JUST GOT THIS LETTER. MR. JOSEPH'S ULTIMATE QUESTIONS ARE THE SAME AS MINE.
My name is George C. Joseph. I am the sole owner of Sunshine
Dodge-Isuzu, a family owned and operated business in Melbourne ,
Florida .
My family bought and paid for this automobile franchise 35 years ago
in 1974. I am the second generation to manage this business.
We currently employ 50+ people and before the economic slowdown we
employed over 70 local people. We are active in the community and the
local chamber of commerce.
We deal with several dozen local vendors on
a day to day basis and many more during a month. All depend on our
business for part of their livelihood.
We are financially strong with great respect in the market place and community. We have strong local
presence and stability.
I work every day the store is open, nine to ten hours a day. I know
most of our customers and all our employees. Sunshine Dodge is my
life.
On Thursday, May 14, 2009 I was notified that my Dodge franchise, that
we purchased, will be taken away from my family on June 9, 2009
without compensation and given to another dealer at no cost to them.
My new vehicle inventory consists of 125 vehicles with a financed
balance of 3 million dollars. This inventory becomes impossible to
sell with no factory incentives beyond June 9, 2009.
Without the Dodge franchise we can no longer sell a new Dodge as "new," nor will we be
able to do any warranty service work.
Additionally, my Dodge parts inventory, (approximately $300,000.) is virtually worthless
without the ability to perform warranty service. There is no offer from
Chrysler to buy back the vehicles or parts inventory.
Our facility was recently totally renovated at Chrysler's insistence,
incurring a multi-million dollar debt in the form of a mortgage at Sun
Trust Bank.
HOW IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA CAN THIS HAPPEN?
THIS IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS NOT A GOVERNMENT ENTITY
This is beyond imagination! My business is being stolen from me
through NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. We did NOTHING wrong.
This atrocity will most likely force my family into bankruptcy. This
will also cause our 50+ employees to be unemployed. How will they
provide for their families? This is a total economic disaster.
HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN IN A FREE MARKET ECONOMY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ?
I beseech your help, and look forward to your reply. Thank you.
Sincerely,
George C. Joseph
President & Owner
Sunshine Dodge-Isuzu
