Comments on: How important is your local car dealer? Let’s reflect.

By: Stan Sher

Stan Sher — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:30:08 +0000

This is one of those stories that certainly shows that this business is a great business. The key to keeping a great reputation such as the one we just viewed is to always give back to the community and to do the right thing by your customers at all times. I think this video certainly helped this dealership with reputation management. This is no different then a famous celebrity that donates to charity to help make the world a better place.

-Stan

By: Exotic Car Dealer

Exotic Car Dealer — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 14:51:39 +0000

Hi,

This is definitely a tough time for all the dealers. Those with a good reputation too are suffering.It shouldn’t take much time to have good times back for the dealers.

-Nancy

By: Billy

Billy — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:55:06 +0000

I’m curious how a lot of you feel regarding this but I’ve heard a tremendous number of comments from the general public AND dealers saying that many of the dealers are going out of business due to bad business practices. Reasons are various but customer relationship and legal issues are brought up often.

While I agree that losing any businesses of the size many of these dealerships are in smaller towns and cities is a loss for the communities they contribute to but how many of you think that in the long run this could be a good thing?

From a business standpoint, for me, the more dealers the better off I am. Have to say I’m a bit torn on this one. While some of these dealerships are merely having bad luck at a bad time, I have to believe that some of those comments re bad business I’m hearing are right.

As a dealer that practices good business, excluding just the competition factor, do you feel the automotive business as a whole will be better off without some of these dealers?

By: Ralph Paglia

Ralph Paglia — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:03:08 +0000

This is one of those moments in history, where if we, as the American people, let our auto industry implode, 10 years from now, when we are a second tier economy, we will all be saying to each other “what were we thinking?”, “How could we have let the auto industry collapse?”. The bottom line is that the automotive manufacturing business single-handedly created the American Middle Class which is what has fueled US economic development for the last 90 years. Look, I am all for laissez faire politics, and throwing boys in the deep-end to learn how to swim… But, when the bubble start coming up from the bottom of the pool, you gotta jump in, go to the bottom and drag that kid up for air!!!! The USA economy is not as invincible as so many people seem to think it is, just look at the last 6 months… If we let the car business go belly up, we are signing our own economic death certificates.

By: Stew Pedasso

Stew Pedasso — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:32:51 +0000

It’s truly sad to watch all these dealers across the country go OOB.
Dealers that have been solid contributors to their community, and overall good people.
It amazes me that there isn’t more local support for these dealers.
I guess in this economy there isn’t a safety zone, or shining knight around.
All dealerships are liable, and on their own without a bailout.

By: Max RPM

Max RPM — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:49:18 +0000

In my area two Ford Dealers have closed in the last couple of weeks. Both were in small towns so I am wondering how big of an effect it will have on their local economies and the giving.

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 19:32:29 +0000

Jeff, maybe better, a LinkedIn directory page on Dealer Refresh. I think it would look great showing a couple of hundred profile badges with title info.

By: Oscar Vanderkooij

Oscar Vanderkooij — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:07:28 +0000

Here is another article on their sister website about a brewery being started by consumers:

http://www.springwise.com/food_beverage/crowdfunded_breweries/

Have fun on these websites, they are a great way to think outside the box!!!

By: Oscar Vanderkooij

Oscar Vanderkooij — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:58:32 +0000

Pete,

My uncle used to own some Opel dealerships in Holland that he gave to the employees. It was set up in a trust and the employees cannot sell their share of the dealership to guarantee existance forever in theory. My dad and brother are GMs at the stores, but the dealerships are owned by the employees. Visit http://www.opeldealer.net

Since then my uncle has passed away and the dealer group has expanded from 2 to 6 locations. This way you never have to worry about drastic management changes or sale to corporate party.

I think it is a great idea and inline with what you see happening online. Many websites offer ways to their clients to decide what happens with a business (e.g. design you own shirt you can sell on their website, etc)

Here is a great website for market trends that talks about this idea of customer involvement:

http://trendwatching.com/trends/CUSTOMER-MADE.htm

How would you feel as a customer if you were a part owner of the dealership where you service based on the cars you own and how often you service?

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:52:30 +0000

Mike,
Thanks. That is a great example for pre-owned. It’s time to structure some new car dealers in the same way. It will take time though because some dealers don’t want to admit that the franchise is now worth $0.
So wait till the smoke clears…it truly is a new economy that is emerging.