Ford buying PebBoys?

[Chris]

Anybody heard the roumer that Ford is buying PepBoys?

It's my understanding that Ford is desperately looking for an outlet chain to service and repair their products outside the dealer body as they have done in Europe.

Is the Dealer not offered some exclusivity through the Dealer Agreement?

In addition, Ford is pushing the FADs for at least 30% of their sales to be to non Dealers.

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Chris Bledsoe
Pts Mgr
Pulliam Ford
Columbia, SC
sysop@clynx.com

[Chuck Hartle]

Hi Chris,

This would be the icing on the cake! "If you can't beat them, join them?"

You have your FAD's (Motorcraft and Reman)
You then got Green Leaf (Recycled Parts)
Now you would have Pep Boys (Perfect for FAD's to supply part of that 30% needed over the next two years with cheap labor)

Through the channels (and they are limited) I have heard that GM and Ford look to DaimlerChrysler and wish to attain the fill and the marketing that they have reached over the past several years.

When will Ford and GM learn that the secret is to trust their dealer body? Chrysler pulled their jobbers in 1979 and do business entirely through their dealers and look at the success they enjoy.

Most of this has to be focus. DaimlerChrysler has to worry about a single effort, their dealers. Proliferation of the supply chain and product has to cost most in time, effort, and people to manage. Not only that, but it has to be confusing to the consumer, the dealer, and the distributor.

This could certainly have a 'watering down' affect on the Ford image. Any other comments or opinions on this subject?

Chuck Hartle'