My letter to GM

[IMADreamer]

<o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" http:="" adamsforums.com="" forums="" images="" smilies="" redface.gif="" border="0" alt="" title="Embarrassment" smilieid="2" class="inlineimg"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com<img src=" http:="" adamsforums.com="" forums="" images="" smilies="" redface.gif="" border="0" alt="" title="Embarrassment" smilieid="2" class="inlineimg"></o:smarttagtype> Today I found out GM is closing not one, but two dealerships in my town. That may not sound like a big deal to many but in my community of 4000 people that is a huge deal. Not only does this cost the community jobs and tax revenue but something more important then that, it costs the community a two philanthropic entities that have contributed much more to it then cars and it has cost the community pride.

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When the school marching band needed new uniforms who was there raising money? The local Chevy dealer. When the gym needed a new scoreboard who was there raising money? The local Pontiac/GMC dealer. When the waters of <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mississippi</st1:place></st1:state> rivers and threatened the homes of hundreds who was there with trucks, man power, and free service to vehicles helping out? The local GM dealers. We are losing so much more then jobs, we are losing a pillar of the community.

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What would GM know about that? Over the last thirty years piece by piece, car by car they’ve slowly moved production out of the country to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>, etc. What would GM know about loyalty and community pride? Nothing as far as I can see.

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Buy American they say, buy GM. So what have we the loyal GM customer gotten by buying GM? Well they reached into our pockets and took billions in tax dollars just to stay afloat and fix their decades of mistakes. What is our reward for all this loyalty and money? They came back to take the only thing we have left, our communities.

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For thirty years my community has withered, slowly but surely the jobs left, one by one, company after company so much to the point where when I was growing up I was told the only way you will ever make something of yourself, thrive as a person, and make the money to support your family comfortably is to go to school then leave home. I always wondered why I had to leave the community I love just to make a living? Well today my question was answered, it’s because of companies like GM who treat the little guy like they don’t exist. The use, steal, and plunder from the little man until he’s all used up, then they throw him away. That’s what GM has done to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place> and especially to the numerous small towns like mine who lost their dealerships this week.

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I had hoped by the end of the summer to settle into my new house and start a new project car. I’ve been looking rather closely at the new Challenger, but I’ve always been a GM man so the new Camaro has its appeal. Probably being an even bigger factor was I’d always bought all of my cars (as did my Father, and Grandfather) from the same dealership, from the same family even. So putting the stunning good looks of the Challenger beside and all the blabbing I do about how great German cars are I would have probably bought a Camaro because when I walked into my local Chevy dealer I was treated not like a customer but like a friend. Not because GM said so but because Pete, Jack, Bryce, and the other guys who work there know what community is all about and they know how to treat people even if the company who makes the cars they sell and service doesn’t.

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Now I have to buy my cars somewhere else. Not even in my town now as there are no dealers left. The nearest Chevy dealer is now 50 miles away. So what has my family gotten for our loyalty to GM? Well now if we need some work done we get to drive 50 miles to a mega dealer that doesn’t know our name and doesn’t care. I say drive, but that’s assume the car would run, I wonder what a 50 mile tow costs? What GM has done has effectively is turn the knife in the chests of small towns across the country that companies like Wal Mart stabbed us with. Small towns continue to die and people in small towns continue to lose their jobs and their way of life. We don’t ask for bail out money from the Government we just quietly watch all we hold dear slip away.

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So here is my pledge as a loyal GM customer for my entire life. It’s over with us, I’m through with you, and I hope the rest of this country says so to. You don’t deserve our business. I guess my next car will be German, atleast they are building plants in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> and not closing them down.

[bigred vette]

That's a really good letter Jason. I could tell it was from the heart, I'm sorry the dealership closed down and I hope GM reads and takes it into consideration.

[bobfred44]

Jason, I could not agree any more. Great letter and you hit the nail on the head, closing dealerships will have a large negative impact on everyone's community.

