| Author |
Message |
    
Christopher Boese (Christopher)
| | Posted on Sunday, October 20, 2002 - 09:24 pm: | 
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So at the end of September, I bought my Kalahari from Land Rover Riverside in Southern California. It took me a really long time, and several visits to decide on this pretty serious purchase, but all the sales guys were great. I'd never have thought that I'd actually enjoy walking into a car dealership, and actually enjoy chatting with salespeople. The techs at Riverside seemed like real enthusiasts too - about half drove Land Rovers. I was looking forward to having a dealership in the neighborhood (well, 40 miles away.)
Well, around Columbus Day, I got a call from one of the guys at Riverside, telling me to come in to have a small missing trim piece installed. Last Friday I did, and found that Land Rover Riverside no longer exists. All the trucks, furniture, parts, tools, and all but two people were gone. The story I got was, "Ford decided we weren't profitable enough, wanted to give other stores a break, gave us two days' notice to get out."
Can that be the whole story? My impression was that it takes some time, and some legal manipulations, to revoke a franchise. Several great people - Peter, Mike, Kathy, Jeff - are suddenly out of a job. And I have to drive into Orange County or LA in rushhour traffic to get my truck looked at.
Anyone have any better idea than I of what the hell happened? How many other Land Rover Centres are going to sell you a truck and go belly-up two weeks later? |
Jeff Anderson (Groovydude)
| | Posted on Monday, October 21, 2002 - 12:21 am: |
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Yea thats total bull shit!! You should have the option in this case to give back the Disco for your full money back. I say this because some people buy a ROVER because the dealership is semi close by. As we know LR dealerships aren`t like Ford and chevy dealers as being 1 every 10 blocks if ya know what I mean. So now its like Oh sorry but now we are forceing you to drive 100 miles one way to get serviced..now that total shit.
On the other hand maybe they just moved to a new location. Try calling LRNA and ask about the dealer ship and they should beable to give you an answer. |
Eric N (Grnrvr)
| | Posted on Monday, October 21, 2002 - 10:04 am: |
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It most likely is that the folks your were talking to were only given two days notice but, the person in charge of the dealership probably knew for longer then that and just didn't tell his people till the last minute. |
Christopher Boese (Christopher)
| | Posted on Tuesday, October 22, 2002 - 12:39 am: |
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I wouldn't be the least surprised if Ford reappears in the same location in a year or so - with one of their "Premium Vehicles" combined Jaguar/Volvo/Land Rover stores. That cozy LR building will have gotten the full pimpin' glass-and-brushed aluminum treatment, and the Land Rovers will look completely out of place. Except for the HSE's and Rangies with dealer-installed 20-inch chrome rims and running boards. |
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