I'm truly sorry to hear about this Carl. Did they give you a date? I know you're one to keep a stiff upper lip. whats on the agenda? i agree with eeluddy reference oppurtunity knocking
hey steve i heard today that Lauria's and Spencers are getting cut leaving only Quantrills and Thomas Motors
those are big dealerships ,my old Trans Am was a Marvin Starr car
-- Edited by 68sd on Thursday 21st of May 2009 09:43:56 PM
-- Edited by 68sd on Thursday 21st of May 2009 09:50:42 PM
Our dealership is Rosenort Motors. My boss is Mark Thiessen, one of the nicest bosses a guy could ever ask for and most definitely the hardest working boss anyone has ever seen. You can find him in the wash bay, on the tractor clearing snow in the winter, washing windows on the showroom, making coffee, taking parts calls when the 2 of us are swamped at the parts counter, you name it! As he says in the interview, it is a pretty emotional time. Our small town is so supportive of us, not just in this crisis. You would be amazed at the percentage of GM vehicles in this area with Rosenort Motors dealer stickers on them.
I refuse to be bitter because I'm the only one who loses if I am. I just can't understand the thinking behind closing down a dealership that is proftiable, the warranty labour rate that GM pays us is ridiculously low, our $ of warranty per vehicle sold is way below national rate, our customer satisfaction rating is in the top 10% in Canada, we won the GM triple crown award a few years ago (the holy grail in the GM dealer network) etc etc etc.
At least five Manitoba GM dealerships are being shut down, including one of Winnipeg's largest and one of the province's oldest.
GM Canada on Wednesday informed hundreds of dealers across the country they would have to close. The list of the dealerships have not been made public, but CBC News has learned those in Manitoba include:
'It's getting a little emotional here. They're coming in and they're wishing us the best.'Mark Thiessen, Rosenort Motors
Steve Chipman, president of the Birchwood Automotive Group, said he knew something would happen in the marketplace when GM announced earlier this month that it would be eliminating the Pontiac brand, but he admits that being told one of his dealerships would be closed was still a bit of a surprise.
"There's still going to be customers out there. People are going to need cars [and] the population of Manitoba is still buying cars," he said, noting Birchwood Pontiac Buick GMC, one of the largest dealerships in Winnipeg, posted a record profit last year and is on track for stellar sales in 2009.
"Our sales are almost the same level this year. The economy of Manitoba is great, so our business is really good. Our service business has been up this year our used car business is great so [GM's decision] is a little bit of a surprise because we had a successful operation."
Mark Thiessen at Rosenort Motors, which has been operating since 1960, said local residents have been really supportive since they learned the dealership would be closed.
"It's getting a little emotional here. They're coming in and they're wishing us the best," he said.
Gillis Garage in Elie has been around since 1939. Chad Gillis, sales manager for the business, which has been in the family for three generations, said it will cease being a GM dealership as of Dec. 31 but will continue to operate as a used car dealer and service garage.
He is not sure how the decision by GM will affect Gillis' 20 employees.
Chipman said Birchwood Pontiac Buick GMC will also remain open until Dec. 31. He is now planning the future for the dealership's 60 employees and awaiting word on the fate of his eight other dealerships.
Among those are Saturn of Regent and Saturn Saab of Pointe West. Earlier this year, GM said it planned to either sell or shut down its Saturn and Saab brands, but Chipman hasn't been notified of anything regarding those dealerships.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
this is really bad news and sure can't help our economy-fear is everywhere-my friend who works parts a a local Pontiac dealer will be done in September-I'm sure he never thought that dealer would go down.
If I've done this link correctly there should be two videos about this on the CTV page. The one video has an interview with my boss, Mark (leaning on a new Chevy pickup) and some shots of our shop. My boss was close to tears when he talks about the sign coming down. I know some good will come out of this. I'm ready for that good to knock me flat about now!!!
last year when I was working on contract with INCO a fellow worker was talking to me about when I had lost my lab position with Atlas Steels when they closed, he said statically a job loss for a man is about as bad as it gets-believe it or not its higher on the stress level than divorce. I believe it-tried too many times to make the right decisions-I'm still standing and you will too-but the blows are strong.
