Melbourne Chevrolet-Commercial Customers

Good Morning, today is the last day of 2007,Wow what a year. I would like to wish you a Happy, Healthy 2008, and may every day bring good things to all of us.
Today I would like to talk about Commercial Trucks. Chevrolet offers a vast selection of Commercial Vehicles, from the inexpensive Colorado to the HD7500 Chassis.
The owners of Melbourne Chevrolet are currently establishing a complete game plan for the Commercial Customer, who is a Commercial Customer? Basically any person or company large or small that uses company vehicles for the business. It might be a single person that does home inspections that needs a truck to hold his equipment and ladders, or a Large General Contractor that runs a fleet of 100 + Trucks to run his company, and everything in between.

What we decided to offer and how to accomplish it.
A dealership that offers Commercial Trucks needs to make a huge investment not only in Inventory, but dedicated trained staff, special equipment such as 20,000 LB commercial Lifts, to a substantial inventory of parts for Commercial Trucks. All this is a huge under taking, one that takes time, if we were to wake up one morning and say we want to sell commercial trucks, go out and get them we would fail before we even started. We must walk before we run, we need to understand the market, what sells and what does not. We need to establish proper relations with the Body Companies that Design and Build these trucks, have a staff trained on commercial trucks and the equipment to service them as well.
With Commercial Companies, selling the vehicle is the easy part, keeping them going is the important part, and we feel at Melbourne Chevrolet, that we do not have the right to offer commercial trucks unless we can stand behind them when it comes to maintaining there fleet of vehicles.

How the process will work is unique, and requires that we separate the staff from the sales department to the parts department and have dedicated personal that understands who the commercial customer is. Let me explain who a Commercial Customer is see below

• Business Owner with 2 or more employees
• Uses company owned vehicles to run there business
• Owner arrives around 5am daily to prepare days activities
• Employees arrive at 6am and on the job by 7am
• Employees return around 3-4pm dailey owner reviews days activities and plans for tomorrow.
• Pays any where from $200 per month to $1,000 per month in payments per vehicle
• Pays an average of $4,000-$5,000 per vehicle per year in commercial Vehicle insurance
• Average miles driven per year per vehicle is 25,000 to 50,000 miles
• Pay on average in fuel cost per vehicle $636 per vehicle per month or $7,630 a year
• Is a service driven business and requires limited down time per vehicle
• Has limited time to shop for new trucks since there schedule so hectic
• Cost them avg of $50 to drop a vehicle off for a $15 Oil and Filter

That is a brief description of what we see as the commercial customer, in order to service them in a manner they deserve, we as a Dealership need to come up with a plan that works for them, without hassle, and requires minimum effort on there part when it comes to purchasing vehicles, and more importantly provide a level of service that understands down time and the cost of having a vehicle down for service.

We have come up with a plan that encompasses all that, Its a New Way of doing business in the commercial segment and in 2008 we plan on proving that to all the businesses in Brevard County, that Melbourne Chevrolet is the "place to due business" and they will no longer have to travel to the Orlando Area to find and purchase a truck. We understand there time is valuable. So with that in mind, why make it difficult.

In the months ahead, a commercial customer will be able to contact the dealership via phone, fax, email and within 1 hour have the information he or she needs to make an educated decision.

We strongly recommend the commercial customer not visit the dealership, we can do it all over the phone, and deliver the car-truck or van to your door before your day starts, with us handling all the financing registration etc. Why make it difficult, its as easy as 1-2-3. Now you all say what about pricing, well we made a decision to base all our business on VOLUME. In order for us to do this with a BANG, we will sell all our commercial vehicles at Fleet pricing, less all commercial and GM Rebates. All upfits such as dump bodies utility bodies etc, will be sold to you at what our cost is from the upfitter. This ensures you will recieve the best prices ever seen and without lifting a finger. We understand your business and what it takes to run it, we also understand that even though you could not run your business without company vehicles, they cost alot of money, and we want to guarantee you that our prices will be the lowest for that vehicle, and again without you lifting a finger.