 

I recently participated in a charity golf tournament, golfing and myself is like water and oil, but I noticed that one local car dealership did significant amount of sponsorship including donating a car for a hole in one challenge. The owner of the dealership himself and his entire family participated in the tournament. You would never realize what had happened earlier that day but the next morning, I read that he had lost one of his franchises. Jason, you are correct. These dealers do so much a part of our communities that time will show just how much of a positive impact the havd had on all of us during the past. I am a huge US car supporter but honestly, closing dealerships has me rethinking my support. Shame but true. Most dealers start as a family business, taking risks, investing their life savings, and then building it into a profitable business. Why take this away. It is part of the American dream, much like Adams Polishes. I just don't get it.

 

Good luck with your letter and I myself will support your approach.

[11chevz71]

GM wants to copy more and more off of Toyota and Honda Etc. They want a dealership in a big Town or City, and a dealership that sells more than 1,200 cars a year. Then they want to come in give some popcorn soda etc. and you need to pay what the price is on the car. the day of getting a good price gone and Gm point of view they should have stayed aways from what Toyota has done or who ever and went the way they have always went. Because a Chevy GMC Etc. Dealership has always been different in my eye they were the best. THey dont haggle you to buy now they just say when ever you are ready. And that is the way it should be. And i realize they need to cut dealerships so do what you need to do. I know that you need to run 50 miles chevy dealers and i know they are the kind of people that dont give a crap. I myself need to run 50 miles for everything, Walmart, Gocery Store what have you so i guess i am used to it. so hopefully in a couple years they will be back up and runing and people will be opening new dealerships.

[70'sChevyGirl]

I feel your pain Jason.

 

Great letter. Unfortunatley, I don't think they give a ****. The flood of letter will do nothing.

[IMADreamer]

I know they don't care, but maybe they will understand what they've done.

[11chevz71]

I t would be nice if they would stick it to the Unions instead of sticking it to the guy that is out there hustiling to sell there product. Does not make sense to me. But in the big corprate world alot of people think different then Joe Smo on the street. They think i here and now not down the road. And if they would have put there money away when times are good they have floated right across this mess.

[lawson4450]

97 chev before you go jumping on the unions i've been there and we gave things back and they still shut the plant down so dont go jumping up and down and swearing its the unions fault because its not completely to blame. Do I hold them blameless absolutly not but look at it this way most people want the nice things in life they want a house and car, clothes on their back and they want the flat screen tv as well. They sat down with gm and negotiated contracts in good faith, did some of them get fat and bloated yup!and some of the bs that keeps some of these bums working is rediculous they should be fired but cant because they are protected. At the same time there are alot of people who if they didnt have that protection would be on the street or trying to make up for alot of lost life. the uaw needed to make some concessions if they didnt shame on them, my union at the time was the IUE and we made alot of concessions now I got lucky and got out into a better job as a firefighter but they still shut the place down. I never understood why GM would or any company would keep sending the blue collar jobs away who is gonna buy their products if they keep cutting these people off. Unions are still necessary but not to the extent they were in the early 1900s when people worked in sweatshop conditions, no safety measures both personally or in the building they worked in. If you ever get a chance read up about the triangle shirt waste factory fire there are a couple of good books on it and it will explain very well about the working conditions of these people and why the unions came along. Listen I hope adams does well I just hope they dont get to big to forget where he came from I am a proponant of personal customer service and the fact the owner of the company gives out his personal cell phone number for people to reach him tells me something. If you try that with these guys from any car company you would be laughed at. Sorry for the rant but people who want to just blame the unions annoys the hell out of me Ive been union all my life in two different unions and let me tell you some of the stuff they will try and pull on you without the protection is crazy and they dont think twice about doing it either as long as they collect their money they could care less about you. But I will tell you there are some unions that over do it and need to have some steam let out of them. The town where I live just made all the unions give back a health care grievance they won, made them forgo their raises at least this year if not next year and they all get 12 furlough days they will be hit with 4 to 7 thousand dollars in losses just to keep their jobs. So unions do what they need to do to protect their members from people who just want to cut numbers and not see the people they are effecting. Oh and they are bringing back 20 of the 28 people they laid off at least for this year. again sorry for the rant or hijacking your thread but unfortuneatly its all over this country

