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Dude, where did all the dealerships go?

654 messages,  Last post on Nov 23, 2009 at 7:56 PM

You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires

What is this discussion about? Car Buying, Automotive News, Legislation


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#584 of 654
one dealer's perspective... by explorerx4
Jun 03, 2009 (2:10 pm)
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thanks to fezo for pointing me over to this site.
 
fitzmall
#585 of 654
Re: one dealer's perspective... [explorerx4] by gagrice
Jun 03, 2009 (2:48 pm)
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Replying to: explorerx4 (Jun 03, 2009 2:10 pm)

There were 40,000 dealers in the 1950s? Hard to imagine that many are gone and going fast. I agree that eliminating dealers is a dumb move. If they go out of business because of poor business acumen or the economy, so be it. Axing dealers that are doing OK is crazy.
 
http://www.fitzmall.com/DealersAreNotTheProblem/DomesticDealersVsCarsOnTheRoad5-- 28-2009.pdf
#586 of 654
Re: one dealer's perspective... [gagrice] by bumpy
Jun 03, 2009 (3:11 pm)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jun 03, 2009 2:48 pm)

There were 40,000 dealers in the 1950s?
 
That's not surprising. Back in the old days, there was a Chevy, Ford, Dodge, and AMC dealer here for about 7500 people. One by one, they fell out over the years until only the ca. 1919 Chevy dealer is left (it used to carry Olds, too), and that franchise may not be long for the world now.
#587 of 654
Dealers are applying the heat by steve_ HOST
Jun 04, 2009 (7:25 am)
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Dealers have long had political muscle and they are starting to flex it.
 
"I don't believe companies should be allowed to take taxpayer funds for a bailout and then leave local dealers and their customers to fend for themselves with no real notice and no real help. It's just plain wrong," continued Rockefeller who noted the roughly 2,000 Chrysler and GM dealerships being closed across the country put at risk more than 100,000 jobs."
 
GM, Chrysler Defend Dealer Cuts in U.S. Senate (AutoObserver)
 
For the conspiracy theorists, Rockefeller is a Dem.
 
The bankruptcy judge is having none of it.
 
Judge: Chrysler has good case for franchise cuts (Yahoo/AP)
#588 of 654
Re: just saw [euphonium] by nippononly
Jun 04, 2009 (8:09 am)
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Replying to: euphonium (Jun 03, 2009 7:26 am)

Well Toyota and Honda are still there on Van Ness, right where they have always been. Mercedes is still in the City too, and BMW, and I think Royal Motors is hanging in there too, for the Mazda/Audi/VW/Volvo fans among us, although word a little while back was that they were going to drop Volvo for some reason.
 
Not sure if there is a San Francisco Nissan? Haven't ever heard of one. But basically, it's only the domestics that are out of business on Van Ness Avenue, and the rest of San Francisco too.
#589 of 654
Re: one dealer's perspective... [gagrice] by andre1969
Jun 04, 2009 (10:56 am)
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Replying to: gagrice (Jun 03, 2009 2:48 pm)

There were 40,000 dealers in the 1950s? Hard to imagine that many are gone and going fast.
 
Heck, at one point in the 1950's, there were about 10,000 dealers that sold Plymouth! I believe that was more than any other brand, however, there is a reason. Back in those days, Plymouth was always paired with Dodge, DeSoto, or Chrysler/Imperial. Or sometimes, all three! There's a dealer a few miles up the road from me that used to carry Plymouth/Dodge/DeSoto/Chrysler/Imperial. When Chrysler restructured in 1960, having Dodge on its own and merging everything else, I think that's when they went to Dodge only. For most of my memory, they sold Dodges and Pontiacs, but lost the Pontiac franchise a few years ago. I think they sell Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep now. Well, for the time being at least.
#590 of 654
Re: one dealer's perspective... [andre1969] by lemko
Jun 04, 2009 (11:50 am)
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Replying to: andre1969 (Jun 04, 2009 10:56 am)

For something really different - I was in Camp Hill, PA, (which is across the river from Harrisburg) and saw a sign with the Chrysler pentastar with the word "Rootes" below it. If you recall, Rootes was Chrysler's British subsidiary.
#591 of 654
rootes by stickguy
Jun 04, 2009 (6:02 pm)
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Plymouth Cricket, baby!
#592 of 654
S/T correction by stickguy
Jun 04, 2009 (6:07 pm)
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I'm still a tad fuzzy on where the savings are going to come from for GM and Chrysler by closin gdealers. You would think that the market forces would take care of that if needed (as has always happened). Plus, usually more outlets for your product is better.
 
Also, this new, streamlined, dealer network isn't permanent. I'm sure that once the BR is over and the companies are back up an operational, and the market settles out, there will be obvious areas underserved by certain makers.
 
So, at some point, new delerships will (re)open in some markets, where it makes sense.
 
If anything, the best way to figure out how many dealers you need, and where, was to close ALL of them (IOW, pull every franchise.) Then have people bid on the franchises again.
 
So in the short run closing some small ones hurts at the local level, but it should lead to a "right sized" and better located dealer network. Hopefully.
 
Or Ford will just take all the domestice business and make Joel happy!
#593 of 654
Saturn by stickguy
Jun 04, 2009 (6:11 pm)
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However it is that is buying Opel should also buy Saturn. Bingo, instant dealer network and product. The best stuff at Saturn was rebadged Opels anyway.
 
Then partner up with some other non-US Euro makes that want an inroad.
 
Renault? Peugout? Heck, some of there stuff just might be interesting to US buyers, especially if they can pull off snazzy diesels, and some of the efficient people movers that everyone else is afraid to bring over.

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