For those who have no clue what they need relax, that is what we do, we can recommend the proper truck for the right application, we have developed strong relations with body companies that build these vehicles, and we stay up to date on the latest products. We will listen to your concerns, work with your budget and design and recommend a vehicle that will do what you need it to do, at the lowest cost out there. If all this sounds like a dream come true, well it is.

We will establish lines of Credit with lending instituations such as GMAC to allow you to grow your business without worring about if you can get financed. It takes some work on our part, and we cannot guarantee everyone will get credit or approved, but you can be assured we will do all we can to make it happen.

Last is the support you deserve when it comes to maintaining your fleet, we will be there ready and willing. We will have the staff and equipment necessary to handle whatever comes at us, and all the time understanding your business and your commitments to your customers and will limit the down time while in our service.

For more information please contact our Commercial Truck Manager Dan Gauthier either by email @ buyachevytruck@aol.com or on his cell 24/7 @ 1-888-321-GMFLEET

Big Dan

Melbourne Chevrolet

Route 1 south

Melbourne, Florida

1-321-723-3611

http://www.melbournechevy.com/

email me @ melbournechevy@aol.com

Melbourne Chevrolet-Employer/Employee Benefit Program

Good morning, thanks again for taking time to read my blog today. I'd like to tell you about a New Innovative program I developed that is so awesome that some people think it is to good to be true, but it is true and it's awesome. Its called Melbourne Chevrolets "Preferred Customer Program". Just what is it ? well let me explain.

When we purchased Melbourne Chevrolet from Jim Rathmann, the former owner of Jim Rathman Chevrolet and the Former Palm Bay Chevrolet, we made a decision right from the start, to build and maintain a dealership that offers the Best Sales & Service Practices for Chevrolet's and related GM products, and to develop a community based program that allows Community based Business owners and City and Town Governments to offer there valued employees a benefit that has no cost to the employer and requires no work on there part, but allows there employees and there family members to become a VIP at Melbourne Chevrolet thru our one of a kind "Preferred Customer Program".

What is a "Preferred Customer" ? and what benefit is it to employers and there employees ?
Its really simple, in order to show the community, which includes all of Brevard County and surrounding counties our commitment to being the Best Place to Due Business, a company that is willing to take the necessary steps to prove it. We can sponsor Little Leagues which we do, we can put a car at the mall which we do, we can support the community financially through sponsorship of programs, but everyone does that, all with the hope of you saying there good guys we should go buy a car from them. And people do, but we need to take it a step further, no a big step further, and what we have done is designed a program that a business simply enrolls his company with us and there employees & family members can receive this.

• VIP Status at the dealerships Sales, Service and Parts departments
• VIP Pricing: Basically the same price as if you worked for General Motors
• No Hassle No back and fourth with management, just straight talk
• Full disclosure of Supplier Pricing on actual invoice.
• Discounted Service pricing
• Discounted Parts pricing
• Rosner Rewards Program
• VIP Pricing on all Pre-owned vehicles which we have over 200 in stock
• Plus so much more

Why are we doing this ? simply put, its our way of promoting a program that is unmatched in the auto industry, its fun to do, and we know you'll love it while everyone benefits from it. Most of all no purchase is necessary to win, just enroll company and employees must log in to our site http://www.melbournechevy.com/ Click Preferred Customer and Enroll.

How this works

Employers simply go on line to our web site http://www.melbournechevy.com/ click the tab on left hand side "preferred customer" then on next screen you follow the directions to enroll your company and your done, we will then fax over a user id and password for your employees and there family members. Then they must visit our site, log in and the company will be eligible for all the benefits of our program. Wow, if you're an employee reading this please forward to your employer, it has no cost and is a true benefit. Don't delay do it today.

Once you log in, we will send you an email and schedule an appointment with Hantz your "preferred customer represenative" you will then come in, pick the car of your dreams, we will then provide you with supplier pricing on that vehicle, appraise your trade if you have one, arrange for Special Preferred Financing and you're done. All the time you are never treated with anything but respect. There will be no haggling, no " if I could would you ?", it will be a pleasurable experience. Trust me, it's the best thing we ever did, it is the way car buying should be.

