San Rafael Nissan shut its doors yesterday
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From: San Jose, CA
Nissan abruptly shut its doors yesterday
350Z Customer left in lurch after San Rafael Nissan closes
San Rafael Nissan abruptly shut its doors yesterday, outraging customers who had service appointments or cars being repaired.
One customer, Jason Bedell of Novato, said a service manager told him an irate car owner threatened a staffer over the phone, telling the woman he would "come and bash your head in" if he couldn't get his car.
"There's a lot of people down there who are pretty upset because the dealership has their cars," said Bedell, who bought a 2003 Nissan 350Z sports car last year. "They have my parts that I'd ordered and paid for, and nobody's got any answers."
Bedell and other customers visiting the store at 601 E. Francisco Blvd. yesterday found the doors shut and a sign posted saying the business was closed.
"People were coming to the door and seeing their cars up on the lift, and the service manager was saying there was nothing he could do about it," Bedell said. "He said he wasn't able to give them their cars."
Staffers inside the offices and on the phone declined comment and bluntly refused to provide any information. A reporter was told to leave the premises immediately.
"We're investigating the situation right now," said Eric Booth, a spokesman for Nissan North America in Gardena. He could not confirm reports the dealership was shut down by the Nissan corporation for undisclosed reasons or that it was purchased by an East Coast firm.
"I literally have no idea what's going on," Booth said. "It happened so quickly."
San Rafael business license records show the dealership is owned by Wific Inc., according to San Rafael city spokeswoman Lydia Romero. Wisel Ameen is the principal of Wific, according to Bedell.
The closure is the second in recent months among Marin auto dealerships. In January, the Saturn dealership in San Rafael closed suddenly; the owner cited tough competition in the Marin market.
"It's a sign of the times, I guess," said Dennis Coates, general sales manager of Marin Mazda Subaru in San Rafael, across the street from the Nissan dealership. "It's a wartime economy, the government's spending money, and people (car buyers) are spooked out."
Despite those factors, Coates said his dealership was doing well, which he attributed to having "popular products."
Ben Hannah, sales manager at NorthBay Nissan in Petaluma, said he knew about the closure, but had no specific information on the cause other than reports of "financial problems."
"I guess they just weren't selling cars," he said. By contrast, he said, sales are brisk at NorthBay Nissan, a separate franchise from the Marin dealership.
Other Marin auto dealership owners seem to be weathering uncertain economic times in fine form.
Tom Price of Belvedere, whose company, First America Automotive, formerly owned San Rafael Nissan, said he knew the San Rafael dealership had shut down but had no specifics. Price, who owns San Rafael dealerships Infinity of Marin, Jaguar of Marin and Land Rover Marin, said he took over two other San Rafael dealerships - R & G Toyota and the Volvo dealership - two weeks ago.
His new operations are named Toyota Marin and Volvo Marin, both at 445 E. Francisco Blvd.
"It's ironic that they're going out of business," Price said of San Rafael Nissan. "We're going to do a major expansion and upgrade." Price said he can do Nissan service at his Infinity dealership, but will not be able to handle Nissan warranty work.
Price's company ran San Rafael Nissan from January 1999 to fall 1999, when it was sold to Sonic Automotive, which owns Lexus of Marin in San Rafael. Price stayed on the board of Sonic until 2002.
Bedell, meanwhile, said he was still upset late yesterday. After being turned away in the morning, Bedell said he returned to the dealership in the afternoon and confronted his service manager, who was cleaning out his desk.
The man told him "Nissan had shut us down," Bedell said, and that he was not allowed to give Bedell his service records or warranty information.
Bedell said he paid "several hundred dollars" for parts and accessories for his car, but is unable to retrieve them from the San Rafael Nissan parts department. He said he made an appointment with the Nissan dealership in Petaluma for the repairs, which include a broken radio, torn seat and warranty service.
"I'm really frustrated," he said. "They won't transfer my service or warranty records, so I have to start from scratch."
http://www.marinij.com/Stories/0,141...103424,00.html
San Rafael Nissan abruptly shut its doors yesterday, outraging customers who had service appointments or cars being repaired.
One customer, Jason Bedell of Novato, said a service manager told him an irate car owner threatened a staffer over the phone, telling the woman he would "come and bash your head in" if he couldn't get his car.
"There's a lot of people down there who are pretty upset because the dealership has their cars," said Bedell, who bought a 2003 Nissan 350Z sports car last year. "They have my parts that I'd ordered and paid for, and nobody's got any answers."
Bedell and other customers visiting the store at 601 E. Francisco Blvd. yesterday found the doors shut and a sign posted saying the business was closed.
