Florida Members Fun, sun and LS1's

Bill Heard just locked doors

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 09-25-2008, 09:11 AM
  #1  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (25)
 
toplessHO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Orlando
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts

Default Bill Heard just locked doors

Im sure others will follow with this "strong economy".
As much as I didnt like them or some of their practices(bought a new S10 from them),we still need dealerships that deal in American cars to be strong.
They locked the doors with no warning to 300+ employees.
Bill Heard is a very large dealership and has them thruout the USA.
At one time they were the largest dealer of Chevys in USA.
Old 09-25-2008, 09:27 AM
  #2  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
gator's 99TA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 9,971
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

THis is a sign of things to come. Other dealers are hurting bad, esp the ones with high overhead (like the Plant City Bill Heard Dealership). when you have 50 Million dollars in inventory and you arent selling highly profitable 50K dollar SUVs, well, things are going to change, fast!
Old 09-25-2008, 09:47 AM
  #3  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Camaroholic's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Waco, TX
Posts: 6,449
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

In this case I don't think it's "only" the economy though. Lawsuits were probably involved...

https://ls1tech.com/forums/southern-members/991781-bill-heard-closed-all-dealerships-ga.html
Old 09-25-2008, 10:04 AM
  #4  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (29)
 
4u 2 nv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Daytona Beach
Posts: 520
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Camaroholic
In this case I don't think it's "only" the economy though. Lawsuits were probably involved...

https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=991781
True...also heard that customers are non existent there after many have heard the horror stories.
Old 09-25-2008, 10:04 AM
  #5  
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
GRN ENVY's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Orlando/ Fort Myers
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

They were going to get a new ZR1. I wonder what they are going to do with all the inventory. Time to watch the auction.
Old 09-25-2008, 10:09 AM
  #6  
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (4)
 
R1ch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 324
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Damn. They put the new motor in my car when my old one got hydrolocked.
Old 09-25-2008, 10:39 AM
  #7  
TECH Enthusiast
Thread Starter
iTrader: (25)
 
toplessHO's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Orlando
Posts: 714
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts

Default

16 of 18 stealerships across the country is what I heard.
3500+ employees
Old 09-25-2008, 10:42 AM
  #8  
TECH Addict
iTrader: (41)
 
Bad Blue WS6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Germantown Hills IL
Posts: 2,003
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

they closed due to fraud reasons, not econoics.
Old 09-25-2008, 11:02 AM
  #9  
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
SnowmanWS69's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Kersey, PA
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I work at a Dealership and a well known one..Ferman. We are hurting bad in both sales and service. We have 4 SUV's left and had them for awhile. Service tom(Friday) we have no appointments for service....
Old 09-25-2008, 11:14 AM
  #10  
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
ArrestMeRedZ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by SnowmanWS69
I work at a Dealership and a well known one..Ferman. We are hurting bad in both sales and service. We have 4 SUV's left and had them for awhile. Service tom(Friday) we have no appointments for service....
I think the problem with service is nobody wants to pay $150 an hour for service anymore. [$75 per time unit, 1 time unit = 1/2 an hour, not a real hour of work]. I bit the bullet and bought the tools when I realized I couldn't afford to pay my mechanic more than my lawyer.
Old 09-25-2008, 11:18 AM
  #11  
BADA BING BADA BOOM!!!!!!
iTrader: (3)
 
Richie Carbone's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Clermont, FL
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Courtesy Pontiac is done as well.

This is going to get worse before it gets better.
Old 09-25-2008, 12:03 PM
  #12  
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (9)
 
Ntimid8r7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Stank Cloud, FL
Posts: 744
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Everytime I see a Chevrolet with a Bill Heard sticker on it feel like its the Devil's child. They were a horrible dealership and they got what they long deserved. I feel for the good people that worked there but other than that good riddance.
Old 09-25-2008, 12:21 PM
  #13  
Launching!
iTrader: (1)
 
SnowmanWS69's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Kersey, PA
Posts: 228
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by ArrestMeRedZ
I think the problem with service is nobody wants to pay $150 an hour for service anymore. [$75 per time unit, 1 time unit = 1/2 an hour, not a real hour of work]. I bit the bullet and bought the tools when I realized I couldn't afford to pay my mechanic more than my lawyer.
I agree. Its 95 dollars an hour. Id never bring my car to a dealer..but I have the no how to do stuff. ALOT of people dont but dont have the cash to pay for over priced parts and labor anymore.
Old 09-25-2008, 12:51 PM
  #14  
On The Tree
iTrader: (2)
 
96tealTA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Altamonte Springs, FL
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Richie Carbone
Courtesy Pontiac is done as well.

This is going to get worse before it gets better.
Those guys charged me $770 to rebuild a rear with USED parts! And it took them 4 days to do it!
Old 09-25-2008, 01:35 PM
  #15  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
gator's 99TA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 9,971
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

i bought my 06 cobalt new from Bill Heard Plant city. i got a great deal and it was easy to deal with. bought it over the internet for invoice plus dealer fee minus GM Card points 1k dollars.
Old 09-25-2008, 01:36 PM
  #16  
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (2)
 
gator's 99TA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 9,971
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Camaroholic
In this case I don't think it's "only" the economy though. Lawsuits were probably involved...

https://ls1tech.com/forums/showthread.php?t=991781
i know all about the lawsuits. those lawsuits would take years to settle. its no the reason they shut down. its the fact they couldnt buy any cars from GM and owed GMAC a ton of money.
Old 09-25-2008, 01:47 PM
  #17  
TECH Enthusiast
 
Pretyflywiteguy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Raleigh
Posts: 746
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

I heard about this this morning on channel 13. I used to have a couple of "bird dogs" from there when i worked at drivetime. Its amazing how they used to treat customers. I did get a lot of business out of them though


i never should have quit that job..
Old 09-25-2008, 02:29 PM
  #18  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (30)
 
streetassasin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Orange, TX
Posts: 2,548
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by SnowmanWS69
I agree. Its 95 dollars an hour. Id never bring my car to a dealer..but I have the no how to do stuff. ALOT of people dont but dont have the cash to pay for over priced parts and labor anymore.

thats why I do all the work on my car and my friends cars except for tires and stuff like that
I cant let my friends get ripped off, I just make them buy me lunch
Old 09-25-2008, 03:25 PM
  #19  
12 Second Club
iTrader: (33)
 
Hennytime's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: winter springs, fl
Posts: 2,584
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

that place told me some great stories, thinking i was a dipshit. hell they only wanted to give me 1500 dollars for my 00 when i thought about trading it in. 80k miles on a 8 year old car are "high miles" i laughed and left
Old 09-25-2008, 03:28 PM
  #20  
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
2001somws.6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: orlando fl
Posts: 1,530
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts

Default

I bought my 2001 camaro there back in 01 bran new and never had a problem with them. But i have heard of all the bad storys and lawsuits.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:45 PM.