Another Dealer Closes?

[Donald B.]

Re: Another Dealer Closes?

I'm personally sick and tired of people like Bill McMorrow and his comments about buying AMERICAN! Before you go bashing your friends for not buying American maybe you should go to the government website nhtsa.gov and determine the North American (USA & Canadian) content of their specific vehicle(s). Unfortunately, I'm not aware of information regarding American content - I personally don't care about Canadian content any more than Japan, Korea, British, French, German, etc. content.
My 2006 Tundra was made in Kentucky and has 80% North American content - that is more than many of the GM products - so tell me what is AMERICAN? I suspect that the hard working people in Kentucky appreciate my decision to buy AMERICAN.

[Bill L.]

Re: Another Dealer Closes?

I too am sick of this buy american credo. GM simply failed to execute a viable business plan and made crap for too long back in the day.

The union did not help with their insane work rules either. While this has changed somewhat recently it is too little too late. There is a reason the folks at the Honda and Toyota plants want no part of a Union for the most part.

The sad part is that I really believe that GM was the last real car guy manufacturer. I own a Honda but it is a boring piece of machinery albeit reliable.

The other thing I could never understand is why someone at GM did not have the you know whats to stand up and explain that they made cars people wanted but that Government policies legislated what customers wanted and was profitable to GM out of existence.

I would much rather drive my old Buick GSE than the boring Honda I now drive. Gas prices forced me to focus on gas mileage rather than a car guys car.

Pretty soon we will all have cars made and designed by the government for the people. So much for "By the People and for the People".

[Terry D.]

Re: Another Dealer Closes?

Donald
Your Tundra might be assembled in Kentucky but most of the parts are from overseas, the same place the profits go. Try buying an American car in Japan or Korea or anywhere in the Asian front, they are smarter than we are, their import duties are so high you can't afford an American car. Did we do that, no, the politicians can't see the forest for the trees. Corse the lobbyist help keep them blind.
Terry

[Terry M.]

Re: Another Dealer Closes?

North America (when they list the vehicle content) includes USA, Canada, and some or all of Mexico. Before discussing this area you have to agree ont he defination of the terms.

The most recent list I saw (in a newspaper) showed the Ford F150 pick-up had the greatest North American content, and Toyota Camray (sp?) was second.

[David H.]

Re: Another Dealer Closes?

I wish someone .... For the General a dealership costs him nothing, cars are floor planned through a bank ... Terry

I think banks are treating auto dealerships (the auto industry) as toxic and are NOT floor planning dealers cars. GM does not have the financial resources to floor plan all their dealers - so some must close.

[Mike G.]

Re: Another Dealer Closes?

i knew it was bad when bill heard chevrolet went under. he was the largest chevy dealer in the country. it went back to the 1950's. bill heard also owned tom jumper and landmark chevy. lamdmark was given to one of his sons and from what i have heard they are still in buisness in texas and alabama.. bill heard chevrolet and tom jumber went to bill heard 3rd and he is out of business. at one time the billheard chevrolet in columbus ga was a 1000 car per month dealership. they also supplied parts all over the south east.

[Warren F.]

Re: Another Dealer Closes?

I purchased my 2002 Corvette and 2003 Silverado 2500HD truck brand new, in fact I ordered them fully loaded. The Corvette with 29K has had all kinds of D.I.C. codes showing, the truck with 21K has had all kinds of issues as well. I doubt I will ever buy another new Chevrolet. I still like my old ones though.

[Dick W.]

Re: Another Dealer Closes?

i knew it was bad when bill heard chevrolet went under. he was the largest chevy dealer in the country. it went back to the 1950's. bill heard also owned tom jumper and landmark chevy. lamdmark was given to one of his sons and from what i have heard they are still in buisness in texas and alabama.. bill heard chevrolet and tom jumber went to bill heard 3rd and he is out of business. at one time the billheard chevrolet in columbus ga was a 1000 car per month dealership. they also supplied parts all over the south east.

