May 19, 2009
Letter from a Dodge dealer
letter to the editor
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
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/05/letter_from_a_dodge_dealer.html
http://www.sunshinedodgeisuzu.com/
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