RLS1400 recently bought a used Mazda from Ramsey Chrysler Dodge. The sales manager just sent him this e-mail:
Hello, My name is Regis J. Larkin Jr. and I am a sales manager with Ramsey Chrysler Dodge and Jeep. I would like to take the time to tell you why you should buy your next domestic product from us. Contrary to all the negative propaganda in the media let me be the one to assure you we are going nowhere. The fact alone that the PRESIDENT of these UNITED STATES BECAME DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN OUR RESTRUCTURING SHOULD SAY A LOT. THINK ABOUT THAT. THEY ARE SO SURE ABOUT US AND OUR PRODUCT THEY ARE GUARANTEEING OUR LIFE TIME WARRANTIES. Thats pretty aggressive don’t you think. In the coming weeks a lot of smaller dealers will be closing. However RAMSEY CHRYSLER DODGE AND JEEP will be going nowhere. In fact we are in the process of redoing our showroom for your comfort and convenience. During times like these we must stand together AS AMERICANS.
Our product is just as strong and reliable as any import product. As an American if your in the market for any type of vehicle you owe it to your self and our GREAT COUNTRY to stop in and look at our great products. ONLY WE CAN HELP OURSELVES TO GET OUT OF THESE FINANCIALLY TRYING TIMES AND BUY BUYING AMERICAN CARS YOUR DOING YOUR PART. I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones well. If you have any questions or concerns feel free to contact me anytime.. From one proud American to another, Thank You, Regis J. Larkin Jr. Sales Manager 201-818-9600 b 973-769-7694 cjohnson@ramseycars.com
Move along… nothing to see here… we’re not going anywhere… move along.
I know the water in northern New Jersey is full of harmful chemicals that play tricks on the mind. I didn’t realize the extent of the brain damage up there. I’m glad I live in central NJ.
When in the hell did Italy become the 51st state?!?! Somebody better tell this ass clown to tone it down asap before his new Italian owners go Soprano on his sorry butt!
grammar, CAPS, hyperbole and misplaced patriotism and delusion
i love it
Sounds a bit like a Nigerian prince wrote that.
…how ironic coming a gent who sold a Mazda
Looks like Ramsey Chrysler Dodge has hired Jason Vines to be their PR guy.
Jesus. No wonder dealers get a crappy rep. This looks like it was written by a C student 6th grader.
Roughly twelve years ago, I stopped buying Chrysler products and switched to Lexus and Acura vehicles. I was tired of the Chrysler crap.
However, last month I traded in an Acura for a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The deal was too good to pass up.
I’ve had the Jeep for less than a month, but I gotta say that I’m very impressed with the fit and finish, and build quality.
Perhaps I got a fluke, but the Jeep seems to be almost as nicely finished as a Lexus or an Acura. Perhaps in a year or so, I’ll regret buying the Jeep. But for now, I’m impressed.
I hope Chrysler pays back their loans and along with the remaining dealers is wildly profitable when the economy recovers.
“…let me be the one to assure you we are going nowhere.” pretty much sums it up.
Twotone
This Chrysler Sales Manager is delusional. Chrysler sells virtually no American cars, as defined by being assembled in America and having at least 75% part content. His comment about great cars is a big joke. Consumer reports has not recommended hardly any Chryslers for years because they are crap. So buy American does not cut it anymore. Honda and Toyota build cars in America with 75% American parts content. Are they American? Yes, according to Cars.com
Again we have someone who for right or wrong is trying desperately to reach out and gain some business and we spew on him for his effort. I applaud his reaching for the American sense of country first being that’s the product he is peddling. After all, he is a salesman, gotta push the product, gotta sell some inventory. What’s wrong with old fashioned pandering?
I agree with shabster, I hope that Chrysler makes it through this and becomes a better company for it.
should’ve emailed back “YOUR KIDDING, RIGHT?”
Lets all email him in all caps!!!
Just remember, half the people in this world are below average.
So, half the people he sent the letter too actually may believe this dribble. And, that is what he is counting on.
As for the other half of the letters received, they may well have just bought their last car from good old Regis. The smart ones do not like having their intelligence insulted.
Dolorean23,
Tell me what is American about a car that has an American name? I would guess that less than a quarter of the parts that go into that “American” car he has wrapped himself in has parts made in America. A Chrysler or Dodge is no more “American” than a Toyota assembled in San Antonio. Wake up and smell the coffee.