[11chevz71]

Im just not saying unions it a whole lot of things. BUt when a person is putting on a little part day in and day out for 40 dollars that is a little ridicoulos that is all i am saying now if they would do more there is nothing wrong with that. What i am trying to say is it is not the union it self it is what some unions want not all are the same. and i hope you can get what i am saying and i hope there is no bad feeling. And for adam he will never lose track of where he came from we support his company because of him. For example to thru one out. Adam is like a person that just inherted a lot of money(I am just using this as an example i am not saying anything about bad or anything about him in any way just an example). And the person lives like he always did with out the money and went on his way. And there are people that were born into money like your big company?ceo and they spend there money on anything they want and dont give a crap about the consumer because they just dont really care. BUt adam is the kind of guy that knows his company and will do anything to help his customers out because he is the quality control. sure he could not help with problems that customers might have but he decided not to go this way because he cares about his company and the products he puts out. And in this day in age you do not see to many companys like adams. So i would give adams and extra 5 bucks on any of his products because one they are the best come on who would not think so, two they are made in the usa, and because of the quality customer services that is backing up the company and there products. So i hope you understand what i am trying to say and no bad feelings.

[lawson4450]

absolutely no bad feelings bro none at all but what people dont understand is what looks like someone putting screws in all day may seem like nothing but understand they make whats called ergonomics that make a job a little easier so they can do more in a day. what happens (and this happened to me) is when you do a job over and over again you get repetative motion injuries I have a bad shoulder from the job when i use the machine on my car it causes my whole hand to swell from the vibrations or even if i do it by hand my arm and shoulder aches for 3 days afterwards. its also called lean manufacturing the companies instituted this so that only enough product is on hand for that days or 2 days builds and the parts arrive on time its a way to streamline the process. I do understand what your saying and again Ive heard it several times and I know things are a little different in different parts of the country. In the northeast cost of living is high so the salaries go up to match that for the same job in a different part of the country you wont make as much because the cost of living is cheaper. I just want people to see that yes the unions should assume its fair share but also they do things that keep people going home safe at night as well and its not totally their fault for the way things are thats all. again absolutly no hard feelings.

[Marylander]

It's very unfortunate, but I don't think it's fair to direct all your spite at GM and hope that they go under -- that would only make things far worse for a lot of other communities like yours, and for the country in general.

 

GM closing all those stores is a reflection of market reality -- their vast dealer network simply isn't an efficient marketing system in today's marketplace.

 

You have to realize that your loss of a friendly, local dealer that knows you is just another in a long line of dominos to fall, and each and everyone of us is responsible for that to some degree. Your local bookstore died when you started shopping at Barnes and Noble and then Amazon.com. Your local clothing retailers closed their doors when we started buying less expensive, Asian-made clothes from places like Kohls and Pennys. Our local Sears left town when we started buying cheaper tools at Harbor Freight. The local hardware store died when everyone started getting more for your money at Home Depot. And all the other mom and pops died when Walmart came to town. And ALL those cheaper, big-box places were welcomed with open arms because everyone wanted to buy more and more stuff at lower and lower prices.

 

So, I guess what I'm saying it that this is just the new reality. And while the personal connection to the small town dealership is lost, GM -- and all the Americans it supports -- needs you more now than ever before. So try to keep some faith, and if you can, root for the home team.

[IMADreamer]

The point is atleast how I see it, they are not the home team any more. I mean now there is this deal to import 50k cars from China now. When does it end? Well I suppose that's when all the plants are closed here in the US. I'm sorry I can't root for GM any more, what I am rooting for is that the foreign makers that have been building plants here build more so that more American jobs are created. As far as I'm concerned GM isn't even an American company, this deal with China pretty much seals that, someone should pass a law making it a crime for GM to call themselves an American auto company.

 

I still have this itch for one of those new muscle cars, but I just can't bring myself to do it. We still have a Ford dealership around, maybe I'll consider a Mustang. (that hurt to type) I am certainly not going to drive the 50 miles to the Chevy dealer just for the privalage of owning one of their foriegn cars.