Well I have said enough for today, hope you enjoyed my blog and I look forward to answering any questions you might have about what I have discussed today, and if you would like me to handle the first appointment, or help enroll your company please email me and Ill be more that happy to take care of it for you.

Remember one important thing, Melbourne Chevrolet is the "place to due business"

Thanks

Big Dan

Email me @ melbournechevy@aol.com day or night

Melbourne Chevrolet

US 1

Melbourne Florida

1-321-723-3611

Melbourne Chevrolet-Why Service with us

Hello, and thanks for taking time to read my blog, my name is Big Dan and today I would share the importance of servicing your General Motors Product or Chevrolet with our dealerships Service and Parts Department. First let me make something perfectly clear, it does not matter where your vehicle was purchased if at our dealership or anywhere in the county, and it's also important to understand that even if your vehicle is out of warranty, you should always bring it to an authorized General Motors Dealer, regardless of what you may think or other people tell you. This is what we do, we are not the back yard mechanic, we do not employee high school kids and pay them minimum wage while charging you retail prices and making more profit. We only hire and maintain a staff of Factory Trained Technicians. In fact most of our technicians are Master Certified, which for those who don't know, is like having a doctorate from a leading university. Except there expertise is fixing and understand your automobile. Why is this important to you ? Simply put our time is valuable and so is yours, you have a problem with your vehicle and it needs to be fixed and fixed right the first time, you do not want to pay for guess work, you want to drive in the door, describe the problem, drop it off, and know that when its done its done properly or fixed right the first time using genuine General Motors Parts. Is this not important? Of course it is. When you go to the back yard garage, or the quick service chain, you receive just that, work from someone who has no clue what there doing, or work performed by a chain who could care less about you or your vehicle. After all they only want to make money off you, they can't sell you your next car. What about records ? when you go to trade your car in or sell it privately wouldn't it be nice to say to the customer, here are all my service records, and if you doubt me go over and see my friends at Melbourne Chevrolet they know me and my vehicle and will tell you how I have taken care of my car.
Now your all saying this all sounds great, but we know the back yard garage charges less per hour, or the quick service chain has $10 Oil and Filters done it 5 minutes. Give me a break, lets talk about a labor rate less than an authorized dealer at a back yard garage.
You pay for time and material at the back yard garage. Is he factory trained? Does he work on Chevy's every single day ? Does his parts come with a warranty ? or a labor guarantee ? No to all of the above. In most cases he has to think twice, replace this, try that, and guess what? you pay for it, his their labor rate was $20 less per hour, but it took them 5 hours longer to do. If we had it in our service department we would know 99% of the time what the problem is just by your description of the symptoms. And in most cases would have taken a quarter of the time to do the whole job. So who won ? the guy you paid at the backyard garage. What about electronics, updates, schooling, recalls, etc. Today's vehicles are complex, and only a factory trained technician can understand all this, why? because he has to, in order for us to service you, we must have Factory Trained Technicians to work on your vehicles.
What about parts from the back yard garage or the Quick Service Chain ? The back yard guy goes to the auto parts store and buys generic parts, then marks them up 50-100%, plus your paying for his time to go to the parts store. Remember, your paying him for time and material.
Plus the part is not genuine nor is it warrantied, same goes for the labor. In fact when its not fixed right and your bring it back to him, his fixes something else and charges you for that as well, once again hoping it fixes the problem and all the time the first repair was not the problem, but do you think he is going to tell you that ? of course not.
Now the Quick Service Chain, all there employees are in or just out of high school, no experience, and they are taught to do it as fast as possible, time is money and those chains are only in it for the money. Why would you want some kid to drive your vehicle in as fast as possible, put it up in the air the same way, drain half your oil, put a filter on it from who knows where, and run it back out front ? I know I wouldn't. For what? because its $10. At Melbourne Chevy, we want to do all your Quick Service, but not in 10 minutes, and not for $10. Why because we want a chance to see you, look at your vehicle and perform a safety check while servicing your vehicle, and for only a few dollars more all the time using genuine General Motors Parts with factory trained technicians. Its like going to the dentist for a cleaning, not only do they clean your teeth, they also check all your teeth and let you now what needs to be done now or in the future. Preventive maintenance is what we call it. Some say its just us trying to sell you something you don't need in order to make up for the inexpensive Oil Change.
Well that is so far from the truth, its our way of showing you our commitment, to doing all we can to keep earning your business and taking care of your investment.
So lets sum this all up, Service with us, weather in warranty or not. We cost less. We know what were doing. We warranty and guarantee our work. And most of all we fix it right the first time. Why would you want to go anywhere else ?
I wouldn't and I sure you wouldn't as well, Plain and Simple!
Thanks
Big Dan
Melbourne Chevrolet
US Route 1
Melbourne Florida
1-800-723-3611
Website: http://www.melbournechevrolet.com/
Email Me @ melbournechevy@aol.com