Sorry Chrysler, for all of the money I already involuntarily gave you, I owe you nothing. You owe me. Give me a free car, and I’ll plaster BE AMERICAN, DRIVE AMERICAN on it, even if it was built in Canada or Mexico. Or is a Fiat.
Jeez… another fine product of the great American public school system. No wonder we are going BK.
Once again, drinking and typing should never be performed at the same time.
twotone
““…let me be the one to assure you we are going nowhere.” pretty much sums it up.”
Got a great chuckle out of that as well.
The fact alone that the PRESIDENT of these UNITED STATES BECAME DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN OUR RESTRUCTURING SHOULD SAY A LOT. THINK ABOUT THAT. THEY ARE SO SURE ABOUT US AND OUR PRODUCT THEY ARE GUARANTEEING OUR LIFE TIME WARRANTIES.
And UAW voter jobs.
John
LOL… Mr. Larkin might like to talk to the nice folks at Sunshine Dodge. I wouldn’t be too comfident. Chrysler’s not out of bankruptcy court just yet.
Plus, bankruptcy tends to be a repeat offender.
It all ends up being a problem with culture.
I don’t care how many Fiat’s this guy has on his lot in 2 years, it still won’t change the buying experience.
I understand that you can’t please everyone in sales and advertising, the least you can shoot for is to try and not agitate everyone that sees your ad’s.
The best expression that comes to mind is, “If you get given lemons, make lemonade.” Or at least try…
What’s worse..
The Fiat is taking on Chrysler for zero cash and billions of dollars in gifts from the Feds…
or…
The GM is so screwed up, the nobody would touch them.. Nobody… Even with what I’m sure were lavish government promises…
lemons make lemonade.. I like it..
What do you get when you crush 10 Chryslers?
200 gallons of lemonade!
That’s pretty pathetic. I’m not real happy with the Gov’t getting in the middle of this, with taxpayer money. Where does this end? Why would any sober investor put one dime into this company after the way Obama’s crowd hosed those bondholders? They’ll never make it, even if they have a line of tax dollars for a while. They’ll scare everybody away.
Ramsey Auto Group… run away as fast as possible. This huge NJ conglomerate terrorizes Route 17.
They had a good salesman with Terri at the Volvo dealer, but he’s gone, the experience at any of the dealers ranges from tortuous, condescending, or disinterested to merely tolerable.
“times like these”
God, I hate free-floating signifiers.
him saying they’re not going away reminds me of when the ceo of chrysler said that they were not going to go bankrupt, it’s not even an option.
“our products are just as strong and reliable as any import.”
OK, seriously? I just have to ask the group — do we think there’s a single human being alive, including unborn fetuses, who actually believes this?
If you’re going to deliver statements that are such obvious bullshit, why not just tell people the fucking cars can fly?
what would you expect him to say, “we make crap cars that nobody wants?”. Since much of the population is lucky to gradiate [sic] dumbed down HS, writing over his customers heads is non productive.
I think that is the dealer that boned me big time trying to buy a car over the phone. At the last minute, they INCREASED the price 2,500, and even stated, it was because I was obviously interested in a car that was over a year old. Yes I was, at the appropriate price for a one year old car :)
lemons make lemonade.. I like it..
What do you get when you crush 10 Chryslers?
200 gallons of lemonade!
unfortunately it tastes like piss water (courtesy of sunshine dodge)
i like it – there’s some great goebbels quality spin there
by the same token you’ll have to excuse those of us who weren’t born yesterday
it has the whole orwell ministry of information vibe
i chuckle at the subtle, no doubt inadvertent, choice of semantics:
“we are going nowhere”
isn’t quite equivalent to the more reassuring
“we are not going anywhere”
Poor bastard.
The fact alone that the PRESIDENT of these UNITED STATES BECAME DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN OUR RESTRUCTURING SHOULD SAY A LOT.
It does say a lot, just not about Chrysler.
Maybe that could be Chrysler’s new slogan…
“You’ll Be Going Nowhere In A Chrysler”.
or…..
“Chrysler, The Road To Nowhere”.
So when do the cars and trucks go for 75-80% off? Aren’t the wholesale prices falling through the floor?
“Let me be the first to assure you that we are not getting anywhere.”
Fixed.
He should send his pitiful piece to the Chrysler customers who returned their cars under the lemon law and received rubber cheques in return. No car, no money and a place in the unsecured creditors line.