You are so right. While I have not had any offers, I know there are options. At this point I will not abandon the ship though. My boss is the type of guy I want to support to the end . He needs that very bad right now. Bailing on him right now would be yet another blow that he does not need. Right now I have a chance to prove to him that I care by not going job hunting. He means it when he says he fully intends to continue on without the GM sign above the row of vehicles.
My biggest worry right now is this. What if someone comes along and tempts me with a great offer? Not sure how much chance there is of that, but it would really put me in a corner.
In case you think I'm stupid to be so loyal to the captain of a ship that is potentially sinking, let me explain a few things about my 23 plus years of employment---
-I was given a key to the dealership one of the first days I worked there. (How's that for showing trust?)
-I am allowed to use the shop to wash or repair my vehicles any time in off hours, absolutely no cost for using it.
-I purchase all the parts for my vehicles at absolute dead nuts dealership cost, no markups at all.
-I am able to borrow vehicles, tractors, equipment etc and if I attempt to pay a rental fee to my boss, almost every time that is refused. There has even been a couple of times I have done minor damage to our yard tractor or to a vehicle. I have had to force him to accept payment for the repair.
-I can basically take off work for any reason any time I wish, no questions asked. Obviously I don't abuse that, regardless how some may have felt about my time off during the flood. (Of course I don't ask for all the "perfect timing" days off...)
-Christmas gifts, bonuses and raises have always been VERY generous. I have never asked for a raise in 23 years.
-My boss has never spoken harshly to me in over 23 years. How many people can say that. I mean NEVER, not almost never.
I could go on and on but this explains partly why I am so sad. It's not just a "job" I go to each day. These are the reasons I love getting up and going to work. I have had it too easy I guess.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
Carl, I do know how you feel although my set of circumstances were a little different! Moving out West here from the East coast was different enough but after 7 years at the dealer here, they were going downhill and I saw the writing on the wall. Even though I had a larger house here, I put in my notice and unlike your boss, mine was basically an a$$! I set up shop at another dealer 4 hours away and did this for 2 years retaining my house here as well as an apartment there! Then the new door opened and 1 year after my first dealer closed the doors on the shop here, I packed everything up, quit my job there and opened my own shop here! I must say that most days are a treat with the scattered exception but it has been good. There were doubts in my mind at first but now I wonder why I didn't do it sooner. I guess point being after all you and yours have been through these past few months, keep your chin high and try not to be too stressed. Another window of opportunity will open for you!!! As for GM, I can't understand how cutting dealers will endup being more profitible? We paid, as a dealer, $4000 monthly for just being a dealer and all that comes along with it! This was a small dealer with 8 employees. Two of us in the back shop!! And I don't have to explain the costs of all the special tools, information etc, etc. Bottom line, lost money for GM. As of right now, I believe 6 dealers got the axe in Saskatchewan............
Carl, by the CTV report it sounds like your store will stay open as a used car lot with service and that no jobs will be lost. I suspect a lot of these stores will do the same.
You are so right. While I have not had any offers, I know there are options. At this point I will not abandon the ship though. My boss is the type of guy I want to support to the end . He needs that very bad right now. Bailing on him right now would be yet another blow that he does not need. Right now I have a chance to prove to him that I care by not going job hunting. He means it when he says he fully intends to continue on without the GM sign above the row of vehicles.
My biggest worry right now is this. What if someone comes along and tempts me with a great offer? Not sure how much chance there is of that, but it would really put me in a corner.
In case you think I'm stupid to be so loyal to the captain of a ship that is potentially sinking, let me explain a few things about my 23 plus years of employment---
-I was given a key to the dealership one of the first days I worked there. (How's that for showing trust?)