"People were coming to the door and seeing their cars up on the lift, and the service manager was saying there was nothing he could do about it," Bedell said. "He said he wasn't able to give them their cars."
Staffers inside the offices and on the phone declined comment and bluntly refused to provide any information. A reporter was told to leave the premises immediately.
"We're investigating the situation right now," said Eric Booth, a spokesman for Nissan North America in Gardena. He could not confirm reports the dealership was shut down by the Nissan corporation for undisclosed reasons or that it was purchased by an East Coast firm.
"I literally have no idea what's going on," Booth said. "It happened so quickly."
San Rafael business license records show the dealership is owned by Wific Inc., according to San Rafael city spokeswoman Lydia Romero. Wisel Ameen is the principal of Wific, according to Bedell.
The closure is the second in recent months among Marin auto dealerships. In January, the Saturn dealership in San Rafael closed suddenly; the owner cited tough competition in the Marin market.
"It's a sign of the times, I guess," said Dennis Coates, general sales manager of Marin Mazda Subaru in San Rafael, across the street from the Nissan dealership. "It's a wartime economy, the government's spending money, and people (car buyers) are spooked out."
Despite those factors, Coates said his dealership was doing well, which he attributed to having "popular products."
Ben Hannah, sales manager at NorthBay Nissan in Petaluma, said he knew about the closure, but had no specific information on the cause other than reports of "financial problems."
"I guess they just weren't selling cars," he said. By contrast, he said, sales are brisk at NorthBay Nissan, a separate franchise from the Marin dealership.
Other Marin auto dealership owners seem to be weathering uncertain economic times in fine form.
Tom Price of Belvedere, whose company, First America Automotive, formerly owned San Rafael Nissan, said he knew the San Rafael dealership had shut down but had no specifics. Price, who owns San Rafael dealerships Infinity of Marin, Jaguar of Marin and Land Rover Marin, said he took over two other San Rafael dealerships - R & G Toyota and the Volvo dealership - two weeks ago.
His new operations are named Toyota Marin and Volvo Marin, both at 445 E. Francisco Blvd.
"It's ironic that they're going out of business," Price said of San Rafael Nissan. "We're going to do a major expansion and upgrade." Price said he can do Nissan service at his Infinity dealership, but will not be able to handle Nissan warranty work.
Price's company ran San Rafael Nissan from January 1999 to fall 1999, when it was sold to Sonic Automotive, which owns Lexus of Marin in San Rafael. Price stayed on the board of Sonic until 2002.
Bedell, meanwhile, said he was still upset late yesterday. After being turned away in the morning, Bedell said he returned to the dealership in the afternoon and confronted his service manager, who was cleaning out his desk.
The man told him "Nissan had shut us down," Bedell said, and that he was not allowed to give Bedell his service records or warranty information.
Bedell said he paid "several hundred dollars" for parts and accessories for his car, but is unable to retrieve them from the San Rafael Nissan parts department. He said he made an appointment with the Nissan dealership in Petaluma for the repairs, which include a broken radio, torn seat and warranty service.
"I'm really frustrated," he said. "They won't transfer my service or warranty records, so I have to start from scratch."
http://www.marinij.com/Stories/0,141...103424,00.html
That is a spineless and totally unprofessional thing to do.... And would cause me to want to do that if was up there waiting for my car that I'm paying my $$$ for!
But.........! They could have judt called in the local authorities as the cars were given to their rightful owners.
If they took it that seriously.
But.........! They could have judt called in the local authorities as the cars were given to their rightful owners.
If they took it that seriously.
you will love to hear what happened to me by that dealership closing...
https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....threadid=71761
https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....threadid=71761
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From: Jersey
Originally posted by Jetpilot718
Im not sure I understand that... they wont release their cars because someone made a threat??
Im not sure I understand that... they wont release their cars because someone made a threat??
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From: The Kingdom of Kansas
WOW.
I’ve never heard of ANYTHING this strange. I’d been down there with a crowbar that night. What happens if you break in the dealership and retrieve your car? Will they charge you with stealing your OWN car?
I’ve never heard of ANYTHING this strange. I’d been down there with a crowbar that night. What happens if you break in the dealership and retrieve your car? Will they charge you with stealing your OWN car?
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From: Jersey
Originally posted by marhot
WOW.
I’ve never heard of ANYTHING this strange. I’d been down there with a crowbar that night. What happens if you break in the dealership and retrieve your car? Will they charge you with stealing your OWN car?
WOW.
