Ford closing dealerships

[Red Bird Dave]

I don't know about the rest of the country but Ford Motor Company has quietly closed down three major Ford New Car dealerships in Northern California. So far Elk Grove Ford, Wilson Cornelius Ford Vallejo (friday) (that is where I bought mine the family had been in business since 1940) and Dublin Ford (today) since I buy contracts from new dealers there are rumors for more closings in the next few weeks. Scarry!

Red Bird Dave

[Ol'Dave]

Re: Ford closing dealerships

Yep. Happening Country wide. Look for new mega Ford-Licoln-Mercury, "Team Ford" dealerships reopening near more populaed settled area's only. They will be few and far between. Your's and mine, family owned/operated stores are becoming history. Kinda like the government did to the midwest farmer's. Ford is paying them to close their doors. It is a sad time, and we will all be forced to the "Super-Stores" where only volume matter's.

[farmbird]

Re: Ford closing dealerships

Dave:
It seems like Dublin, Valejo and Elk Grove dealers are allways strugling. Don't be suprised if a couple along Florin road in Sacramento and Pleasonton don't go down too. I keep hearing rumors that the dealer I bought from in Dinuba is also having some problems.

[Red Bird Dave]

Re: Ford closing dealerships

Dave,
Your right about the Super Stores. I worked for a Chevy dealer in the early eighties and there was a rumor going around then that GM was trying to move in that direction. The factory will cut out the dealer and have regional sales center and regional service centers.

Gene,
The old Senator Ford on Florin Rd in Sacramento was the first to go several months ago.

A major R>V. dealer (La Mesa RV) with lots in Northern and Southern California is also closing but that is no suprize based on the price of gas.

Red Bird Dave

[Lonestar]

Re: Ford closing dealerships

There was a good post some time ago that included excellent pics of “service” stations from the 50s, 60s, and into the 70s. Look at “gas” stations today – no personality – no service (unless you are in NJ). I hate that my 87 year old Mother has to get out & pump here own gas – wish I lived close enough to her to do it for her.

Anyway, as with the corner “service” station, independently owned dealerships are giving way to corporate owned auto malls because that is what the public obviously wants.

[AZTB]

Re: Ford closing dealerships

There was a good post some time ago that included excellent pics of “service” stations from the 50s, 60s, and into the 70s. Look at “gas” stations today – no personality – no service (unless you are in NJ). I hate that my 87 year old Mother has to get out & pump here own gas – wish I lived close enough to her to do it for her.
Anyway, as with the corner “service” station, independently owned dealerships are giving way to corporate owned auto malls because that is what the public obviously wants.

I agree...and, IMO, it's a sad, sad situation!

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Ford closing dealerships

I don't think it's "what the public wants". Ford, as well as the GM and Chrysler, don't have the marketshare they once did. If you have too many dealers for the volume of sales, nobody does enough volume to make it profitable.

We have 4 Ford dealers here in Las Vegas and 2 Lincoln Mercury dealers. I can't see how the Lincoln Mercury dealers make it as they sure haven't had much of a product line to work with in recent years.

[joe166]

Re: Ford closing dealerships

I don't think they have a plan at all. They are just struggling. Here in Miami we lost the Lincoln Mercury dealer in Coral Gables, a fairly affluent community who sold out for land value and closed the store. That made the closest L-M store to my home about 15 miles. The Ford dealer in Coral Gables did the same thing and went out of business, but they opened up another point about a block away which lasted about a year and then went out of business. No Ford dealer within about 10 miles and it is basically a pain to get to either of the close dealers because of traffic and congestion.

On the other hand, Ford keeps telling me to go to that non-existent dealer for service. They even send me coupons for discounts to the former dealer. Gee, thanks!

They may consolidate, but they have ticked off a lot of people.

[farmbird]

Re: Ford closing dealerships

Dave:
Wasn't Senator Ford one of the oldest dealerships in the country?
I seem to remember ads stating that they were in operation since 1909.

[Tony007]

Re: Ford closing dealerships

LAST TRIP TO FT. LAUDERDALE LAST MONTH....GIANT CHRYSLER DODGE DEALER SHIP OUT OF BUSINESS...

TWO OF THE BIGGEST FURNITURE STORES, ONE 25 YRS OLD, AND 30 YRS OLD...BOTH A SOLID BLOCK LONG...OUT OF BUSINESS

[Ediron]

Re: Ford closing dealerships

In S.Fl. you can't keep up with the closings of business.Our usual sat.dance place closed 3wks. ago for renovations ,driving last sat. night in Boca we found 3 other stops that were also closed.Restaurants Roadhouse ,Shells ,Steakhouse closed.They don't even inform employees of the closing before hand.They call in the morning and tell personal they are out of business.One couple in my condo complex was informed with 273 others the chain was closed at 9:00a.m.

[AZTB]

Re: Ford closing dealerships

Just got off the phone with a regional rep from Ford regarding continual tranny problems that have plagued my car...if their response is any indication as to how they handle other issues, I now KNOW why they're closing dealerships.

[Red Bird Dave]

Re: Ford closing dealerships

Gene,
Your thinking of Harrold Ford, they were one of the first Ford dealers in Northern California.

According to the local paper Wilson Cornelius Ford was forced by the factory to move from their old dealership to the auto mall. Their overhead went from $10,000 per month (they own the building and land ) to $120,000 per month.

Red Bird Dave

[04birdman]

Re: Ford closing dealerships

we lost a ford owned dealership last year...but we had 6 within 30 miles of spokane, beating each others brains out...good for the buyer bad for the dealer..another one just merged with the infinity dealer....I travel 3 states...small town dealers of all brands [farming town dealers..all closing all the time...cant compete...with the bigger city multi brand dealers....] just lost the biggest home builder in spokane last week....last month lost a furniture store that was a 100 yrs old....building worth more than the bussiness. one of my dealers in moscow id. 60 yr old furniture store closing as we speak...way too many stores...nobody making money...drove mercedes before the byrd...love the byrd...but for being 40k plus new...it sure aint no MB..in the fit and finish dept.

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: Ford closing dealerships

drove mercedes before the byrd...love the byrd...but for being 40k plus new...it sure aint no MB..in the fit and finish dept.

I like these new Thunderbirds but your statement is 100% correct in regards to fit and finish.