24 years ago Larry Black sold me one of my first brand - Auto_Expert
24 years ago Larry Black sold me one of my first brand new cars. It was a 2000 Pontiac Ram Air Trans Am. It’s the only vehicle I ever paid MSRP for. But it was the latest greatest thing out. Others were charging over sticker. Some were charging under sticker. I spent a couple hours in the dealership and after talking with him, being treated with nothing but the ultimate respect, being made to feel that as a customer I was important, I paid it and bought the car and a fantastic relationship was born between a local buyer and a local business. Maybe it wasn’t THE best deal I could have got but there was no doubt in my head that if I had a problem, Larry would resolve that problem. Larry actually EARNED my business. In fact, he earned it for many years to come and I bought probably too many vehicles from them ever since. Unfortunately, it seems those valuable small town relationships don’t matter any more there. This comes to light when you take the modern latest greatest and test those long term local relationships with the next generation. Such is the case with the Dodge Demon 170. You see…I told THEM that they got an allocation. I put a deposit down on the car. Surely 24 years of buying cars from them would have value, right? Nope. It became clear when my deposit was returned several days later that the only relationship that had any value was their relationship with Benjamin Franklin. And with that, the small town relationships with their customers died. Myron Black: These relationships gotta work two ways. If you’re not gonna get the best price, and you’re not going to get the value that usually comes with hometown customer/business relationships, then what do you get? Looks like an all for nothing situation. Side note: The remaining staff here is FANTASTIC! Great people with that small town connection. Hate the relationship is gone now all for the mighty dollar. (PS: Did you guys know that there were dealerships in NC that sold their Demon 170’s at MSRP? YEP! Team Dodge in Morganton, Hiester CDJR…want me to continue?) You had a choice on where you stood between Benjamin Franklin, and your long term customers.
Read More