Melbourne Chevrolet-Whats going on

Good Morning, Day 4 and cruising along. Thought today I would discuss what is going on within our store. Lets go to the showroom, where it all begins. When we purchased the store from Jim Rathmann, the inventory level of both nNew and pre-owned were sub par to say the least. Now keep in mind, to just order vehicles at random for inventory would be like shooting yourself in the foot, since we really only know Toyota, we had to come up with a major game plan for inventory and marketing it.

So we all got together and looked at sales history from General Motors for Florida by model, color, trim etc. and then compared it to dealers inventories in the area, then confirmed the programs from General Motors matched what we want to order, and last of all, we needed to confirm if we order 200 vehicles the way we want them, General Motors will build them for us.

Sounds complicated? It is and we pulled it off. Why I explained all this is so you, the customer, can be assured that the vehicles we stock at Melbourne Chevrolet are the vehicles that sell, with the correct options, in the proper colors, with the best rebates from Chevrolet. It's a massive undertaking something we have to do everyday, but we do it, and do it right to ensure the vehicle you receive from us is the best deal, with the most amount of equipment for the right price, and when it's time to change that vehicle it's worth a lot more money in trade. Right now we have the best inventory ever, the programs from Chevy are HUGE, and our pricing is so competitive that we are making deals every day, and lots of them. Not to mention the quality pre-owned vehicles we have been taking in trade, which now brings me to pre-owned.



Pre-owned is a whole other ball game, it's an art to put a value on a used vehicle due to factors that can bring the value up or down depending on the market, time of the year and what the big 3 are doing as far as incentives go. The most import part of the pre-owned vehicle market at a New Car store is trade in values. You need to be on the money each and every time, willing to say no when necessary and willing to give more when needed. I think most customers come in trying to sell their vehicle, not buy a new car, and let me explain that. Customers come in looking to buy a New Chevrolet and have a trade-in. They pick out the car of there dreams, they test drive the vehicle, they negotiate a price, and then they say we want to trade our car in. Why do that at the end ? You're only going to have to wait and make the whole process longer. Why not do it why you're out looking at the new car? This lets the dealership know you came to do business, and they're going to offer all they can to accomplish that, in a professional manner. Waiting til after you have chosen your car is not professional, it's sneaky and wrong. Why does this happen, because the customer wants to sell his car to us for retail price and buy ours at wholesale. Make it simple on yourself, come in to do business, let us know what's going on, and be assured that we are going to offer you the best deal right out of the shoot, why play games, you came to purchase and we're eager to sell.

