In defense of the modern auto dealership
Re: “‘Go’? Why not ‘Stop,’ or even ‘Pull Over’?” Dec. 1 Al Lewis column.
Al Lewis puts forth outdated stereotypes about auto dealers and the car-buying process. Suggesting the process “involves a salesperson humping your leg like a Chihuahua” is particularly offensive. That’s because it is out of date and inaccurate in describing the customer-centric sales methods the auto industry has spent millions of dollars and thousands of labor hours developing over the past two decades.
Contrary to Lewis’ condescending characterizations, a vast majority of new-car buyers today are happy with their purchase experience at dealerships. This is evidenced through a number of surveys by major organizations that track customer satisfaction. Often, these ratings exceed 90 percent, a customer satisfaction figure most retailers envy.
This is not a fluke but rather a long-term trend. For example, the JD Power and Associates 2006 Sales Satisfaction Index Study showed that customer satisfaction with new-vehicle sales process has reached an all-time high.
As competition has stiffened over the years, dealers have come to view their sales process in a strategic light. Today, it goes far beyond simply cultivating a culture of professionalism and courtesy among floor sales personnel to encompassing an improved paperwork, financing, pricing and delivery process.
Happy customers become loyal, repeat customers. Hence, the industry standard today – one dedicated to delivering value and customer service – is one that drives repeat business for the long term. It’s a far cry from the state of the industry described by Lewis throughout his critical, illogical, sarcastic yet largely unsubtantiated column.
Tim Jackson, President, Colorado Automobile Dealers Association
Plans for reforming Denver’s election system
Re: “Auditor details election revamp,” Dec. 6 news story.
It’s becoming increasingly likely that Denver voters in May will face dueling, incompatible proposals to repair the city’s broken election system. Three proposals are under discussion already, and a fourth one might come from the mayor’s task force.
So far, the proposals all have flaws. One calls for an elections director chosen directly by the voters. This would restrict the candidates to residents of Denver, but the best person for the job might live somewhere else. Two others call for an elected clerk and recorder who appoints an elections director. But this doesn’t really increase “accountability.” We already have a mix of elected and appointed people in charge of elections. And we know how that’s turned out.
But what if the elections director were appointed by unanimous agreement of the mayor, the auditor and the City Council? In this way, qualifications could be assessed, references could be checked, and the largest pool of potential candidates could be considered. Failure to perform would be grounds for removal, and this could be done quickly, without the need for a recall election.
The elections department should be run by professionals, not politicians. Elected officials should hire the best person for the job. Our elections are too important to be left to competing ballot issues. Everyone involved should sit down and hammer out a single proposal to put before the voters.
Steve Lang, Denver
Wreaths on graves of fallen U.S. soldiers
Re: “Wreaths for the fallen,” Dec. 6 Open Forum.
Letter-writer Mike Fishelman criticizes the man from Maine (Morrill Worcester) who places a wreath on all the gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. Fishelman’s uncle has a star of David on his grave and he feels it would be disrespectful to leave a wreath, and yet leaving no wreath would be ignoring his uncle.
Wreaths have a long history of different meanings among many cultures and do not belong to one particular religion. Worcester is placing wreaths on 6,000 graves to honor all our country’s veterans – that’s why wreaths are placed on all graves, regardless of their religious affiliation. Shame on Fishelman for turning a generous act of honor into something to publicly criticize.
Susan Cramer, Denver
Driver in fatal van crash
Re: “Van driver was twice deported,” Dec. 3 news story.
Jose Franco-Rodriguez was sent home twice before sneaking back into the U.S. He then allegedly drove a van full of illegals and ultimately killed four of them in a highway wreck and sent the rest of them to the hospital. Once again, we the taxpayer will pick up the tab for all of this mess: hospital bills, ambulances and eventual prison for Franco-Rodriguez, if he is convicted. I suggest that all of these bills be sent to the Mexican consulate, as these are citizens of that country, not ours. By stepping forward with a big fat check, this will show people like me that the consulate is serious about improving relations between the U.S. and Mexico.
Joanie Jones, Denver
Immigration and jobs
Re: “Capitalism thrives with immigration,” Dec. 3 Al Lewis column.
Al Lewis writes, “Immigrants don’t just take jobs. They create them. Of U.S. publicly traded companies that got their start with venture capital financing over the past 15 years, one out of every four boasted an immigrant founder.”
X is a member of set No. 1, Lewis seems to say. X is good. Therefore, all members of set No. 1 are good.
Worried about millions of illegal aliens? Don’t be. They’re busy hatching the next high-tech breakthrough.
Relax, sit back, wait for the IPOs.
Tom Shuford, Lenoir, N.C.
Congress’ work week
Re: “Imagine, House members must work 5-day week,” Dec. 6 news story.
When I first read the article about Congress meeting five days a week, I chuckled at the thought that these overpaid elected officials would have to work just like the rest of us. Then as I really thought about the implications of this – more sessions, more hearings, more legislation – a cold shiver ran up my spine. As the big bad wolf might say, “More opportunities to tax you, my dear.”
I have a better idea. Let’s give them all a raise if they promise never to show up for work. We the taxpayers would, in the long run, be much better off.
L.W. Hunley, Grand Junction
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