I’ve never heard of ANYTHING this strange. I’d been down there with a crowbar that night. What happens if you break in the dealership and retrieve your car? Will they charge you with stealing your OWN car?
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: SF Bay Area, CA
not the 1st time this has happened
Hmm.. perhaps the original poster should re-title the post to indicate "San Rafael Nissan" closes.
Up here, back at the end of November 2001, both Kirkland and Bellevue Nissan closed down on the same day. It was the very day I picked up my Maxima from another dealer. It made the local paper and the sign on the door of the Bellevue one was pretty funny. It said something like "Bellevue Nissan is closed today". That sign was up for many months!
My roommate apparently was in the process of buying a Pathfinder from one of those dealerships and they had his deposit $. He had to fight for awhile to get it back.
Up here, back at the end of November 2001, both Kirkland and Bellevue Nissan closed down on the same day. It was the very day I picked up my Maxima from another dealer. It made the local paper and the sign on the door of the Bellevue one was pretty funny. It said something like "Bellevue Nissan is closed today". That sign was up for many months!
My roommate apparently was in the process of buying a Pathfinder from one of those dealerships and they had his deposit $. He had to fight for awhile to get it back.
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From: San Jose, CA
It's getting worse
Nissan's closure gets worse for some
Customers who bought cars using trade-ins at now-closed San Rafael Nissan say they are being harassed by creditors for the unpaid trade-in loan balances the dealership was supposed to have covered.
One Novato man, James Kim, said his 1999 Volvo trade-in was repossessed Sunday and missing from the San Rafael Nissan lot. The Volvo lender, AmeriCredit in Arizona, had been trying to collect the unpaid $15,500 loan balance left when Kim purchased a Nissan 350Z at San Rafael Nissan March 3.
"This is like robbery," Kim said. "This repo is going to be on my credit - I'm going to do everything I can to get these guys busted."
His AmeriCredit representative could not be reached for comment.
Other customers arrived yesterday at the Marin dealership after getting numerous calls from lenders.
"They told me they would garnish my wages," said Samson Failauga of San Francisco, who traded in a 2002 Nissan King Cab pickup truck for a 2004 Nissan Xterra two months ago. "It's kind of frustrating."
Val Kotelnikov of Hayward said the credit union carrying the $27,000 loan balance on his 2000 BMW 328ci sports car is calling him frequently.
"I'm very concerned," said Kotelnikov, who traded in his BMW for a 2004 Nissan Murano at San Rafael Nissan a few months ago. "I'm going to end up with two cars and two payments, and I can't afford it."
Failauga, Kotelnikov and Kim are three of a group of customers left in the lurch after the dealership abruptly shut down Thursday. The action, which has still not been explained, locked up access to customers' cars being repaired, service records, warranty information and parts.
"We're still looking into it," Nissan North America spokesman Eric Booth said yesterday. "I've got no new information to report."
Marin County Chief Assistant District Attorney Ed Berberian said he heard early yesterday that cars being serviced or repaired that were locked up at the time of the shutdown were either released to customers or transferred to other dealers to finish repairs.
"We have been unable to confirm that information directly with a (Nissan) corporate representative," he said, "but that's where it stands as a result of the state Bureau of Automotive Repair investigation at this point."
At the request of Berberian's office, the Bureau of Automotive Repair and the state Department of Motor Vehicles are investigating the dealership's shutdown, including complaints of unpaid trade-in loan balances, he said.
"It's way too early at this point to see just exactly what type of legal action, if any, is available to address that issue," Berberian said. "We'll take whatever appropriate actions are necessary when those investigations reach that stage where we can make those types of decisions."
Kotelnikov, who said he used to work for San Rafael Nissan owner Wisel Ameen in San Jose, said he showed up at the dealership yesterday after seeing a television news spot Saturday morning on the dealership shutdown.
"Someone has to pay the balance (on the trade-in), otherwise the credit union is going to do a repo number on my car," he said. "The manager told me I could pick up the (trade-in) car today - I guess I could sell it, but (the credit union) also can come and get it anytime."
He said he had been trying to contact Ameen for several weeks, but he was unable to reach Ameen at either of his properties in San Rafael and San Mateo.
"I don't know where he is," Kotelnikov said.
Failauga said he showed up yesterday to schedule warranty service on his car after no one answered the telephone.
"I said to myself, 'There's something going on here,'" he said.
Even a neighboring San Rafael restaurant worker was worried about the $8 food bill San Rafael Nissan apparently never paid.
