chiefstang Posted January 5, 2009 Share Posted January 5, 2009 Just announced to us today that at the end of Jan., we will be closing our doors for good. A poor economy, slow sales, and an owner ready to retire finally set the ball rolling. It's pretty depressing around here now, and pretty surreal. I already have a job at another Ford store, but it won't be the same at all. After 7 years, I'm going to lose some customers, and also my office, which took me all 7 years to get set up perfectly. I'm all right, but others here don't have much to fall back on. It just feels strange. The whole past year, trouble has been on our doorstep, and now it just kicked in the door, stole my beer, and has it's feet up on the coffee table. Happy 2009! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickF1011 Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Well, good luck at the new dealer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pioneer Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Good luck. Is your new dealer in the same area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deanh Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Just announced to us today that at the end of Jan., we will be closing our doors for good. A poor economy, slow sales, and an owner ready to retire finally set the ball rolling. It's pretty depressing around here now, and pretty surreal. I already have a job at another Ford store, but it won't be the same at all. After 7 years, I'm going to lose some customers, and also my office, which took me all 7 years to get set up perfectly. I'm all right, but others here don't have much to fall back on. It just feels strange. The whole past year, trouble has been on our doorstep, and now it just kicked in the door, stole my beer, and has it's feet up on the coffee table. Happy 2009! sorry to hear, thought something was up when you were absent for a while, not in the slightest your fault, right now the survivors are the ones with ZERO overheads, ones that literally own their property and buildings and have their flooring at hand. Like i have stated before, I am glad my ownership is so conservative ( may be to do with 80 plus years in business and being familiar with the ups and downs )...sad to say, but this is one way Fords dealer base will be depleated as they have stated is desirable. All the best for the future Cheif, keep in touch. Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Reynolds Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Sorry to hear about that, but on the flip side at least you are somewhere else. Hopefully if you are in the same region and your clientel will follow. Best of luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Selby Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Sorry to hear about this. I'm happy for you that you found another job. Hopefully it turns out to be an unexpected blessing for you in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefstang Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 Good luck. Is your new dealer in the same area? Thanks, guys. Yeah the other store is about a 20 min. drive, but I should be able to bring my customers. sorry to hear, thought something was up when you were absent for a while, not in the slightest your fault, right now the survivors are the ones with ZERO overheads, ones that literally own their property and buildings and have their flooring at hand. Like i have stated before, I am glad my ownership is so conservative ( may be to do with 80 plus years in business and being familiar with the ups and downs )...sad to say, but this is one way Fords dealer base will be depleated as they have stated is desirable. All the best for the future Cheif, keep in touch. Cheers. Our owner did own it all, I just think he was ready to retire, and the timing worked out for him. I'm happy for him. Great guy, but it still sucks the big suck. I was gone for a week on vacation in Denver for X-Mas. This was pretty unexpected here. I guess the writing was on the wall, but after you stare at the same writing for a year or so, you don't notice it anymore. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvrsvt Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleed Blue Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Glad to hear you have something else lined up. Takes some of the sting out of it. The Ford dealership I was with for almost 19 years just folded this June. I have been looking for work since then. Might have something later this month. We've been talking. I guess never take anything for granted! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Extreme4x4 Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Good luck chiefstang !!!! I know you will do your best, at your new home. Change is hard, especially when you have been with a company for 7+ years. We are really lucky, as my husband is in a recession proof business, and his company has been in business for 36 years (family owned with successor in training). I'm sure your customers will follow you. Goodness knows I would follow a good salesperson that I trust. You can get a "deal" anywhere. Finding good people, that you trust to look out for your best interests is priceless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ralph Greene Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 It sounds cruel....but sometimes situations like this can turn out for the better for you. Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blazerdude20 Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 sorry to hear about your job loss, but atleast you have work lined up. when a window closes a door opens, hopefully your walking through that door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twintornados Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Good Luck Chiefstang! One question about the closing dealership....what did the owner do with the franchise? Did he sell it back to Ford? Or did another dealership buy it from him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lfeg Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Hope that your new store gives you the support to do well. We customers need good, professional sales people just as you need good, reasonable customers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBadBflo Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Just announced to us today that at the end of Jan., we will be closing our doors for good. A poor economy, slow sales, and an owner ready to retire finally set the ball rolling.... As other's have said congrats on being able to trasfer. Though it will take a while to feel "at home" again. Gambino Ford over here 60 mins east in Lockport just announced that they took Ford's dealer consolidation buy-out offer. There are so many domestic dealerships so close together soemthing has to give. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpc655 Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Whats that old saying? when you lose your job, it's a recession. when i lose mine, it's a depression. sorry to hear, good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefstang Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 Good Luck Chiefstang! One question about the closing dealership....what did the owner do with the franchise? Did he sell it back to Ford? Or did another dealership buy it from him? The franchise was bought out by another dealer locally. BigBadBflo, I've done a lot of dealer trades with Gambino, and hadn't heard that yet. Pretty sad, really. They seemed like good people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rmc523 Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 (edited) As everybody else has said, sorry to hear that your dealer is closing, but at least you are/were able to move over to another dealer. Good luck with your transition! Edited January 6, 2009 by rmc523 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Sucks to lose your job, but great to have another lined up. Good luck, and I hope things work out for the best for you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
630land Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Is Rochester NY still dependent on Kodak? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron W. Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Sorry to hear your losing your job after so many years at that location, I know how you feel I was at my last dealer 5 1/2 years felt like a second home. Glad you were able to find another job so quickly, I'm hoping I'll be able to get back into a Ford dealer when I get moved (if I ever sell the bloody house) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordmantpw Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 ...bloody house... Those are the toughest to sell. Sorry, don't mean to make like of a bad situation. Best of luck to you as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chiefstang Posted January 6, 2009 Author Share Posted January 6, 2009 Is Rochester NY still dependent on Kodak? Not so much. Kodak was the number one employer here for decades, and I believe they are now #4 behind: 1 Strong Hospital 2 Wegmans Supermarkets 3 Bausch and Lomb Kodak ain't what it used to be. Talk about a company that went through a brutal downsizing and survived! The digital age crushed them, as most of their profit was photofinishing. They still manufacture digital cameras and paper for the printers and such, but that's all hardware. Their money came from the "software" end of the business, and now people do that at home. Maybe Ford should look at their model for turnaround. It crushed us locally for a few years, but now people here are worried more about the Big 2 1/2, and less about Kodak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUCKRACER Posted January 8, 2009 Share Posted January 8, 2009 Just announced to us today that at the end of Jan., we will be closing our doors for good. A poor economy, slow sales, and an owner ready to retire finally set the ball rolling. It's pretty depressing around here now, and pretty surreal. I already have a job at another Ford store, but it won't be the same at all. After 7 years, I'm going to lose some customers, and also my office, which took me all 7 years to get set up perfectly. I'm all right, but others here don't have much to fall back on. It just feels strange. The whole past year, trouble has been on our doorstep, and now it just kicked in the door, stole my beer, and has it's feet up on the coffee table. Happy 2009! Best of luck chiefstang. Hopefully, right after you get there, the high mileage Euro fords will arrive and start flying off the showroom floor. Please stay in touch and thanks for contributing to my Ford Employee Fan Club thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atomaro Posted January 9, 2009 Share Posted January 9, 2009 Good luck Chiefstang. I am/was in a similar situation. My unemployment lead me back to the family business. But when you work with Dad...needless to sa I hope to be starting a new position with Hitachi Power Systems in the next month or so. All the best! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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