I understand his interest and need to connect but his misstatements, attitude and grammar are perfect examples why so many of us hate and refuse to deal with car salesmen. In the past I have gone through the whole sales staff of a dealership before buying from the owner’s family member to avoid dealing with a moron like the author of the Email at issue.
Besides the Ram, which is like a a hammer made with a wooden handle when the good ones are fiber glass, still works but out of date, they have nothing anybody wants.
Must be tough trying to make a living as a salesman at a Chrysler product store right now, despite what the local dealers (Metro Atlanta, GA) dealers are telling the media.
“Chrysler, Join us on the Highway to Hell”
Show a Viper on a picture perfect 6 lane highway, broad daylight, no traffic, and the entire road is marked as a 15 MPH School Zone with cops every 1/4 mile for 10 miles. Each cop has a car and 1 orange cone to mark a double fine construction zone.
Near the end of the spot, the left front tire starts to wobble and falls off.
AC/DC Highway to Hell jamming in the background…
Go get’em Ramsey Chrysler Dodge and Jeep. Let’s give Regis a break; the man is trying to move metal in one of the toughest markets in recent history. If I lived in the area I might take up his offer myself and check out some Jeeps at his dealership.
Rest assured Regis, you’re not going nowhere. Hang in there dude!
Let’s give Regis a break; the man is trying to move metal in one of the toughest markets in recent history.
I agree. Times must be tough at the dealership. The poor bastard can’t even afford to fix the malfunctioning CAPS LOCK on his keyboard.
Wow, talk about a mouthful of wahoo!
Here’s a better way.
Thank you very much for investing your time and money in our dealership. Whether it’s one year, five years, or ten years down the road, we will always listen to your questions and do whatever we can to help you.
Enjoy the car, and here’s a $20 gift card for a free oil change as a special thank you. We’ll be sure to have a Mobil 1 filter for your new ride.
……..
Okay it’s got a few run-on sentences. But the point is that I managed to…
A) Create an immediate opportunity for the fellow to revisit the dealership. It’s really the only way to build a relationship instead of a one time transaction.
B) Focus on ‘serving’ and ‘listening’ to the customer instead of ‘selling’ them.
C) Allow for the fact that even though we may not have sold them a Chrysler, we’ll still support them as well as we can.
It’s strange really. This morning I was busy fixing a flat for a stranger and looking at an additional location nearby. I did one auction in the afternoon and pretty much worked my ass off with physical labors.
If this dealership were smart, they would offer folks free towing anywhere in NJ. That type of service can literally be a lifesaver in the ‘Born To Run’ state.
Pick up the car, or fix it on the road, and you really have a customer for life. Hey… it’s a Chrysler after all.
# law stud :
May 20th, 2009 at 8:35 pm
So when do the cars and trucks go for 75-80% off? Aren’t the wholesale prices falling through the floor?
That’s covered by the “Quality vehicles at quality prices!” line, which translates to:
“Vehicles priced to match their quality!”
MikeyDee:
I know the water in northern New Jersey is full of harmful chemicals that play tricks on the mind. I didn’t realize the extent of the brain damage up there. I’m glad I live in central NJ.
That’s not good enough. You are still at risk. You must leave NJ to completely rid yourself of the toxins. After you do so, it will take a good 10 years for the toxic after-effects to dissipate from your system. It worked for me….
We’re about to get swamped with Chrysler dealer commercials with clips of Obama endorsing Chrysler and guaranteeing warranties. They have already started showing up on TV.
After being taken by surprise and assaulted by one of these astoundingly annoying commercials 15 minutes ago, I’m more convinced than ever that Chrysler needs to die. Not just die but be clubbed to death like a baby seal.
I was the one who bought the Mazdaspeed 3 here… great dealer, good sales rep… but man this e-mail just made me burst out in laughter. So many things I could say about it, but I figured the B&B’s on here would enjoy it.
1. It is evident that Regis knows little about a lot of things (such as grammar). His mission is to sell cars.
2. It is evident that the current Administration knows little about a lot of things (such as making cars, national defense, healthcare, paying taxes, etcetera). Its mission is power.
3. It is evident that Chrysler knows little about a lot of things (such as making cars). Its mission is to take care of UAW members.
4. It is evident that there is something rotten in the state of New Jersey (high, high property taxes, smelly air when riding on the Turnpike). The State’s mission is to employ as many politicians’ friends and relatives as possible.
