After reading this letter one can not help but
think that the assumption that
somehow we are operating under a
free market economy is just an illusion.
From American Thinker:
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
It is very hard to comprehend the reason why a
profitable and upstanding operation that has been family run for
35 years is forcibly pushed to close its doors. It makes no
sense. This dealership is not even a drag on the operations of
Chrysler. This is just insane.