-I am allowed to use the shop to wash or repair my vehicles any time in off hours, absolutely no cost for using it.
-I purchase all the parts for my vehicles at absolute dead nuts dealership cost, no markups at all.
-I am able to borrow vehicles, tractors, equipment etc and if I attempt to pay a rental fee to my boss, almost every time that is refused. There has even been a couple of times I have done minor damage to our yard tractor or to a vehicle. I have had to force him to accept payment for the repair.
-I can basically take off work for any reason any time I wish, no questions asked. Obviously I don't abuse that, regardless how some may have felt about my time off during the flood. (Of course I don't ask for all the "perfect timing" days off...)
-Christmas gifts, bonuses and raises have always been VERY generous. I have never asked for a raise in 23 years.
-My boss has never spoken harshly to me in over 23 years. How many people can say that. I mean NEVER, not almost never.
I could go on and on but this explains partly why I am so sad. It's not just a "job" I go to each day. These are the reasons I love getting up and going to work. I have had it too easy I guess.
agreed-bad to burn bridges-its not his fault the franchise is gone, When Slater went bankrupt, I continued to ship steel from the Atlas as efficiently as possible-thats the only possible way of survival for the company, most employees start stealing everything they can get their hands on. Its not a bad thing to take "good" job offers or even shop for them as we all should be open to that at any time but I'd have to say pickings are slim no matter where you are.
Your description of Mark is dead on! In fact, there are a whole group of great people at Rosenort Motors. Sad news to hear the future is sketchy. I'm sure Mark will do everything he can to keep all employed.
I've been driving the 30 miles out to Rosenort since I met Carl some 27 years ago. My family has purchased 4 new vehicles there. Carl has looked up (and sold) a lot of obscure stuff for me that most of the city dealers wouldn't even bother to look for.... "no longer available" (72 nova parts in 1980).
I've also received some of the "special" treatment Carl refers. Working in the shop, using their equipment... no charge.
If closing a small but thriving business saves GM money something else is wrong with their system. In other cases having two football fields of cars literally across the street from each other may not make a lot of sense.
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72 Nova SS - Minitubbed 70 Nova SS - #'s L-78 Bench Stick 68 Acadian SS clone - factory air 67 Chevelle rag - SS 427 clone
Carl If your boss is like you said. I'd stay with him till the doors close if they ever do. To have a great base as you say.......he must be a smart man and it will not be a Chevy sign out front, but another will take it's place.
Old Mill Pontiac Buick, Toronto Don Howson Toronto Chevrolet, Toronto Plaza Pontiac Buick GMC, Toronto Marvin Starr, Toronto Royal Chevrolet-Cadillac, Orangeville, ON John Logan Chevrolet, Brampton Richardson Chevrolet, Milton, ON Hawley Pontiac Buick GMC, Mississauga, ON Meadow Mills Pontiac Buick GMC, Mississauga, ON Bill Spencer Chevrolet, Cobourg, ON
Don Howson is the shocker there. We bought our 70 Cutlass there. They survived losing Oldsmobile and had recently rebuilt their showroom as well. Great location by the 404 and Sheppard and the only Chevy dealer around in that general area.
Old Mill, nice dealer, but frozen in the 70's, no surprise there.
Plaza used to be high volume dealer but really went down hill in the last decade.
Marvin Starr, worst kept secret in the business. They were going to go under regardless of the GM situation. A friend of mine's brother-in-law used to be the General Sales manager, he got fired about a year ago so Marvin's son could take over. He is a complete idiot and basically ran the business into the ground. The land has already been sold to condo developers.