[Krzdimond]

If you have purchased a new car is the past 10 years, it IS foreign. Look at the door sticker. Most say "made in Canada" or " Made in Mexico". I had to go back 13 years to find a car made in Texas. And it is still only 85% US made.(Corvette was NOT an option) Most, if not every vehicle you buy now is "global". Body made in one country from metal in another, electronics from Japan/Korea/Taiwan, Engines are sourced out to 3rd party suppliers. American car companies-- and European, Asian companies respectively, are made and sold in almost every country in the world. Country of origin is where the Head Quarters are, not where the car is made.

 

I also agree that the market determines how successful you are. GM for years has tried to sell us what THEY wanted, not what WE wanted. Federal regulations and that GAWD AWFUL C.A.F.E. have influenced the design of cars to the point that cars are now "cookie cutter" designs.

[Chewy]

You probably sent it to the wrong place...

 

Send it to the new President of all large American corporations that are struggling.

 

Barak Obama

C/O Socialists Party

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20500

 

Here in my community we needed to trim some of the fat. We have to many dealers in our community so they trimmed the ones that weren't producing.

 

Sorry to see this happen to a small community like yours.

 

Chris

[IMADreamer]

The Quad Cities are pretty big so when you guys lose dealers it's not a big hit. In fact most of those fired could probably find jobs in their town at another dealer. That doesn't happen in small towns, those people have to move away to find jobs.

 

I thought of a few things GM should have done instead of cutting dealerships.

 

Pull out of Nascar and all other racing.

Ax the Vette

Not developed the Camaro

cut management like Toyota did

[Loud Pedal]

I understand your anger towards GM, but you can't actually think they wanted it to be this way? They are trying to get their stuff together like every other auto manufacturer. Foreign auto makers sales and numbers are at an all time low, Toyota's President said he has never and will never see it this bad again. BMW has only enough money for two more years of operation, and actually said they are going to build a couple of cars in Germany instead of the South Carolina Plant. Mercedes Benz is losing money at an alarming rate, nobody is safe, it's just not GM. Not that they ran the company very well either. Toyota built a state of the art plant in Texas that is sitting empty, and temporarily closed the Prius plant (the car that everyone wants ). I am glad these plants give Americans jobs, but they usually get such a tax break they don't end up helping the community, and all the money still goes to Japan. Unfortunately this day in age manufacturers have to design cars for a global platform, and the sharing between companies is unbeleiveable, and I mean ALL companies. Lastly not to stand on any pro-union guys; some of those worthless clowns have got to go get a job somewhere where it's okay to be a useless employee and suck the employer dry. We run a union shop and I can't tell you how aggervating it is. I'm not against what the union is for by any means but this crap has got to stop. How do you expect the American cars to compete with non-union plants when GM is paying their employees about $70 an hour compared to $30 from the non-union manufacturers? It will never happen and thats why GM is wanting to import cars, business is cut throat and you have to do what you have to do. Unfortunately our government thinks they have the right to run our businesses the way they see fit, and tell us what we want or need, kiss my A** Barack. Sorry for the rant, I love this country with all my heart but it disgusts me at the same time.

Edited May 18, 2009 by Loud Pedal

[11chevz71]

