of a mortgage at Sun Trust Bank.
HOW IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAN THIS HAPPEN?
THIS IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS NOT A GOVERNMENT ENTITY
This is beyond imagination! My business is being stolen from me through NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. We did NOTHING wrong.
This atrocity will most likely force my family into bankruptcy. This will also cause our 50+ employees to be unemployed. How will they provide for their families? This is a total economic disaster.
HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN IN A FREE MARKET ECONOMY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?
I beseech your help, and look forward to your reply. Thank you.
Sincerely,
George C. Joseph
President & Owner
Sunshine Dodge-Isuzu
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/...ge_dealer.html
Letter from a Dodge dealer
letter to the editor
My name is George C. Joseph. I am the sole owner of Sunshine Dodge-Isuzu, a family owned and operated business in Melbourne, Florida. My family bought and paid for this automobile franchise 35 years ago in 1974. I am the second generation to manage this business.
We currently employ 50+ people and before the economic slowdown we employed over 70 local people. We are active in the community and the local chamber of commerce. We deal with several dozen local vendors on a day to day basis and many more during a month. All depend on our business for part of their livelihood. We are financially strong with great respect in the market place and community. We have strong local presence and stability.
I work every day the store is open, nine to ten hours a day. I know most of our customers and all our employees. Sunshine Dodge is my life.
On Thursday, May 14, 2009 I was notified that my Dodge franchise, that we purchased, will be taken away from my family on June 9, 2009 without compensation and given to another dealer at no cost to them. My new vehicle inventory consists of 125 vehicles with a financed balance of 3 million dollars. This inventory becomes impossible to sell with no factory incentives beyond June 9, 2009. Without the Dodge franchise we can no longer sell a new Dodge as "new," nor will we be able to do any warranty service work. Additionally, my Dodge parts inventory, (approximately $300,000.) is virtually worthless without the ability to perform warranty service. There is no offer from Chrysler to buy back the vehicles or parts inventory.
Our facility was recently totally renovated at Chrysler's insistence, incurring a multi-million dollar debt in the form of a mortgage at Sun Trust Bank.
HOW IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAN THIS HAPPEN?
THIS IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS NOT A GOVERNMENT ENTITY
This is beyond imagination! My business is being stolen from me through NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. We did NOTHING wrong.
This atrocity will most likely force my family into bankruptcy. This will also cause our 50+ employees to be unemployed. How will they provide for their families? This is a total economic disaster.
HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN IN A FREE MARKET ECONOMY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?
I beseech your help, and look forward to your reply. Thank you.
Sincerely,
George C. Joseph
President & Owner
Sunshine Dodge-Isuzu
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/...ge_dealer.html
05-27-09, 11:31 AM
#3
executive matchup
really sad for sure. since chrysler insisted the dealer to renovate, chrysler should be on the hook for the renovations. it is not fair to the dealer to be screwed over this way.
05-27-09, 12:00 PM
#5
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That is terrible. I've read several stories now about dealer shutdowns. This will certainly leave a bad taste in consumers mouths.
I read one yesterday about an old franchise being shutdown, while a 5 year old one nearby was allowed to stay open. However, the new one was selling 3 times the number of vehicles per year in comparisson to the older one. Can't blame Chrysler for keeping the productive one alive.
I read one yesterday about an old franchise being shutdown, while a 5 year old one nearby was allowed to stay open. However, the new one was selling 3 times the number of vehicles per year in comparisson to the older one. Can't blame Chrysler for keeping the productive one alive.
05-27-09, 12:05 PM
#6
Such BS... I'm glad that Chrysler dealers are being consolidated but this is the wrong way to go about I think. I'm not saying I know of a better way, but there has to be some alternative.
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05-27-09, 01:35 PM
#9
My cousin works at a GM dealership in Canada and they are being shut down as well. Very similar story as the owner was forced bt GM to upgrade to a new facility costing millions of dollars. The owners family had been with GM for 73 years.
05-27-09, 02:13 PM
#10
Chicago Lexus Club Moderator
Very unfortunate but if this was 100% true free economy then Chrysler would be dead already. That's what happens when you stake your investments on a bad company.
05-27-09, 02:16 PM
#11
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05-27-09, 03:50 PM
#12
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Read this over in the Debate forum... absolute travesty...
You can go to jail for unpaid parking tickets... Bob Nardelli walks the streets... Socialism builds in DC...
Yakov Smirnoff:
"What a country!!!"
You can go to jail for unpaid parking tickets... Bob Nardelli walks the streets... Socialism builds in DC...
Yakov Smirnoff:
"What a country!!!"
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