Dealership Change....what would you do?

[Wondering]

Hi all.....long time member here but created a different ID as what I want to ask is not something I want to be identified for at this point. What would you do if business at your dealership is horrible and has been horrible for quite a long time. No improvements made in processes or employees. No support from the top dogs and the feeling that they really just don't care even though they are great people. Then you happen to lay eyes on something accidentally that was not meant for you to see and you did nothing wrong in how you saw it. It basically spelled out that your dealership is being sold in the very very near future. How would you react to this news? Would you share it with anyone within the business you trust or just let it eat you up inside worrying what will be happening? Has anyone here been through this type of scenario? For an outsider looking in, you would never notice anything out of the ordinary going on. From my standpoint, I have seen enough odd things happening which singularly don't mean much, but when you put them all together is has painted quite a different picture. I can say that I'm 99.9% positive that this is all happening and not sure what to do and how to feel. It would be nice to be able to confide in someone but that just doesn't appear to be a safe option at this point thus I'm throwing this out here. Thanks.

[Bailo1]

Sent you a PM

[TimK]

I would start looking for a new job.

[btk]

I will share things that I have learned over the years going through buy/sells at different dealers. If the right offer is made, every dealership is for sale! That fact should not influence what you do on a day to day basis. Until the new owner actually has the keys its not a done deal .... I would not share what you know until it is announced. I worked at one store that sounded very similar and it was the best thing that ever happened, new owners were great and we improved the store dramatically, I stayed for 10 years until he sold to public company... that's a whole another story!

If the store is as bad as it sounds, a new owner may be the only saving grace you have if you want to stay there, so you can either wait for a new owner and hope for the best or wait until the store gets shut down.... you usually don't get notice that is happening, you go to work and find out store closed.

If you decide to leave and explore your options it seems like good dealership staff is hard to find and I think depending on your area and where you live that this is one of the better times to try to find alternative employment, I just spoke to a friend of mine who is a head hunter and he has management positions all over the country that he cant fill for dealership principals right now.

Good luck and don't stress about things you have no control over. Things always happen for a reason.

[Barry]

We are on our 3rd owner in 3 yrs, and my butt hasn't moved. Look at this as an opportunity. Take this fore warning as a positive and clean up the dept., literally! Clean and straighten the shelves. You only get 1 chance to make a first impression. And as much as you want to, don't tell anyone.

[scott2112]

Assuming you have been doing your job at the best of your ability, take this as a new opportunity. A few years ago, as I was boarding a plane for vacation, I received a phone call from the previous owner that he was selling the dealership. I will not lie, that vacation was stressful. Many phone calls were made from my employees to me while I was in Mexico. I was nervous. That being said, when I arrived for work the new owner met with me, asked some questions (which I knew the answers), and off we went.

It has been the best thing for our dealership. We now have a group of 7 dealerships. I received a promotion and raise. The point being, every day is an opportunity to show that you are an asset. Take advantage.

[Wondering]

Thank you for the insight and input everyone. There is always worry involved in this but as mentioned, I'm looking at it as a good thing and hoping that this will turn things around. There are good people here and in a way I want things to stay the same but know that there are some things that need to change. The plan for now is to keep doing what we have been doing and await the news. Myself and mostly everyone here have always done things to the best of our ability going above and beyond when needed. We treat the dealership as if it were our own and take pride in it. Hopefully the new owners will recognize this and it will be a positive welcomed change for everyone involved. Thanks again to you all.

[B964]

Chances are if you are doing your job well but rest of the place is not you will be kept on as an asset.

I've been thru same thing twice at two different places. First time after a bit new owners cleaned house of dead weight and the place flourished. Second time new owners changed nothing and low and behold franchise was sold again, coincidently to buyer of first place.

[B964]

Forgot to add.....

I saw many signs of being sold with out seeing an actual document.

Stopping reorders of license plate frames, an "Insurance" inventory/audit of special tools, an unusual inquiry from owner of tire and oil inventories, the halt or slow down of paper and pens, the putting off of training classes that require travel.... etc etc.

[Denise T]

Definitely a wait and see attitude is in order here. Quietly observe, but not a peep!

It would not be a bad idea, if you are the parts manager, to look into the process of the termination return. Some info may be in the policy manual. This may be an opportunity to freshen up your inventory and remove some dead weight.

Good luck, and remember, those in this forum will always help when you need it most!