We also have to purify inventory, they don't increase in value over time, so we have the 30 day rule, if its here on our lot for 30 days, it's time to go, at 15 days we reduce the price and at 20 days we do it again and at 30 it's gone, thus freeing up money to put a new toy on the shelf.
We currently have over 200 pre-owned vehicles in stock to fit every budget, each one has gone through a thorough service process, professionally cleaned, and then placed on our lot. These are nice vehicles that we feel confident in offering to the public. They are all priced to sell, don't let anyone tell you differently.
So what are you waiting for?
Thanks and have a great day
Big Dan
Director of Community Development
Melbourne Chevrolet
Route 1 south
Melbourne, Florida
1-321-723-3611
Web: http://www.melbournechevy.com/
Email Me @ melbournechevy@aol.com

Melbourne Chevrolet-How we make it work

Good morning, it's mid week, Christmas less than a week away, 1 Million things to do before, 10 minutes to get it all done, the upside is quality time with family members. For me that is really what it is all about.
Today is day 3, this is new to me, feel I am doing it correctly, yet not really sure if people even read this. One day I will look and have a comment, this will be a big day for me.
Today I promised I would discuss how our New Store Melbourne Chevrolet is having month after month of growth. To be honest, which I always am, it was easy at first, the dealership's prior owner had been through some really tough times, and when we purchased it, the business level was at an all time low. Service and parts sales were virtually non-existent, sales pretty much the same, inventory at a bare minimum. The biggest issue was the negativity within the store. It's only natural for employees to share the pain of the owner when things aren't so rosey. On day one we met, we talked to the employees and felt the pain they shared. Then with encouraging words Ron and Clay explained the "Prime Directive" and what and how they were going to make it all work, this is what the employees needed, new blood, positive attitude, and direction. Well they recieved just that. Ron and Clay are strong individuals and express that through their confident conversations with people. They jump in head first to do what is necessary, then monitor the results. It's the only way to do what needed to be done.
Mike Martinez is the General Manager of the store, for those of you who do not know exactly what a General Manager is, I will explain, in short he is the Chief cook and bottle washer. He is the dealer in the dealers absence, he is responsible for everything that goes on within the store.
Mike came from Va. Mike was the Rosner's General Sales Managers for the Toyota Store in Fredericksburg. Mike built a team unmatched in the industry from sales to service Mike had a full compliment of team members that understood him, shared his vision and made them one of the TOP Toyota dealers in their region. Mike is a mover and a saker, a results oriented person young, dedicated and most importantly a people person. He has a tough job, yet he arrives every morning before anyone, with a smile on his face, feels the heart beat of the company, has made major changes to provide the level of service you expect when doing business with Melbourne, and while doing this, keeps harmony within the store and informing the owners of what he feels needs to be improved. Improvement is on going, you can never be perfect, only strive to be, times change, people change, and the auto industry changes daily. We always want to be on top of the curve. Mike trains his staff to want his job, thus breeding a team that excels everyday.
He put key personnel in all departments, these key people must share his vision and enthusium, understanding, and most importantly, have years of experience in the auto industry and know what works and what does not. When you put a team like this together it's a win win situation. Yet with out communication, you cannot achieve the level of excellance needed when our customers expect and demand more each and every day. Are we perfect? Of course not, but we know what we're great at and where we are lacking, and through hard work, dedication and communication we take on the impossible and make it part of our daily routine.
So this is how we have been doing it, we have a team leader with vision and understanding, a communicator, he has a team that understands him, they all work with a "Prime Directive" to be the best. It takes alot of hard work, we need to listen to the customer, understand what their saying, make changes and keep harmony. Remember whether you're purchasing a vehicle or servicing one, it should be a pleasurable experience, you should leave relaxed and have full knowlegde of what just happened, without hassle. Why make it difficult? It only makes our job harder.
At Melbourne from the cashier to the wash bay and all in between have one goal, they keep the customer happy and informed know matter what it takes, for without the customer we have nothing, sounds simple, but why is it always so difficult when you go to a car dealership and cannot find someone that cares? At Melbourne Chevrolet we do care, and that is the Melbourne difference.
We are "the place to do business" plain and simple.
Have a great day
Big Dan
Director of Community Development
Melbourne Chevrolet
Route 1 south
Melbourne Fla.
1-321-723-3611 office
Web: http://www.melbournechevy.com/
email: melbournechevy@aol.com
Rosner Auto Group: http://www.rosnerauto.com/

