The managers and employees of the only Chevrolet dealership in Lincoln County can sweat a little easier now that they survived major contract cuts. Steve Ralph, general manager and vice president of Ralph’s Chevrolet in Waldoboro said they received notice Friday afternoon General Motors would not cut their contract.
Fifteen full time employees and some part time employees can keep their jobs at the dealership a little while longer.
“All of our employees and myself are happy we made the first cut,” Ralph said, sounding weary on the phone, his voice low, as if waiting for a possible axe to drop had sapped him of energy.
According to multiple media sources, GM sent out letters to all of its 6000 dealers nationwide to inform them as to whether or not their contracts would be renewed.
“We survived the first round,” Ralph said. “One of our competitors didn’t.”
Before hearing the news, Ralph sounded optimistic and nervous at the same time. He said he didn’t think GM would cut his dealership, because it would leave a long distance between dealers.
“If you take us out of the equation, people won’t want to drive 50 or 60 miles to get their warranty work done,” Ralph said.
He added that an estimated equation for closing would be if a dealership sold 50 new cars or less each year. Ralph said on a normal year his dealership sells 100-120 new cars. This past year the dealership sold 75, the reason for which Ralph blames on the decline in the lobster industry and stock market.
Ralph said he has grown up in the car dealership business and has been at it for 37 years. His grandfather started selling Chevrolets in 1954 and his father continued the business.
“This is the worst I’ve ever seen it,” Ralph said, who helped to carry the family torch after his father retired.
The car selling market fluctuates by the month. He said they had a spike in business last month and sold roughly 30 automobiles. This month the dealership has sold just five new automobiles so far.
Ralph urged people to remember to buy from local businesses, including his own.
“They don’t understand what we put into this community,” he said, recalling how his dealership sponsored events and organizations around town.
In addition to sponsoring little league baseball and peewee basketball, the dealership donated $20,000 toward the Recreation Complex behind the Miller School, he said. Ralph said they also gave $2500 to the Waldoboro Library as well as helped to sponsor Project Graduation.
“At least we have a dealer in Lincoln County,” he said after hearing from GM. “Now we’ve got to try and get people to buy local.”