Back in 2000, we purchased an Infiniti I-30 and it turned out to be simply the best car I've ever owned. I took good care of it, and had all the scheduled maintenance done at the dealership. I developed relationships with the people there, and after almost 9 years, they felt like family. Sure, faces and names changed over the years, but the professionalism and attention to detail was always above expectations. My little I-30 has almost 150,000 miles on it now, and I have finally been looking at getting another vehicle.
I first looked elsewhere, but my heart led me back to Infiniti, even though I did not like the G-35 as much as I had my I-30, which they don't make any longer. On Saturday, we drove to the dealership, greeted people we've known there, and told them I was looking for a new vehicle. I had not considered their new EX-35, a crossover model, but when I sat down in it and took it for a test drive, I was sold. As I walked down the row of their inventory, I spotted one with a pretty tan interior, which I liked, and saw that it was a dealer demo. It was loaded with everything but the navigation package and was a pretty white pearl color. Due to the mileage, I knew they'd probably strike a good deal for me. It had 5,400 miles on it, and after much cajoling, they came waaaay
off the sticker price to sell it to me, a loyal customer. I was very pleased at the good price I got, and even more pleased that I would again be driving such a reliable vehicle and would be able to continue a relationship with those I've grown to know who will make sure my ownership experience is nothing short of excellent. That was Saturday. We drove the car home, even though we could not do the financing and sign the papers on it until Monday. I was practically giddy with excitement. We arrived at the dealership on Monday afternoon around 4PM and signed all the papers. I hugged them and thanked them all before we drove away.
On Tuesday, the news hit. The owner of the dealership (who I actually knew in high school) had been arrested and charged with 11 counts of wire fraud. Seems he'd been getting large sums of money, from a relative no less, and was supposed to be "investing" it. Instead, he'd been using it,
over 7 million dollars, to prop up his 11 dealerships and to live a very lavish lifestyle. On Wednesday, more news. His auto group had filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy. We were stunned.
I called the sales guy who helped us purchase my car as I had his cell phone number. Hank called me back, all but in tears. No one knew. Not even the people at the top of his company. Over 250 people will be out of a job, because of his lack of character and sheer greed. All the service guys, who I greeted every time I'd go by there. All the sales guys, who always joked with me each time I'd go that the service guys were saying it was high time for me to be in a new Infinti, as they'd grin. All of them. Told to pack up their things on Tuesday as federal agents came to inventory everything at the dealership. People. Real people. With lives and kids and bills to pay. Out of a job, that they worked hard at, and felt pride in... because one man needed private chartered planes and exotic vacations.
I'll be fine. I'll find another dealer to honor my warranty, but I'll have to drive 70 miles, unless someone else reopens the dealership here once all the chips fall. But all those people will be heavy on my heart and in my prayers as they struggle to make sense of it all and begin anew elsewhere. I am still just shaking my head in disbelief.