On a positive note, you can still enjoy capitalism. Specifically, you have a choice whether to buy a Chrysler, an Indiana-made Toyota, or some other car. You have a choice to buy it from someone other than Regis. You have a choice to live in New Jersey, Vermont or Idaho, or any other state. Choose wisely…
Man, it’s really sad when one of the “good” Chrysler dealers brags about going nowhere.
Does this guy realize he keeps repeating “[we’re] going nowhere”? Yup, exactly. We know, that’s why we’re going elsewhere.
Although conventional wisdom has most people thinking that there must be GREAT DEALS out there because of the situation, what I am seeing — and warning my non-B&B friends and family about — is that the worst in car-dealer-dom is coming out.
I.e. All those bad-old cliche’s about car dealers, car “salesmen”, etc.. are all back. I see, hear and go to dealers were you can smell their fear of dying, and desperation for survival-at-all-costs.
Their worst instincts have been released and I see the biggest “shyster-ing” going on out there. Not genuine good deals, but stuff like low monthly payments quoted on an 84-month loan… in a bi-weekly basis (i.e. $109/2 weeks). Worse still, for weeks there was a hug billboard ad for GM here in Montreal that unapologetically added up cash-back savings, low-interest savings and no downpayment savings… when the small print explicitely showed that the three cannot be combined (i.e. cash-back means high intest rate, 0% means no cash-back).
As far as buying a new car:
“It is the best of times, it is the worst of times…”
When life hands you lemmings- make lemming-aide.-You may QUOTE me. :-)
@lw :
AC/DC Highway to Hell jamming in the background…
I thought everything Australian was taboo now, after the GTO and G8?
Kman: “Their worst instincts have been released and I see the biggest “shyster-ing” going on out there”
Yes, there are naive buyers out there that think that they have the upper hand, but these sharks will have you leaving the dealer with a ‘depreciation-mobile’ that you paid way too much for.
The sharks are the last to go…
Steven Lang: “It’s strange really. This morning I was busy fixing a flat for a stranger…”
This is a tack that Rege Larkin should take; handing out business cards to grateful (temporarily captive) potential customers.
heading nowhere fast.
Everyone here should email Mr. Johnson.
(BTW, proof read your email before sending it to him. We want to lead by example – lol)
Kman wrote: All those bad-old cliche’s about car dealers, car “salesmen”, etc.. are all back. I see, hear and go to dealers were you can smell their fear of dying, and desperation for survival-at-all-costs.
And yet my buddy here at work just bought a Sienna van (new ’09) and the dealer was a joy to work with, came in at the price he wanted to pay and with 1.9% 60 mo. financing he got a monthly payment within the budget. All done with e-mail and over the phone. No desperation in Toyota land.
Reminds me of the time a local Chrysler dealer had one of those rolling billboards out front. It said something like ‘Get % financing on a new Chrysler’, except they didn’t have an ‘s’ so they used a ‘z’ flipped over instead. Not promising.
Also reminds me of all the times I have read ads that say ‘runs good’. It does not ‘run good’, it ‘runs well’!
“Steven Lang: “It’s strange really. This morning I was busy fixing a flat for a stranger…”
This is a tack that Rege Larkin should take; handing out business cards to grateful (temporarily captive) potential customers.”
Didn’t need to. They literally parked in the middle of my turnaround with a flat tire. Talk about easy access!
I wouldn’t think it’s appropriate anyhow. Just a bit too carny for my tastes. If folks want my information, they can request it and I just let them type it onto their cell. The only time I need to use a card is if the person is older than 60.
On the auction side, I haven’t used a card for the auctioneering side of my work for God knows how long. We have an old saying in our business, “Those who know me, know where to find me.”
That type of service can literally be a lifesaver in the ‘Born To Run’ state.
Especially in Camden.
Maybe it’s unrealistic to expect the used car sales manager at a Chrysler shop in Jersey to be able to put together a well thought-out, written, and proofed followup letter to a sale. Maybe it’s not. I’m not qualified to make that judgement, so I’ll refrain.
Either way, any owner or GM worth their salt should have this kind of material pre-written and formatted, and ready for their staff to fill in appropriate blanks and send out. A poorly written followup letter reflects poorly on the name at the top of the page, not just the bottom. If the owner or GM doesn’t have the ability, recognize it and go find a grad student in Marketing at a local college to volunteer their time.
We’re supposed to purchase a car from a mental midget who doesn’t even understand the difference between the use of your and you’re ?