Fitzgerald Auto Malls -- Good News, Bad News and Great News
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Jack Fitzgerald Gets Decisions about his GM and Chrysler Franchises
KENSINGTON, Md., July 16, 2010; Jack Fitzgerald got good news, bad news and great news this week.
The good news is his Chrysler & Jeep franchises were reinstated by Chrysler in Florida.
The bad news is he lost his Chrysler franchises in Maryland.
The great news is Fitzgerald received such extraordinary consumer support that General Motors reinstated all his franchises without requiring arbitrations. The Florida arbitrator for his Fitzgerald Auto Mall Chrysler franchise described Jack Fitzgerald as a consumer advocate. "The Florida win is good news, and I thank our customers for coming out and supporting us," said Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald is very grateful to General Motors for listening to his customers and not forcing Fitzgerald Auto Malls through arbitration. Fitzgerald adds, "On balance, we feel this is a great victory for our customers and we appreciate and will always remember their support."
When GM and Chrysler declared bankruptcy in 2009, a new LLC was formed in the reorganization and the new executives claimed that cutting dealers was a way for manufacturers to become profitable. Affected dealerships across the United States lost their businesses overnight, but much more was lost. Employees lost their jobs and communities who looked to the local dealers as pillars of strength for charitable work and donations suffered. Fitzgerald, along with other dealers, challenged the decision. Congress enacted legislation allowing dealers to appeal the closures and request binding arbitration.
Fitzgerald believes Chrysler singled him out because of his pro-consumer way of doing business. The FitzMall.com website provides posted prices and has become a guideline for consumers nationwide, as evidenced on Edmunds.com forums.
