Posted on 05/19/2009 10:29:47 AM PDT by American Dream 246
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
[So if you just sold Dodges, but not Chrysler or Jeep, you were on the chopping block.]
I live in a small town. The largest city within reasonable driving distance is about 25 miles. The dealership there sells Dodge, Chrysler, and Jeep (the only one within 50 miles). It is on the list for closing. Has been there for many years and a good percentage of locals buy local. I didn’t realize how many Jeeps were around until I bought one. Every other vehicle is a Jeep. Guess all us “hill” people think alike.
I may not have the full answer but I think I have part of the answer. The Big 3 have it in their contracts with the UAW that they will keep so many dealerships open. Each dealership has to have a minimum inventory thus providing a minimum number of cars being produced each year (job security).
Bankruptcy and government takeovers have freed Chrysler and GM from some of the limitations of those contracts. They dont owe anything to the independent, privately owned, non union dealerships.
Castro can give the Marxist Kenyan lessons if he needs them. This is what he did in Cuba. Took the businesses, homes property, whatever he wanted. It’s called COMMUNISM.
Companies that are bearing the expense of maintaining those retail outlets, sure. But these franchises are owned by the dealers...there's no savings to Chysler.
According to his narrative, his family bought their dealership in 1974.
He benefited from the first bailout (Chrysler stayed in business), and stayed with Chrysler, even though after 1979, they benefited from public tax money.
Frankly, it's very hard to feel sorry for him when what saved his investment before (government involvement) comes back around to bite him viciously in the behind later.
Yeah; it’s change all right. It’s also “hope” — for the dealer gaining the inventory. Probably a big supporter of Hussein.
When is this going to STOP?
I don’t think it is a hard and fast rule, and certainly not the other way around (e.g., if you have all three brands you get to stay open). On another thread it was suggested that dealerships in small towns would be closed as well.
My first new car was a Jeep—I usually buy used, but knew I’d be commuting in snow and ice. Lots of Jeeps around here too.
Have you EVER had a job in the private sector? You seem absolutely cluless to me. Nobody is asking for a bailout for the dealers...especially the dealers. All they’re asking is to not have their business stolen from them. Chysler is not taking back any of his inventory. If he sells those cars it will have to be as used vehicles since he can’t sell them as new without a franchise agreement.
. Who is this actor playing Tom Paine in this video that keeps popping up here. I can’t believe the real Tom Paine was that annoying and full of himself
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He’s one of the FEW that has the balls to speak out, that’s who he is.
I’m done with Detroit’s cars. The last few have been reasonably well designed and yet poorly engineered. Essentially a highly polished turd.
I spent most of my life as a Chrysler guy. After my 99 LHS turned onto a piece of sh!t with under 70K miles on it...I swore never again.
feel bad for this dealer...he should pack up his floor plan and service parts and send it back to Detroit. Call up Toyota.
Rahmbo and the boys, thinking three steps ahead, surely know that new car dealerships are a primary source of ad revenue for broadcasters, including talk radio. Perhaps trying to induce the same sort of “crisis” that would let them get their hands on that industry too.
Are you serious???
If this isn’t GRAND THEFT AUTO, i don’t know what is.
So all these dealers, many like Mr. Josesph here and his 50 plus employees, will lose their jobs, while the UAW makes no concessions. What I can't figure out is how closing profitable and stable franchises, like Joseph's Sunshine Dodge, will save Chrysler money? This cannot possibly be the motive. Of course, if a dealer is out of trust (deliquent on his floor plan fees and selling vehicles without paying the manufacturer), then yea, they shut them down. Always have.
But what we are witnessing today are profitable dealers (who create the sales, pay their fees, meet their obligations) being closed. There's a fly in the ointment somewhere, and I think his name is ObaMarxist. What CEO and capitalist would close a profit center? Only a fool would. So it must be the commie pulling the strings.
I feel sorry for your loss , but I know that pretty soon you will be joined by almost every tax paying American, you are simply in the forefront.
Just stop it! It is as though we are to just give in and give up. Never! This does NOT have to happen to every American, and it won’t if we can help it. Now please help!
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I agree. A defeatist attitude means you have accepted to live in chains for the rest of your life because half of Americans are complete mindless fools and didn’t know what change they were voting for. We need to stop him NOW. It’s looking more and more like he will be a one termer.
And it will be Bush's fault. Because Bush was the capitalist pig!
If that’s the case, it’s a big bowl full of wrong.
Sure hope BOR, Levin & Hannity have seen this. Or Greta, ‘cause she has a huge audience.
That’s the only explanation that makes any sense at all.
I visualize a whole new set of signs for 7/4 Tea Parties.
Also just heard on the radio (KABC) that now people who pay off their credit cards every month will end up paying more — some kind of penalty, I guess. Once again, the responsible Americans are being robbed to subdize the losers.
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