No more Bill Heard

Bill Heard Enterprises Folding Dealerships Nationwide
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TBO.com

Published: September 24, 2008

One of the nation's largest car dealerships has closed sales operations, possibly forever.

Bill Heard Enterprises Inc., which operates the Bill Heard Chevrolet dealership in Plant City, closed its sales operation there this week, said Paul Baker, executive manager of the dealership.

"It's a shame," Baker said, adding that he thought the era of gigantic dealerships is over. The dealership traces its roots to 1919, just 11 years after Henry Ford first produced the Model T automobile.

Baker declined to elaborate on reasons for the closing, other than to cite financial pressures. He said he doubted the operation would operate under new ownership. "Nobody has the guts to have a big dealership anymore," he said.

The dealership will "take care of any customer's car and live up to any obligations we have as far as sales," he said, "but we closed the sales operation."

Based in Columbus, Ga., Bill Heard Enterprises Inc. operates 13 dealerships nationwide. They all will close, Baker said.

I thought it was intreasting that when I went by some of their dealerships they we're spacing the cars.Like 6-8 feet between cars.

It's a sure sign of the times!!!!

Lets bail them out.

So what is GM going to do with all those Corvettes ?

good question what are they going to do with them

Rumor has it that there were MANY issues with Bill Heard's dealership empire.

Issues with the Better Business Bureau in many states, issues with the Attorneys General in many states, etc.

SO....I wouldn't put the collapse of his empire completely on the current economic situation.

I think LOTS of items will be coming out in the near future.

Chuck

Here's the blurb from Automotive News.

Wonder why GMAC cancelled their floorplan? Hmmm. Not paying?

Scottsdale, AZ., Sept. 24, 2008 - According to Automotive News' Chrissie Thompson, Bill Heard Enterprises, the country's top Chevrolet dealer group, is closing the doors at all of its 13 dealerships at the end of business today, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The company notified the stores' general managers at 2 p.m. today, the source said, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to speak.

High fuel prices, cancelled floorplanning from GMAC Financial Services, a reliance on trucks and SUVs, a soft national economy and struggles in local markets had troubled the company, which on Sept. 12 closed its store in Scottsdale, Ariz.

In the end, the company could not raise operating capital and could not finance its floorplan, the source said. Company officials have discussed closing the company since Friday, the source said.

Bill Heard Enterprises, of Columbus, Ga., ranks No. 13 on the Automotive News list of the top 125 U.S. dealership groups, with 2007 group revenue of $2.13 billion.

In the news...

Now there's an issue with the Bill Heard dealerships NOT paying off recent trade-ins :nonod:. So, people who've bought cars recently could possibly be stuck with TWO car payments.

I have heard that they have done quite a few bad things to people and have ALLOT of lawsuits filed against them. and I believe the state of Georgia is suing them also. and one lady for kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment.
Those are just the few things I read online and in the papers

Our friend got his ZR1 through them, and almost couldn't retrieve it even after he visited the museum to see it built. I believe Ferman helped things go as scheduled for him.

ynkedad said:

Now there's an issue with the Bill Heard dealerships NOT paying off recent trade-ins :nonod:. So, people who've bought cars recently could possibly be stuck with TWO car payments.

Click to expand...

Yeah,Kinda Like the Barrie Read Fiasco After his son (Rick the Pwick took the dealership over!!) in Ft Pierce (Okeechobee by the Sea) about 18-20 years ago!!:thumbsup::thumbsup: It was a Frigging mess,and allot of People,GMAC,Banks and Employees got Took!!:thumbsup::thumbsup:

This sort of thing does make you give pause about giving ANYONE a hefty deposit on something.... If they fold, you can just kiss that money goodbye.

Our friend almost lost 35g over it, but it didnt happen