I understand your anger towards GM, but you can't actually think they wanted it to be this way? They are trying to get their stuff together like every other auto manufacturer. Foreign auto makers sales and numbers are at an all time low, Toyota's President said he has never and will never see it this bad again. BMW has only enough money for two more years of operation, and actually said they are going to build a couple of cars in Germany instead of the South Carolina Plant. Mercedes Benz is losing money at an alarming rate, nobody is safe, it's just not GM. Not that they ran the company very well either. Toyota built a state of the art plant in Texas that is sitting empty, and temporarily closed the Prius plant (the car that everyone wants ). I am glad these plants give Americans jobs, but they usually get such a tax break they don't end up helping the community, and all the money still goes to Japan. Unfortunately this day in age manufacturers have to design cars for a global platform, and the sharing between companies is unbeleiveable, and I mean ALL companies. Lastly not to stand on any pro-union guys; some of those worthless clowns have got to go get a job somewhere where it's okay to be a useless employee and suck the employer dry. We run a union shop and I can't tell you how aggervating it is. I'm not against what the union is for by any means but this crap has got to stop. How do you expect the American cars to compete with non-union plants when GM is paying their employees about $70 an hour compared to $30 from the non-union manufacturers? It will never happen and thats why GM is wanting to import cars, business is cut throat and you have to do what you have to do. Unfortunately our government thinks they have the right to run our businesses the way they see fit, and tell us what we want or need, kiss my A** Barack. Sorry for the rant, I love this country with all my heart but it disgusts me at the same time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good Writting

[SweetDaddyDelicious]

Good letter.

 

I will say the thing that totally turned me off from American cars - was working for Ford. After that and the absolute dismal quality as well as complete joke of a work envirionment due to the unions I knew I could never put my hard earned money on them again. Actually that is when I bought my first German car (which was excellent btw) Even though the union employees vandilized it and I bought a piece of $hit Escort beater to drive to work with the rest of those slobs.

 

It was further re-inforced when I went to work for a Japanese OEM supplier. Quality was 10,000 times better and something they cared about. No longer did we turn out bad part after bad part daily, but we had one part in 250,000 go bad and it was such a big deal the operation nearly came to a halt as CEO's etc from Japanese companies were flown in and every part went though 4 additional quality control checks after that. The big 3 did not get the same quality from us. They didn't spec it, and they wouldn't pay for it. All the innovation and new tech was saved for the foreign companies since they wanted it and were willing to pay for it.

 

Once you go German (or Japanese) you won't go back. My old BMW with 200,000 miles still looks and drives great, has never had a sensor replaced or a check engine light on. Has the original cat, muffler, O2 sensors, exhaust, alternator, spark plug wires etc and still passes its yearly emissions test like a new car and leaves no spots in the driveway. The family has had a newer Lincoln with a lot less miles thats already been in the junkyard a couple years.

 

I can't take GM seriously since they don't practice what they preach. They don't buy American themselves. They've had entire lines made in Korea. (anyone remember Geo?) What is that new little disposable tin can they have? The Aveo? Who makes that for them- Kia or Daewoo? As they've been taking billions in bail out money from us, they've been opening up brand new factories in China. Thanks GM. You used to be great but now you truly deserve to rot. It's a shame that you've taken so much of America with you.

 

What have things come to that I actually drive a hand built BRITISH car that's reliable now? In 4 years of daily driving it's never really needed to go to the dealer for anything. And everyone knows that British cars have always been complete and total crap. The last one in the family driving a 'mercan car is Grandpa in his old Buick. But even he, if he stays driving long enough has decided his next car will be a Nissan. The Buick nickle and dimes him to death. The only foreign car he ever had was an old Datsun wagon that someone gave him and he was blown away how long it lasted and never needed or leaked anything. It was still running great at nearly 400K miles but the rear springs were going and was goign to cost more to fix that the car was worth so he traded it on his POC Buick which has been bleeding him dry ever since.

Edited May 19, 2009 by SweetDaddyDelicious

[Chewy]

 

What have things come to that I actually drive a hand built BRITISH car that's reliable now? In 4 years of daily driving it's never really needed to go to the dealer for anything. And everyone knows that British cars have always been complete and total crap.

 

Of course the Toyota drive train doesn't hurt...

 

 

My Dr. had an Elise and sold it after a couple of years. He said it just wasn't reliable enough... Of course he drives all Honda products. S2000, NSX, MDX and Accord Coupe...

[SweetDaddyDelicious]

Well you don't go in expecting Honda reliability. For one thing it's British and Honda is well Honda. Nothing is that reliable. lol. (they sure have came a long way since how they were viewed here in the 70's havn't they? Maybe GM could learn a lesson from the underdog that slaughtered them) It has far exceeded my expectations though, and I actually drive mine (AND track it)- 46K miles so far.

