Chrysler LLC is cracking down...

[docboy209]

2 years ago I left my job as a Chrysler/Jeep tech at a local dealership (Armory). I'm now a Honda tech at the place down the street from there. I've kept in touch with most of my former co-workers since then, and boy am I glad I left!!!party1:

Chrysler LLC has just pulled the plug on 3 dealers in the area: Advantage C/J, Advantage Dodge, & DeNooyer Dodge. I think there may be a few more, but anyway, those dealerships just weren't doing enough business to justify them being open. More of them are being audited, including the one I left. Their goal is to put all 3 brands under one roof:bs:, and so far there's only one of them: Clifton Park Dodge World, C/J.

Just wanted to warn you guys.

Chris
"When it comes to being the soothing light at the end of your tunnel, it's just a freight train coming your way." - James Hetfield

 

[FordGuy]

It's about time. Too many dealers, It will be much better in the long run to have fewer, healthier dealers and more techs to choose from.

 

[docboy209]

It's about time. Too many dealers, It will be much better in the long run to have fewer, healthier dealers and more techs to choose from.

Since I left Armory 2 techs quit, and 3 were fired. Ten years ago they told me that there would always be a demand for good techs, well to that I say:sure:

 

[ChiXJeff]

Chiming in from da Midwest.

This isn't new. When I was living outside of Chicago, I found Lou's Sales out in Geneva, IL. Jeeps, and Jeeps only. They used to be Lou's Jeeps. Until Dimestore/Chrysler came in and said "Be a full line dealership." Lou's said no, and got their new vehicle franchise pulled.

They still have the best stocked Jeep parts counter for 5 counties, and the parts manager is a serious AMC nut.

 

[91Woody]

so just when you think your local sale people couldn't be less knowledgeable about their cars, (not ALL of them are worthless, but a lot of them can literally only tell you a few features) they get to sell more...woohoo.
I'm glad they are consolidating, it's a tremendous waste to have a bunch of cars just sitting on seperate lots for the sake of being on seperate lots. I have always seen C/J/D as an entity for sales purposes, but withing the vehicles they are obviously different.
Sometimes poor economy drives people insane, sometimes it makes them see how wasteful they really are. Chrysler is the latter of the two.
just please train the sales force properly.

 

[mjma]

I love walking through the showroom and looking at new jeeps on the way to the parts counter. Car salesmen guys will always come up to me and start talking to me and then when I start asking technical questions....they have no clue. Then I start telling them about the vehicles, and they usually leave me alone.

 

[XJLI]

I love walking through the showroom and looking at new jeeps on the way to the parts counter. Car salesmen guys will always come up to me and start talking to me and then when I start asking technical questions....they have no clue. Then I start telling them about the vehicles, and they usually leave me alone.

lololol i love talking tech with the salesmen. one of em a few years ago when my dad my hunting for good deals on a WK wouldnt stop talking about overhead cams. "this engines got the overhead camshafts!!11!"

 

[mjma]

that's probably the only thing that he know about the engine!! Ofcourse, if he was saying that about a 4.0L, then he didn't even get that correct!

 

[Bryan C.]

I usually don't post in other chapter forums, but I saw this and thought I would. I'm from Northern California and have been a Chrysler tech for the last 15 years. This consolodation thing is has been going on for some time now. I worked at a Jeep only dealer for 6 years, we got closed down because Chrysler said we needed a seperate showroom for the Jeep, we were a GMC/Pontiac/Olds dealer as well. So the owners said OK, let us buy the Chrysler line from the dealer who went belly-up and we'll do it. Chrysler said sorry, that isn't going to happen. That pretty much forced them to sell the Jeep frachise, and I lost my job.

This isn't just Chrysler doing this. The dealer group I work at now just got our GMC/Pontiac franchise pulled for slumping sales and poor CSI.

Less is better for those who can weather the storm.

 

[docboy209]

This consolidation thing is has been going on for some time now.

I know it's not new. It all started when I graduated from the HVCC CAP (Chrysler Dealer Apprenticeship Program) back in '98. I miss the old Jeeps, but Hondas are just so much easier to work on. And even in the dead of winter we don't get a chance to play volleyball in the shop, lol. At all 3 C/J dealers I worked at it would be dead during winter, but the body shops were always busy.

I don't know if anyone's from the Albany, NY area, but Armory was redesigned about 2 and a half years ago to prepare for holding all 3 brands. Now the only department making a profit is service. I should've become an electrician like my rich bro-in-law.:doh:

 

[Bryan C.]

I should've become an electrician like my rich bro-in-law.:doh:

Same here....Hasta

 

[MoochsXJ]

The dealer you left is the one not too far from SUNY Albany right? There is some sweet dumpster diving excursions in there when visiting my friend at SUNY. Amazing the things the throw out there. Also amazing the things that once your drag all the way back to campus become useless to you even though while in the dumpster they seemed like gold. Not that I know anything about that.

 

[Mtb Jak]

you go to ulbany??


I live right in nisky and was thinking of going to their finance program in the fall...

 

[MoochsXJ]

I never went to SUNY, friend did. He did business something, partied for 4 years ended up with 2 degree's and now hates all 3 jobs he's had since getting out of college b/c life's no longer a party like college.

 

[docboy209]

The dealer you left is the one not too far from SUNY Albany right?

Sorry It's been so long since I posted last. Ya, Armory is practically next door to UAlbany. It's gotten even worse there since I posted last. They couldn't afford to heat the old body shop, so they let even more techs go to make room for the body shop to take half of the service shop:dunce:. Giant cluster f--- if you ask me. Still happy on the Hondas down the street! Missed a day last week with pink eye, still made over 40 hours!