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
I'll admit, I'm a bit curious about the dealer that "received" the franchise pulled from this guy. I thought the announcement was just about closing some dealers, not stealing their franchises away for others to use by someone else. Perhaps that portion of the letter wasn't phrased correctly.
IIRC, Ford eventually decided to turn down the government bailout. And guess what? Ford's not closing dealerships by the thousands.
If I were a Ford dealer right now, I'd be planning for a whole mess of new customers. And I'd start offering some free services for existing Chrysler and GM owners, to get them in the door.
bump
“HOW IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAN THIS HAPPEN? “
Change you have to bend over for.
Ever heard of business loans? From the article:
...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...
I'm sure he expected to be in business a long time and over that time repay those loans.
“If I were a Ford dealer right now, I’d be planning for a whole mess of new customers. And I’d start offering some free services for existing Chrysler and GM owners, to get them in the door.”
I like it. I’ve wanted rid of my 2008 Avenger since I bought it. If they could give me a heck of deal on a new car, I would trade it in a heart beat.
No, you just have a hard time with reading comprehension.
“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.”
Weren’t you listening when the ObaMaster said he was going to redistribute the wealth? You thought YOU would get some? Sucker!
Necessary to who?
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.
They are not getting rid of the franchise -- they are giving it to another dealer.
necessary to who?
Yes, I’m amazed at just how calloused the replies are. Wow! Almost as if the dealer had it coming.
There is a real Sunshine Dodge in Florida. It shouldn’t be too hard to find out if they are being forcibly closed and if their franchise is being moved elsewhere. BTW, Glenn Beck had a man on last Fri. with a remarkably similar story in NJ — 60 year old franchise, family business, making money, taken from him and being given to someone two miles down the road. Coicidence? Or just the Plan?
So what’s your point? It’s ok if the federal government comes in and steals a man’s business because they decide Chysler has too many dealers? And don’t tell me Chrysler is making the decision to close these dealerships...this whole damned thing is being orchestrated by Rattner and obama. Whether or not his sales justify his continuing in business is something that should be decided in the marketplace. Not by government fiat. That’s something every conservative should know.
Yeah smart ass I have. Those business loans that you know so much about are granted with the expectation of repayment...and that's based on how much money the company is worth. Sheesh!
not to many of “the brothers” working there explains it all
This is beyond heartbreaking. He is trying to destroy our country and the hard working Americans that have made it what is is...or was. It’s time to take those tea parties to DC and camp there. This is an outrage.
How is his business being stolen by the government? Chrysler voluntarily filed a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Petition. Under the Bankruptcy Code that has existed long before 0bama became the TOTUS, debtors are allowed to terminate certain executory and other contracts and obligations, even if that means that the person on the other side of transaction gets hurt.
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