What Does It Mean for a Car Dealer to Have Integrity? Jim Ellis Audi - Marietta

I have worked in the retail luxury car business since March 1970.

I have worked as a General Manager and General Sales Manager in the Atlanta market for nearly 25 years. I have worked for "good" car dealers as well as "bad" dealers. I know the difference. Today, I work for a GREAT Dealer... Jim Ellis Audi - Marietta as General Sales Manager.

Over the next few posts I will share with you my experiences and give you some tips to find the "good" dealers.... even the "great" car dealers and car salespeople.

Every car dealer will "shout out" in every marketing medium available that they are the most "honest" car dealer in the Universe. What separates the pretenders from the true professionals is several important simple things... 

To start... Integrity and Character...

Let me tell you a recent story...

A successful luxury dealer traded a late model high line SUV from one of their good service customers.  The customer came by to trade the car several weeks after having had the car checked by service and determining that it had an electronic issue that would require a repair of over $3,000.  The customer did NOT tell the dealership that the car needed this kind of repairs.  The "Maintenance' light was on, as is with many trades needing maintenance, and the dealer's representative missed the expensive needed repair. A case of "let the buyer beware" from the trading customer.  

The Dealer's rep put good money into the trade and intended to retail it.  During the recon inspection process the Service Dept. discovered the seriousness of the issue.  The General Manager authorized the Service Manager to make the appropriate repairs.  

Spending this added money on this car would not allow the Dealer to make what he thought it should have made in profit, and possibly result in a loss when he sold the vehicle. But... right is right! 

Upon discovering this issue the Dealership's Owner contacted the technician personally and ordered him to put a piece of electrical tape over the "Maintenance Due" light so that the vehicle would NOT show that it needed the expensive electronic system repairs... without telling the GM or the Service Manager.

The Dealer later sold the vehicle at retail and represented that it had gone thru his 150+ Point Certification Inspection!  Sure... It had been inspected. The needed repairs were NOT done and the issue was hidden from the retail customer.

I voluntarily left that Dealer's employ soon afterward.

Lots of Dealers represent that they put their pre-owned vehicles thru extensive pre-sale inspections.  What they do NOT tell the buyer is whether they actually performed the repairs shown to be needed on the inspection.

What should happen is that if an issue is found... it should be repaired as per the inspection. A copy of the repair order for the repairs should be available for the next customer to inspect.... or the vehicle should be sent to the wholesale auction to be sold if the repairs needed exceeded the dealer's maximum allowable amount.

At Jim Ellis Audi - Marietta the above sad story would never happen. When our Staff of Master Technicians inspects one of our used cars they must make needed repairs or the vehicle will be sold at wholesale.

I'll explain more in future posts.

INTEGRITY - CHARACTER!

Jim Ellis Audi - Marietta - Audi Magna Award Dealer for 7 years!

1715 Cobb Pkwy. South

Marietta, GA 30060

www.jimellisaudimarietta.com

(770) 859 - 2834

Toll Free: (866) 292 - 2477

Over 600 Audi's Available!

Contact Kirk Tracey: General Sales Manager

kirkt@jimellis.com