It is absolutely amazing the dealers I have seen disappear in my lifetime in Toronto. We used to have big GM dealers downtown (Addison, Gorries, B&A, Parkwood and probably some others I have forgotten) and they are all gone now. In the east end, Roberston, Golden Mile, Alex Irvine, Peter Burdon. By my count, there will now only be 4 dealers left in the east end of Toronto: Brennan, City, Foster and Hogan, and the first three of those are Pontiac dealers. I have got to believe those will be converted to "all-line" GM stores including Chevy, still 4 dealers for almost 1.5 million people, sheesh, what a retreat!
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Hillar
1970 LS4 (eventually an LS5) Laurentian 2dr hdtp -and a bunch of other muscle cars...
Apparently the surviving dealer operators as happy as (according to them) the value of their franchise just went up. I wouldn't get my hopes up if I were them. Rumor has it this isn't the end of the dealer cuts. There may be more when bankruptcy is filed.
Carl, by the CTV report it sounds like your store will stay open as a used car lot with service and that no jobs will be lost. I suspect a lot of these stores will do the same.
We are hoping that's how it will work out. I am sure one of our techs (the one enrolled in the GM ASEP program) will look for another dealer to work at.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
Someone posted this list of dealers who got the cut on GMInsidenews.com:
AB- 1 Grove Pontiac Buick GMC, 200 St. Matthews Ave. Spruce Grove, AB AB- 2 Northland Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd - 5100 Shaganappi Trail NW, Calgary, AB AB- 3 Ponoka Chevrolet Ltd. 6305 Avenue Ponoka, AB AB- 4 Rempel Chevrolet 4601-49 Street Hardisty, AB AB- 5 Schwab's Wetaskiwn Chevrolet 4710 - 56 Street Wetaskiwin, AB AB- 6 Shaganappi Chevrolet Shaganappi & Crowchild Tr Nw Calgary, AB AB- 7 Southgate Chevrolet - 15100 MacLeod Trail SE, Calgary, AB AB- 8 Stampede GMC Pontiac Buick; 1110 - 9 Ave SW; Calgary AB AB- 9 Stedelbauer Chevrolet Inc 13145 97 Street NW Edmonton, AB AB- 10 Sundre Motors Chevrolet Address: 104 Main Avenue East, Sundre, AB AB- 11 Three Hills Motors Chevrolet Pontiac Buick GMC 2 Street North Three Hills AB AB- 12 Devon Chevrolet Oldsmobile Ltd 7 Saskatchewan Avenue West Devon, SK BC- 13 Barnes Wheaton Pontiac Buick GMC 6280 - 120 Street Surrey, BC BC- 14 Dennison Chevrolet Ltd 13100 Smallwood Place Richmond BC BC- 15 Flag Chevrolet, 15250 104th Ave, Surrey, BC BC- 16 Gold Key Pontiac Langley. 19545 #10 Hwy. Surrey, BC MB- 17 Birchwood Pontiac Buick GMC 3965 Portage Ave. MB MB- 18 Brodeur Brothers Chevrolet Po Box 100 Stn Main St Adolphe MB MB- 19 Brodeur Chev - 372 Main St, St Adolphe, MB MB- 20 Checkpoint GMC Pontiac Buick LTD 349 King George Highway, Miramichi NB MB- 21 Frowler Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd 3900 Victoria Ave. West, BRANDON, MB, MB- 22 Gillis Service Garage LTD Pontiac Buick GMC 14 Main Street, Elie MB MB- 23 McNaught Landmark