On behalf of my entire staff at Jerry Johnson Chevrolet-Cadillac-Buick-Pontiac-GMC, Inc., I would like to welcome you to do business at my dealership. I would like to share with you a brief history of the dealership and my business philosophies.
My grandfather started my family in the car business in 1928, in Rowland, North Carolina, with Rowland Motor Company. He bought and sold Chevrolets, mules, tires and appliances. He lived in an age where deals were consummated with a handshake and a man's word. My grandfather established the Johnson name as synonymous with honesty and integrity in Robeson County. My grandfather had two sons, Walter and James Johnson. James Johnson (my father) took over and ran Rowland Motor Company in 1957 after my grandfather died. Walter "Noody" Johnson (my uncle) decided to buy a Chevrolet dealership in Lumberton in 1961, and named it "Jon-San Chevrolet." "Noody" also did a great job of building a strong well-respected dealership.
I bought Jon-San Chevrolet in September 1988, and renamed it Jerry Johnson Chevrolet. We then purchased the Pontiac, Oldsmobile divisions from Knox Pontiac-Oldsmobile in September of 1989. In June of 1998 we built a new facility and moved from 3500 Elizabethtown Road to our current location that is directly across from the Lumberton Senior High School football stadium on 500 Linkhaw Road. In March of 2001, we were able to purchase the Buick, Cadillac, and GMC divisions from Freeman Motor Company. We are very happy to now offer everything from General Motors except Saturn, Hummer, and Saab. In November of 2003 we opened a separate pre-owned facility where we offer GM certified used cars, GM Quick Lube, Quick Service, and Tires.
I do not believe in deceptive sales practices. When our customer goes home and studies their signed contracts they find no surprises with regards to interest rates, life and A&H insurance, undisclosed doc fees, or any other deceptive ploys that have become so prevalent in our industry. It is my opinion that these practices are very short sighted and while they may work once, you most likely will not, and should not, get a chance to sell that customer again.
I am very proud of my employees and the low turn over rate. At least half of my 62 employees have been with me 10 years or more; another third have been with me 3 years or more. I believe in supporting my employees through their happy times and their hard times. I treat them with respect and the courtesy that I want them to treat our customers with. I promote a professional and fun atmosphere at the dealership in which to work and conduct business. Humor is good for moral.
I believe in marketing the dealership, not just price. For the past five years, my dealership has been a gold sponsor of the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life" of Robeson County. My dealership also sponsors: the "Rumba on the Lumber", "Chevy to the Levy", Boy Scouts, the local United Way kick off, theatrical events at U.N.C. Pembroke, SAFE KIDS campaign of Robeson County, fund raising events for Robeson County Public Library, "Communities In Schools" of Robeson County, many hole-in-one contests at charity golf tournaments, free throw contests at basketball games, yearbook ads, etc. The majority of our marketing dollars are spent maintaining a positive image of a dealership that supports and cares about its community. I am very confident this approach sells more cars than the $5.00 used car sales and other gimmicks that I find deceptive and annoying.
In conclusion, if you are reading this as a current customer, then thank you for your business. If you are reading this as a perspective customer, then I feel confident that if you do business at our dealership you will find it a very comfortable and enjoyable experience and will always receive solid value for your money. If you are ever disappointed with your experience here, please feel free to tell me, or any member of my staff, and we will make every effort to correct it.
Thank you for visiting our website,
Dealer/Owner General Manager
Jerry Johnson Rick Schnepf
