Inside Chrysler: "Where's My Bailout?

by Robert Farago

December 17th, 2008 9:59 AM

Hi Robert, I saw this letter to the editor in December 15th Automotive news and thought it might be of interest. – Glenn

To the Editor:

Hey, Chrysler, remember me? I’m the dealer who sold your K cars, your Omni Misers (that got in excess of 35 mpg – where are they now?). I stocked and sold your minivans with air and transmission problems. I sold your 2.7-liter sludged engines and then had to tell my customers it was their lack of maintenance that caused the $6,000 problem. I sat on your dealer councils and advertising boards for years.

I attended your new-car shows at my expense because my district manager said he needed all his dealers to be there, then listened to the same speech about how things will get better next year but please order more cars this year to help the company. I played your unfair Volume Performance Allowance game. I did it all.

And when I finally had a chance to transfer my franchise, four days before closing, you folks decided you didn’t like the new owner’s location and facility.

So after my bankruptcy, loss of my home and loss of my IRA, where’s my bailout?

MARK SUNDBERG
Ishpeming, Mich.

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4 of 24 comments

63CorvairSpyder on Dec 17, 2008

I agree with those feeling sorry for dealers...not. I wonder if Markie Sundberg ever filed a warranty or transportation claim that was just a little "shady" shall we say.

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Geotpf on Dec 17, 2008
psarhjinian : December 17th, 2008 at 11:42 am If you want to know how a company really thinks of it’s customers and it’s product quality, check out warranty claim statistics. Toyota is one of the best here, and Ford has improved greatly as of late; both companies make a point of honouring warranty work more often than not. On the other end is Volkswagen, which has been screwing its dealers since the get-go. The other European marques are about as bad, and Goodwrench isn’t a whole lot better. That strikes me as less of a customer service statistic, and more of a sheer reliability one. That is, what you just described (Toyota has low warranty repairs, Ford is improving, but GM, Chrysler, and all the Germans suck) matches exactly with Consumer Reports' reliability surveys.

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Victell on Dec 17, 2008
psarhjinian On the other end is Volkswagen, which has been screwing its dealers since the get-go. This is not true regarding warranty claim payment. I process warranty claims for a large Nissan/VW/Hyundai dealership and VW is by far the most lenient and trusting of the three. VW will even allow a dealer's ACPVS (average cost per VIN serviced) to be higher than national or regional average as long as shop comebacks are low and CSI stays good. VW tries very hard to maintain excellent dealer relationships. At least on the service side where I'm at.

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DeanMTL on Dec 17, 2008

I don't feel the least bit sorry for him or Chrysler. People are losing the shirts off their backs and this jackass writes us an exposee on the operation of sleaze he ran back in the day. Have fun feeding and clothing your family this year, Mark Sundberg, whoever the hell you are, you piece of shite.

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