Melbourne Chevrolet-Our Story

Good Morning, it's an awesome Tuesday and I thought on my second day of blogging, I would tell the Rosner Story. Ron Rosner Co-Owner of Rosner Auto Group, which also owns Melbourne Chevrolet, has been in the business for over 40 years, together with his partner and step-son Clay Huber, who also happens to be my very best friend. Through their hard work and dedication over the years they have earned themselves a reputation for unparalleled Sales & Service. Established in Fredericksburg Va. many years ago as a Toyota, Mitsubishi, BMW and Subaru dealer with one location in Fredericksburg, today Ron & Clay have two locations with total dedication to the Toyota franchise and a new state of the art facility in Stafford Va. In addition they have been approved by Nissan as a new dealer in a new market. At a time when the auto manufactures are down sizing Nissan saw what so many already see in Rosner and awarded them a Brand New Nissan Franchise.
Construction is under way, and it's exciting.
Over the past 10 years alone Rosner Auto has sold and delivered over 75,000 New and Pre-owned vehicles. What's amazing is 99% of their business is repeat and referral, an achievement most dealers can only dream of.
Now let's discuss Melbourne Chevrolet - Ron Rosner Founder and Co-Owner, a resident of Florida, has been searching for years for a location close to home and after careful consideration, acquired Melbourne Chevrolet from Jim Rathmann, and within a few short months has taken this dealership from an empty parking lot, to a sprawling selection of New Chevrolets and Pre-Owned vehicles and has staffed it with some of the finest Sales and Service people in Brevard County. In addition he has relocated some of his signature staff from Virginia to oversee the operation, thus ensuring the Rosner way.
As we speak today we have achieved 5 consecutive months of increased sales and service and people are talking and we are listening. Today our store stocks over 200 new Chevrolets and some 200 Pre-Owned Vehicles to fit every budget on our site, a staff of over 50 employees, and a reputation for "the place to do business".
I have linked the Rosner Auto Group http://www.rosnerauto.com/ web page so you can read what I have talked about, and you can also visit our new web site in Melbourne at http://www.melbournechevy.com/
I can be emailed 24hrs a day 7 days a week at melbournechevy@aol.com
Tomorrow we will discuss why we have had 5 consecutive months of increased sales and service, what we're doing in the community, and what we have in store ahead.
Thanks for taking a moment to be part of our story, and I look forward to tomorrow's blog.
Big Dan
Directory of Community Development
Melbourne Chevrolet
US Route 1
Melbourne, Fla.
Main Number
1-321-723-3611

Melbourne Chevrolet-New Dealer in Town

Hello all, my name is Big Dan from the all new Melbourne Chevrolet in Melbourne Florida, I am the director of Community Development I have some very exciting news. Melbourne Chevrolet, formally know as Jim Rathmann Chevrolet, was recently purchased by Rosner Auto Group.
What else is exciting is we're growing and growing fast, how and why is simple, we looked, we listened, we invested, we changed and it shows.
But we can't do it alone, so every morning I urge you to read my blog, post your comments, and let's talk. I will provide information about the auto industry as a whole, Melbourne Chevrolet, Brevard County, the right and wrong way of purchasing an auto, and most importantly answer questions and concerns from you, the public. Our life depends on our customers and without you and the valued employees at our organization, we have nothing. So let's start this day off with any of you that knew of Jim Rathmann Chevrolet or Palm Bay Chevrolet in Florida and what experience you had whether good or bad, and what you feel is going to be the key to our success. And as always, be honest and truthful in all you say.
In closing, Palm Bay Chevrolet is now closed and no longer in business, we feel sorry for the employees and customers of Palm bay, and especially the Rathmann family for there loss, but have comfort in the fact we're here and ready to serve and will prove to you with out a doubt that we are the New Sheriff in town. We have purchased over 85 vehicles from Palm Bay Chevrolet in an effort to help out. Look out for Melbourne Chevrolet upcoming sales events to move this huge selection of 2008 Brand New Chevrolet inventory. Their closing allowed us to purchase all these vehicles and we intend to move them regardless of cost. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for our huge sales event to move these new Chevrolets. They all must go ASAP.
Tthanks and look forward to hearing from you all.
Big Dan