"The gentleman was to come back with the money," the worker said in a hand-written note taped yesterday to the dealership's front door. "Sorry to see you leave."
http://www.marinij.com/Stories/0,141...111191,00.html
Customers who bought cars using trade-ins at now-closed San Rafael Nissan say they are being harassed by creditors for the unpaid trade-in loan balances the dealership was supposed to have covered.
One Novato man, James Kim, said his 1999 Volvo trade-in was repossessed Sunday and missing from the San Rafael Nissan lot. The Volvo lender, AmeriCredit in Arizona, had been trying to collect the unpaid $15,500 loan balance left when Kim purchased a Nissan 350Z at San Rafael Nissan March 3.
"This is like robbery," Kim said. "This repo is going to be on my credit - I'm going to do everything I can to get these guys busted."
His AmeriCredit representative could not be reached for comment.
Other customers arrived yesterday at the Marin dealership after getting numerous calls from lenders.
"They told me they would garnish my wages," said Samson Failauga of San Francisco, who traded in a 2002 Nissan King Cab pickup truck for a 2004 Nissan Xterra two months ago. "It's kind of frustrating."
Val Kotelnikov of Hayward said the credit union carrying the $27,000 loan balance on his 2000 BMW 328ci sports car is calling him frequently.
"I'm very concerned," said Kotelnikov, who traded in his BMW for a 2004 Nissan Murano at San Rafael Nissan a few months ago. "I'm going to end up with two cars and two payments, and I can't afford it."
Failauga, Kotelnikov and Kim are three of a group of customers left in the lurch after the dealership abruptly shut down Thursday. The action, which has still not been explained, locked up access to customers' cars being repaired, service records, warranty information and parts.
"We're still looking into it," Nissan North America spokesman Eric Booth said yesterday. "I've got no new information to report."
Marin County Chief Assistant District Attorney Ed Berberian said he heard early yesterday that cars being serviced or repaired that were locked up at the time of the shutdown were either released to customers or transferred to other dealers to finish repairs.
"We have been unable to confirm that information directly with a (Nissan) corporate representative," he said, "but that's where it stands as a result of the state Bureau of Automotive Repair investigation at this point."
At the request of Berberian's office, the Bureau of Automotive Repair and the state Department of Motor Vehicles are investigating the dealership's shutdown, including complaints of unpaid trade-in loan balances, he said.
"It's way too early at this point to see just exactly what type of legal action, if any, is available to address that issue," Berberian said. "We'll take whatever appropriate actions are necessary when those investigations reach that stage where we can make those types of decisions."
Kotelnikov, who said he used to work for San Rafael Nissan owner Wisel Ameen in San Jose, said he showed up at the dealership yesterday after seeing a television news spot Saturday morning on the dealership shutdown.
"Someone has to pay the balance (on the trade-in), otherwise the credit union is going to do a repo number on my car," he said. "The manager told me I could pick up the (trade-in) car today - I guess I could sell it, but (the credit union) also can come and get it anytime."
He said he had been trying to contact Ameen for several weeks, but he was unable to reach Ameen at either of his properties in San Rafael and San Mateo.
"I don't know where he is," Kotelnikov said.
Failauga said he showed up yesterday to schedule warranty service on his car after no one answered the telephone.
"I said to myself, 'There's something going on here,'" he said.
Even a neighboring San Rafael restaurant worker was worried about the $8 food bill San Rafael Nissan apparently never paid.
"The gentleman was to come back with the money," the worker said in a hand-written note taped yesterday to the dealership's front door. "Sorry to see you leave."
http://www.marinij.com/Stories/0,141...111191,00.html
Re: It's getting worse
Originally posted by oscarmayer00
Nissan's closure gets worse for some
Customers who bought cars using trade-ins at now-closed San Rafael Nissan say they are being harassed by creditors for the unpaid trade-in loan balances the dealership was supposed to have covered.
One Novato man, James Kim, said his 1999 Volvo trade-in was repossessed Sunday and missing from the San Rafael Nissan lot. The Volvo lender, AmeriCredit in Arizona, had been trying to collect the unpaid $15,500 loan balance left when Kim purchased a Nissan 350Z at San Rafael Nissan March 3.
Nissan's closure gets worse for some
Customers who bought cars using trade-ins at now-closed San Rafael Nissan say they are being harassed by creditors for the unpaid trade-in loan balances the dealership was supposed to have covered.
One Novato man, James Kim, said his 1999 Volvo trade-in was repossessed Sunday and missing from the San Rafael Nissan lot. The Volvo lender, AmeriCredit in Arizona, had been trying to collect the unpaid $15,500 loan balance left when Kim purchased a Nissan 350Z at San Rafael Nissan March 3.
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