seftonm
06-08-2009, 08:03 PM
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Canadian_Flag.jpg In Canada, as much as 40 per cent of the country's roughly 700 dealerships will close in the next 18 months. (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/end-of-the-road/article1171569/)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/GM_Canada.jpgJennifer Wells - THEGLOBEANDMAIL (http://www.theglobeandmail.com) - June 08, 2009
A necessary move, but still sad to see some of the dealers go. --Ed.
"Have a look. My name is Rick, by the way. Have a look in this car. Hop in it.”
Hop in it?
“Yeah. It doesn't cost you any more.”
And so it begins. The seduction. The salesman on the showroom floor – in this case Rick Spagnuolo at Pine View Pontiac Buick Sales Ltd., out in what was once the rural outreaches of Toronto.
The vehicle on the showroom floor – in this case a silver Buick Enclave that feels about as big as Montana once you get up behind the wheel there.
And the customer?
“I sold one of these the day before yesterday,” trumpets Mr. Spagnuolo, whose eyes dance in the late-afternoon sunshine and who seems like such a nice man and who peeled 11 grand off the $57,000 sticker price on a pearl white (beige interior) Enclave.
“That's a beautiful car … My wife and I drove to Florida three or four months ago. We got there, it was like I hadn't even driven a car.”
You might think for a second that time has stood still. Except it hasn't.
On Monday, General Motors Corp. filed for bankruptcy protection.
Ten days before that, Frank Romeo, whose father, Dom, opened Pine View in August, 1970, was given notice that the family-run dealership is being terminated.
“It hit all of us,” recalls Frank, who at 52 has spent a lifetime on and around the sales floor.
“You're never quite prepared for anything like that.” ... http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/end-of-the-road/article1171569/
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/GM_Canada.jpgJennifer Wells - THEGLOBEANDMAIL (http://www.theglobeandmail.com) - June 08, 2009
A necessary move, but still sad to see some of the dealers go. --Ed.
"Have a look. My name is Rick, by the way. Have a look in this car. Hop in it.”
Hop in it?
“Yeah. It doesn't cost you any more.”
And so it begins. The seduction. The salesman on the showroom floor – in this case Rick Spagnuolo at Pine View Pontiac Buick Sales Ltd., out in what was once the rural outreaches of Toronto.
The vehicle on the showroom floor – in this case a silver Buick Enclave that feels about as big as Montana once you get up behind the wheel there.
And the customer?
“I sold one of these the day before yesterday,” trumpets Mr. Spagnuolo, whose eyes dance in the late-afternoon sunshine and who seems like such a nice man and who peeled 11 grand off the $57,000 sticker price on a pearl white (beige interior) Enclave.
“That's a beautiful car … My wife and I drove to Florida three or four months ago. We got there, it was like I hadn't even driven a car.”
You might think for a second that time has stood still. Except it hasn't.
On Monday, General Motors Corp. filed for bankruptcy protection.
Ten days before that, Frank Romeo, whose father, Dom, opened Pine View in August, 1970, was given notice that the family-run dealership is being terminated.
“It hit all of us,” recalls Frank, who at 52 has spent a lifetime on and around the sales floor.
“You're never quite prepared for anything like that.” ... http://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/end-of-the-road/article1171569/