 

If it had a Lotus or other British engine and/or a Lucas electrical system I'd of never bought it. People can knock it but Toyota (actually Yamaha makes it for them) drivetrain was a big selling point for me. Getrag trans, Bilstein coilovers, Lotus Engineering suspension and aluminum frame, AP racing and Brembo brakes, Momo wheel, Yokohama tires, etc etc didn't hurt either.

[Chewy]

Well you don't go in expecting Honda reliability. For one thing it's British and Honda is well Honda. Nothing is that reliable. lol. (they sure have came a long way since how they were viewed here in the 70's havn't they? Maybe GM could learn a lesson from the underdog that slaughtered them) It has far exceeded my expectations though, and I actually drive mine (AND track it)- 46K miles so far.

 

If it had a Lotus or other British engine and/or a Lucas electrical system I'd of never bought it. People can knock it but Toyota (actually Yamaha makes it for them) drivetrain was a big selling point for me. Getrag trans, Bilstein coilovers, Lotus Engineering suspension and aluminum frame, AP racing and Brembo brakes, Momo wheel, Yokohama tires, etc etc didn't hurt either.

 

Yeah his was a track tool. He is a certified instructor. Loved and hated it at the same time... lol

 

Chris

[IMADreamer]

I won't sit here and say one bad thing about GM reliability. My Cobalt has never seen the inside of the dealer in three years and I do not baby the car. My father is on his second Malibu and both have been way over 100k miles again with no trips to the dealership. Actually I think the first one went in once because the electronic seat button broke. My letter is in no way a bash on GM quality because it's on par with everyone else as proven by recent quality surveys that shows GM has passed Honda and may pass Toyota soon.

 

My knock is on their allegiance to America, which I see as none existent.

 

You are right about German cars they are great, but the reliability is not so much. My ex had a 5 series that was lemon lawed due to the transmission not shifting. She then got a 335i and while I LOVE that car it's seen plenty of shop time too. Granted all the Dinan goodies probably don't help the cause.

 

I don't expect perfection from my cars, cars are a product of people and there will always be flaws. The only thing I do expect is great service from the company who made the car. I don't think I'm asking for much with that and now that the BMW/Mercedes/Porsche dealer is closer then the Chevy dealer and has great service it only makes sense to go there. Not to mention all the other reasons I've said in this thread.

 

Maybe this will all pass and I will have a change of heart and end up buying from Chevy again. Maybe, but I doubt it.

[BrianT]

GM closing all those stores is a reflection of market reality -- their vast dealer network simply isn't an efficient marketing system in today's marketplace.

 

 

Very true! Too much fluff!

 

You probably sent it to the wrong place...

 

Send it to the new President of all large American corporations that are struggling.

 

Barak Obama

C/O Socialists Party

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20500

 

Here in my community we needed to trim some of the fat. We have to many dealers in our community so they trimmed the ones that weren't producing.

 

Sorry to see this happen to a small community like yours.

 

Chris

 

 

X2

[SweetDaddyDelicious]

GM quality because it's on par with everyone else as proven by recent quality surveys that shows GM has passed Honda and may pass Toyota soon.

 

 

 

Whew! Thank you for that! I havn't had a laugh that good in quite a while!

 

How many people do you know after finally getting sick of it and just finally going out and buying a Honda or Toyota ever go back to say hmm gee I really want to try out a (insert Tauras, Malibu, Focus, Impala, etc here) again. It doesn't happen. And the Big 3 continuing to lose market share on their home turf proves it.

 

It's ok. We drank the kool aid for a long time too. Slowly everyone in the family eventually learned our lessons. We gave em more than enough chances, and certainly more than enough dollars. Actually even though we refuse to buy the crap they now try to foist on us, we are still stuck giving them our dollars courtesy ala Barrack.

[Chewy]

I must say that GM and Ford are FINALLY making some good engines to compete against the Jap motors. The ecoboost should be a good motor going forward IMO.

 

We'll see...

 

Chris