Pontiac Buick GMC 333 Main St. Landmark, MB. MB- 24 Park Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd 1459 Regent Avenue West Winnipeg, MB MB- 25 Parkwood Auto LTD. Pontiac Buick GMC 3 Mian Street, Erickson, MB NB- 26 Plaza Chevrolet Pontiac Buick GMC - 240 Val-d'Amour Rd, Campbellton, NB NB- 27 Rosenort Motors Chevrolet HWY #205 Rosenort NB NS- 28 A O'Farrell Chevrolet LTD 465 Westville Rd ew Glasgow, NS NS- 29 Bonnyman Pontiac Buick GMC 29 Crescent Drive, Stn Main Kentville. New Minas, NS NS- 30 Eastern GMC Pontiac Buick Ltd. 63 Beech Hill Road Antigonish, NS NS- 31 Hatheway Pontiac Buick GMC LTD 1945 Miramichi Ave. Bathurst NB ON- 32 Beaucage Chevrolet Cadillac 4339 Boul, Bourque Sherbrooke ON ON- 33 Belanger Pontiac Buick GMC Inc at 1492 Youville Dr, Orleans, ON ON- 34 Belisle Chevrolet Cadillac at 444 Montreal Rd, Ottawa ON ON- 35 Bill Spencer Chevrolet Ltd 1090 Elgin Street West, Cobourg, ON ON- 36 Bill Storey Pontiac Buick GMC at 1515 Lansdowne W, Peterborough ON- 37 Bob Clute Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd. Address: #6692 Hwy 62 North R.R. #5. Belleville, On ON- 38 Border Pontiac Buick GMC 4318 Portage Rd South Niagara Falls On. ON- 39 Budds Saturn Saab 2400 South Service Road West Oakville On ON- 40 City Chevrolet Ltd 155 Cannon St E Hamilton, ON ON- 41 Dennis Murphy Pontiac Buick GMC LTD - 2200 Eagle Street North Cambridge ON ON- 42 Don Howson Toronto Chevrolet - 2135 Sheppard Avenue East Toronto ON ON- 43 Ellis Bob Pontiac-Buick Ltd 397 St George N Dresden, ON ON- 44 Gary Cooper Chevrolet LTD South David Rd Elora On. ON- 45 Gillespie Pontiac Buick Cadillac Ltd 16 Lincoln Street Welland, ON ON- 46 Gus Brown Pontiac Buick GMC LTD 10 Vanedward Drive Port Perry, ON ON- 47 Hawley Pontiac Buick GMC 225 DUNDAS STREET EAST, MISSISSAUGA On. ON- 48 HMP On The Mountain-Pontiac-Buick-Cadillac-GMC 2260 Rymal Rd E Hamilton, ON ON- 49 Jerome Taylor Pontiac Buick GMC Inc1155 Provincial Road Windsor, ON ON- 50 John Gibbons Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd 725 Richmond Chatham Chatham ON ON- 51 John Logan Chevrolet; 241 Queen Street East; Brampton ON ON- 52 Laurie Williamson Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd 3045 Glen Erin Drive Mississauga, ON ON- 53 Marvin Starr 3132 Eglinton Ave East Toronto, ON ON- 54 Meadow Mills Pontiac Buick GMC 6600 Turner Valley Road Mississauga ON ON- 55 Old Mill Pontiac Buick Toronto Ontario, Dundas ON ON- 56 Pearce Motors Ltd at 130 Simcoe St, Tillsonburg ON ON- 57 Pine View Pontiac Buick LYD 3790 Highway #7 Vaughan On. ON- 58 Plaza Pontiac Buick GMC 3400 Dufferin Street Toronto ON ON- 59 Port Pontiac Buick Body Shop 611 Main St W Port Colborne, On ON- 60 Richardson Chevrolet. Regional Road 25 South, Milton, ON ON- 61 Rick McCall Pontiac Buick GMC 144 Queensway East Simcoe, On ON- 62 Robinson Pontiac Buick GMC located at 875 Woodlawn Road West, Guelph ON ON- 63 Royal Chevrolet-Cadillac Inc 633340 Hwy 10 Orangeville ON ON- 64 Saturn Isuzu of Brampton 8046 Dixie Road Brampton, ON