Garber Buick Keeping ‘Buick’ Nameplate
GM Rescinds Decision To Cut Ties With Dealer
POSTED: 10:28 am EDT June 18,
2009
UPDATED: 7:06 pm EDT June 18,
2009
SAGINAW TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- It appears that a community’s voice was heard loud and clear.General Motors Corp. announced on Thursday that it will discontinue plans to strip the Buick nameplate from Garber Buick, 5925 State in Saginaw Township.Third-generation owner Richard Garber credits the community’s proactive approach in getting GM to reverse its decision.A letter-writing campaign that generated more than 1,200 signatures of support from community leaders and customers was hand-delivered to a GM representative on Tuesday."I personally delivered over 1,200 letters and e-mails to General Motors Headquarters in Detroit to show the unique relationship Garber Buick is privileged to share with its customers and community," Garber posted on his company's Web site earlier this week.On June 2, Garber Buick learned via letter that the bankrupt automaker would not renew its sales and service agreement with the dealership.The Saginaw Township 102-year-old business employs about 70 people and is one of the top 10 Buick dealerships in the United States.In March, it ranked No. 1 in sales volume."General Motors was very sensitive to the outpouring of support from this community," Garber said. "They (GM) also had an opportunity to review our numbers again and, as a result, they have torn up or wind-down agreement.”Here are some of the messages of support that Garber received during its campaign:
- "I have to admit that I am still shocked that GM would close a business that essentially is the type of organization that everyone else is striving to match." - Ronald C. Barry, MD
- "Please reconsider closing an American icon, Garber Buick. I hope and pray that you will listen to our collective voices, GM." - Diana Young
- "Garber Buick of Saginaw is the benchmark of service to the Saginaw region and loyalty to General Motors. To take this dealership away from the Garber family and Saginaw would be a travesty of epic proportion." - Steve Shaffer, GM retiree of 36 years.
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