Gazette-Times: GM won’t renew with Randy Jones

Best wishes to Randy Jones and family in their appeal against GM's termination of Randy Jones Chevrolet.

Corvallis dealership is part of 1,100 cut across the country
CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES, 5/15/2009 by Bennett Hall - After almost 20 years of selling Chevys in Corvallis, Randy Jones’ ride with the iconic American car brand may be coming to an end. ∴ Jones was one of 1,100 General Motors dealers who received notice Friday that their contracts won’t be renewed when they expire next year. Jones’ current agreement runs out on Oct. 10, 2010. ∴ “It means that on that given day I will no longer be authorized to sell or service Chevrolets or any other GM product,” he said.

Car dealers who carry General Motors brands have known for weeks that this day could come, as the struggling automaker announced plans to shrink its dealer network as part of a massive restructuring program.

Still, the news came as a shock to Jones, who opened his Corvallis showroom on Sept. 19, 1990.

“We really thought that we would be here,” he said, ticking off the business’s strengths — high customer satisfaction ratings, strong capital position, up-to-date facility, positive cash flow and a high-visibility location on busy Northwest Ninth Street.

“I’m not so sure we’ll ever be able to figure out the rationale.”

General Motors is giving dealers 30 days to appeal the termination notices, and Jones said he’ll fight to keep his Chevrolet franchise. But he’s also considering other alternatives.

He definitely intends to keep his used car business going, as well as his parts and service departments and his on-site body shop. And he’d also consider a franchise agreement from another carmaker.

“We’ll look at all our options,” Jones said. “Our intention is to be here and be in the used car business and maybe with another franchise — just without the Chevrolet sign.”

Jones said he’s trying to look on the bright side, but he feels bad for his son, Shannon, the dealership’s general manager.

“He’s been through this with me for 15 years,” Jones said. “He was the heir apparent.”

He’s also concerned about the impact on his 25 employees.

“I’ve had some of these employees for 18 years,” he said. “It’s very unsettling for them.”

The decision leaves just one General Motors dealership in Corvallis — Power Buick Pontiac Cadillac GMC, which six years ago took over another dealership on Northwest Buchanan Avenue. It’s part of Power Auto Group, which has five locations around the mid-valley. It wasn’t immediately clear whether GM would offer Jones’ Chevrolet franchise to Power next year.

“Consolidation needed to happen, there’s no doubt about that. There’s just too many dealers in too many places,” Jones said.

“I just happened to be the one they didn’t want, for whatever reason.”

Bennett Hall can be reached at bennett.hall@lee.net or by calling 758-9529.