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Local Auto Dealers Compensate For Higher Gas Prices

Tuesday April 29, 2008

By Rebecca F. Kay

    It seems like every week the price of gas jumps another .06-.08 cents per gallon.  Filling a tank is costing more and more each week.  So one has to ask how is this affecting the local automobile sales?

    Travis Romano, the Sales Manager of G. Stone Motors, Inc. states “it has effected sales in the fact that we are selling different vehicles to some extent, but doesn't mean it's any slower as far as business goes.”  

   Tom Denecker, President of Denecker Chevrolet Inc. has noticed, “everyone wants to go down a scale.” Rodney Bourdeau of Bourdeau Motors, LLC states, “the economy has changed, it's a tough time, but not the toughest.”            

   Despite the increase in gas prices, local dealerships use many techniques to increase sales and help their customers find the vehicles they can afford.  At G. Stone Motors, Travis explains “one thing that Gardner has always done since day one is he'll take anything in trade.  We really drive that point out hard, because it's true.  We have taken a trailer load of pigs, TVs, pizzas and hats.”  Travis explains “we do whatever you have to do to put together a sale for a customer that works for them.” “Just be creative.  That's our niche.”

    And it appears to be working.  G. Stone Motors was awarded the Ford President's Award for the second year in a row.  Last year out of 4,000 Ford Dealerships, only 408 received this prestigious award.  The Ford President's Award is given to automotive dealers with excellent sales and top customer satisfaction.

    At Denecker's Chevrolet, its success is linked to sales and customer service.   Denecker explains that there are seventeen dealers in his group.  He always ranks in the top three for sales and customer satisfaction.  Denecker explains, “in the state of Vermont if 100 sales is the standard, I am 365% effective.  I should have sold 85 [vehicles] for an average, and I have sold 296.”  

    “At Denecker Chevrolet you can get the one thing you don't get at any other dealership-you get the dealer.  You get Tom.  I'm here taking care of my customers”   

    Denecker will also be opening a new “state of the art sales facility” visible from Route 7, on Monkton Road.  It will be opening in the end of May beginning of June.  Denecker believes this new visibility from Route 7 will increase his sales and bring in new customers.

    Bourdeau Motors of East Middlebury attracts sales by using local advertising and the Internet.  Bourdeau and his son Jared try to stock inventory at a level people can afford.  Bourdeau explains, “I'm not trying to compete with new car dealerships.  I want to offer quality cars at affordable prices and this what we do here.”  Bourdeau's inventory includes cars in the $5-6,000 range with some in the $8-12,000 range. Rodney explains “if you don’t see it on our lot then we can get it for you.” Bourdeau credits his success to having a low overhead cost which he says saves the customer money.   Rodney has plenty of sales experience and knows what the customers are looking for. He explains that he owns the company with his wife and son.  They do not have employees and even reuse waste oil to heat the premises.

    Vergennes Auto increases its sales by working with a bank that provides a 4.9% interest rate.  While the interest rate is excellent for people with bad credit, they need to come up with a larger down payment, proof of employment and references.   Steve Gebeault, sales and transportation consultant at Vergennes Auto, explains “gas prices are helping our sales and we've geared our inventory to that by stocking four cylinder fuel savers. and of course  many others ”

   Steve also explaines “our sales force Kevin, Gary, Scott, Jerry and myself included  have over 88 years of award winning sales experience to assist customers with good or not so good credit

   We have a large inventory of all price ranges that fit any customers budget. “Get The Deal You’ll Brag About
At Vergennes Auto.

   Next week look for conversations with Foster Motors and Shea Motors both located in Middlebury.

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