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
Today, Rush had soundclips from another dealer. Guy was from Long Island, I think. Roughly the same tune.
Entrophy is a state of “change” also and everyone believes in entrophy.
meanwhile, over at the UAW hall we have this.....The gov’t using our TAX dollars to reward their UAW friends............So the RICH guy who owns the dealership has if confiscated and goes broke along with his employees, while the UAW members who have nothing invested in Chrysler but their time get the following.................
Those whose years of service and age exceed 85 or who are 60 years with at least 10 years can retire with a $50,000 taxable lump sum plus a $25,000 voucher for a new Chrysler vehicle.
A Special Early Retirement option was expanded at the two Missouri assembly plants, Kenosha and Twinsburg to workers from ages 50 to 62 with 10 years or more of pension credited service. They can retire without their earned pension benefit being reduced for retiring early. At Sterling Heights and Conner Avenue, that plan is open to those between ages 55 and 62 and 10 or more years.
An enhanced voluntary termination of employment for those with between one and nine years of seniority offers a taxable $75,000 lump sum and a $25,000 vehicle voucher. Those with 10 or more years can receive a taxable $115,000 lump sum and the $25,000 vehicle voucher. Everyone accepting this offer continues receiving their Chrysler health care coverage, minus dental, for one year after leaving.
Finally, workers at the Fenton Assembly plants who don’t qualify for the other plans but who would become eligible in the next 24 months can receive 85% of their base wage until they are eligible to retire.
Since the average Chrysler dealer sells about 1 new car a day it is my guess that the gentleman in question makes most of him money on service and used cars. The problem becomes on site inventory - if he’s smart he can break even on the new inventory and find a way to ramp up his used car business until he finds a manufacturer who ‘wants’ him.
Elections have consequences people.
Change you can believe, yes you can.
Who was this letter addressed too? Maybe this gentleman can go to one of Obamas town hall meetings— this is who the letter should go to but I guess he is blaming the car company
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...*snip*
Change you can believe in. Here it comes.
Yep.
Filthy kulak...arrest that man!
check their bumper stickers
THIS IS CALLED REPERATIONS! Get used to it, WHITEY. This crap HAS TO STOP!
This man is beseeching our help and the best we can do is shake our heads and commiserate?!
What can possibly be done? Let’s put our heads together and figure something out, because I’m sick to death of the shrugging ‘oh, well!’ attitude. If the shrug is due to not knowing the answer, well, then admit it, and get to work trying to find an answer.
I admit that this one has me stumped at the moment, but I do not give up hope.
So if McDonalds decides that a franchisee isn’t selling enough burgers and refuses to renew their franchise agreement - is McDonald’s being cold-hearted or are they being smart business people?
Look at the numbers for dealership by dealership new car sales and you will probably agree that Chrysler had way too many franchises. A thinning of the herd was necessary.
Budda bing.
Go to FL and buy a Dodge from him...
That’s the only help that matters.
Or wait a few weeks and get a sweet deal on an almost new Charger!
Anyone in the market for an Isuzu?
IT is VERY heartbreaking but it paves the way for all those shiney new Chinese cars that people will be driving soon. sad, ain’t it?
How was the decision made to pick out the dealers that are being closed?
Semper Fi,
Kelly
Class warfare... voter fraud... RINO nominee... Socialism...
How many of yuor worker's autos have "Obama" stickers, sir?
It is no longer a free market economy, not by a long shot.
Fascism : it still doesn’t work.
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