ON- 65 Sheridan Chevrolet Cadillac Ltd 1800 Kingston Road Pickering On, ON- 66 Thrasher Sales Chevrolet Ltd 251 Simcoe Street Amherstburg, ON ON- 67 Turpin Pontiac Buick GMC LTD 2500 Palladium Dr. Ottawa, On ON- 68 Brian Finch Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd - 300 Southdale Road East, London, ON ON- 69 Dale Downie Pontiac Buick GMC (1995) 1111 Oxford Street East London, ON ON- 70 Condie Pontiac Buick Ltd 790 Gardiners Road Kingston, ON ON- 71 Bob Searles Chevrolet - 566 Queen E, St Marys, ON ON- 72 Dennis Searles Chevrolet Ltd. 160 Argyle Street S. Caledonia ON- 73 Brian Finch Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd 300 Southdale Road East London on ON- 74 Dale Downie Pontiac Buick GMC Trucks 1995 Inc. 1111 Oxford St. E. London Ontario ON- 75 Oakville Chevrolet 547 Trafalgar Rd, Oakville On ON- 76 Dale Wurfel Pontiac Buick Gmc Ltd 28478 Centre Road Strathroy, ON ON- 77 Highland Chevrolet Cadillac Ltd. 15783 Young Street Aurora On QC- 78 Barnes Wheaton Pontiac Buick GMC 1090 Lougheed Highway, Coquitlam QC QC- 79 Demers Chevrolet Inc. 868 Maloney BLVD Gatineau QC QC- 80 Dyson & Armstrong Inc. 555 Craig, Richmond QC QC- 81 Formule Pontiac Buick GMC Inc 2595 rue Saint-Olivier Trois-Rivières, QC QC- 82 Lamoureux Pontiac Buick (Fax)396 Rue Main Ouest Coaticook QC QC- 83 Larocque Pontiac Buick GMC 825 boulevard Saint-Joseph Drummondville QC QC- 84 STE-THéRèSE Chevrolet 105, boul. Desjardins Est Sainte-Thérèse, QC QC- 85 Thibault Pontiac Buick GMC 1761 rue Sherbrooke Magog QC SK- 86 Mountain Motor Products LTD Chevrolet Pontiac Buick GMC 402 Railway Ave Strasbourg, Sk WP- 87 Rosenort Motors (1979) Ltd 205E General Delivery, Rosenort WP
87 out 245
GM Dealers making "no Comment" statements:
1 AB Cox Pontiac Buick GMC Ltd 305 Wellington Street East Aurora, ON 2 Georgian Pontiac Buick GMC 65 Barrie View Dr. Barrie Ontario 3 Humberview Chevrolet 3200 Bloor St W Toronto 4 Addison Chevrolet LTD 1220 Eglingtion Ave E. Mississauga On. 5 Kerr Cadillac Pontiac Buick Inc 410 South Service RD W. Oakville On 6 Humberview Pontiac Buick GMC LTD. 1650 The Queensway, Toronto On 7 Courtesy Chevrolet LTD 1635 The Queenswat Toronto On 8 GM dealerships in Amherst, Antigonish, Bridgewater, Glace Bay, New Glasgow, Sydney and Truro either declined comment 9 Roy Foss Chevrolet 2 Auto Park Circle Woodbridge, ON 10 Cheyenne Motor Products in Melfort, Unity Motors GM, and Lakewood GM in Nipawin. 11 Gateway Chevrolet Brampton Ontario 12 Andre lanoue Pontiac - Tilbury Ontario, 13 Downtown Pontiac Buick Ltd. 449 Queen Street W. On 14 McCutcheon Motors Chevrolet Ltd. Turnberry St. S Brussels on 15 John Cullen Chevrolet LTD 115 Josephine, Wingham On 16 Harriston Motors Ltd. 235 Elora St. S., Harriston, ON 17 Mike McMahon Chevrolet Limited 1066 Broad Street East Dunnville, On 18 Dave Seabrook Moters Inc Chevrolet Pontic Buick GMC Thessalon On 19 Slessor Moters Pontiac Buick GMC 17645 Younge Street Newmarket On 20 Colonial Chevrolet Ltd 18100 Young Street Newmarket On