Heard would have closed with or without the bankruptcy of GM. They had very serious financial problems of their own. I think that in the not too distant future the whole Heard story will be told

[Joe L.]

Re: Another Dealer Closes?

... Before you go bashing your friends for not buying American maybe you should go to the government website nhtsa.gov and determine the North American (USA & Canadian) content of their specific vehicle(s). Unfortunately, I'm not aware of information regarding American content - I personally don't care about Canadian content any more than Japan, Korea, British, French, German, etc. content.
My 2006 Tundra was made in Kentucky and has 80% North American content - that is more than many of the GM products - so tell me what is AMERICAN? I suspect that the hard working people in Kentucky appreciate my decision to buy AMERICAN.

Donald-----

I've been saying this for a LONG time. If folks think that other folks shouldn't buy "foreign" cars, perhaps they should ask the AMERICANS working in many automotive plants that produce Camrys, Accords, Civics, Hyundais, BMW's, etc how they feel about it. Also, one might want to ask the THOUSANDS of AMERICANS working in plants that supply these "foreign" auto assembly plants.

[Joe L.]

Re: Another Dealer Closes?

I wish someone would explain to me how closing dealerships, especially ones that were making money, helps the Companies bottom line. For the General a dealership costs him nothing, cars are floor planned through a bank, parts are paid for and warranty works has to be summitted to the General and gets paid back to the dealership at a cheaper than normal hourly rate. Not even counting the free advertising that the dealership pays for not the General, but I guess that's what happens when you let a\the government take over, after all they do so good with our national debt and socisl security to mention but a few. We lost a dealership that was in the upper 10% of Chevrolet's sales, guess he contributed to the wrong campain.
Terry

Terry----


I think the corporate intent is the equivalent of "thinning the buds on a fruit tree". If all the buds were left to develop into fruit, none of the fruit would be very big or luscious. However, if some of the buds are removed, the remaining buds that do develop will be large and luscious.

So, in the case of the dealerships, GM wants to "prune" the weaker dealerships, even though they may be profitable, so as to make the stronger dealerships even stronger and profitable. They want to bring "transaction prices" closer to MSRP.

What's happened is that the number of dealerships has not declined by anywhere near the decline in GM market share. So, dealers have been in a vicious price-cutting environment which weakens them all. If there are less dealers around, then folks will have less ability to "shop around".

[Terry M.]

Re: Another Dealer Closes?

Terry----


I think the corporate intent is the equivalent of "thinning the buds on a fruit tree". If all the buds were left to develop into fruit, none of the fruit would be very big or luscious. However, if some of the buds are removed, the remaining buds that do develop will be large and luscious.

So, in the case of the dealerships, GM wants to "prune" the weaker dealerships, even though they may be profitable, so as to make the stronger dealerships even stronger and profitable. They want to bring "transaction prices" closer to MSRP.

What's happened is that the number of dealerships has not declined by anywhere near the decline in GM market share. So, dealers have been in a vicious price-cutting environment which weakens them all. If there are less dealers around, then folks will have less ability to "shop around".

My belief exactly, Joe. While "thinning the herd" makes good business sense from the standpoint of bringing "transaction prices" closer to MSRP that same move is anti-consumer for the exact same reason.

[Joe L.]

Re: Another Dealer Closes?

My belief exactly, Joe. While "thinning the herd" makes good business sense from the standpoint of bringing "transaction prices" closer to MSRP that same move is anti-consumer for the exact same reason.

Terry-----


No question about that. None, at all.

[Tom L.]

Re: Another Dealer Closes?

There was an article in a Long Island newspaper today, that said a local Chevrolet dealers doors were closed. The name of the dealer was Ramp Chevrolet and they claimed to be the largest Corvette dealer in New York State.

Right now there is some confusion regarding if their doors are closed for good or if they might be downsizing to a new location.

Not good.

Dennis

I was in the area so I drove by Ramp chevy yesterday. The Chevy building was closed...no cars at all, just a few commercial trucks. For sure, they are done.

The building and lot that was decdicated to vettes, also closed and the lot was being used to store school busses, sad...