Bill Heard Enterprises Folding Dealerships Nationwide

apparently they were the country's largest chevrolet dealer group

Bill Heard Enterprises Folding Dealerships Nationwide

TBO.com

Published: September 24, 2008

One of the nation's largest car dealerships has closed sales operations, possibly forever.

Bill Heard Enterprises Inc., which operates the Bill Heard Chevrolet dealership in Plant City, closed its sales operation there this week, said Paul Baker, executive manager of the dealership.

"It's a shame," Baker said, adding that he thought the era of gigantic dealerships is over. The dealership traces its roots to 1919, just 11 years after Henry Ford first produced the Model T automobile.

Baker declined to elaborate on reasons for the closing, other than to cite financial pressures. He said he doubted the operation would operate under new ownership. "Nobody has the guts to have a big dealership anymore," he said.

The dealership will "take care of any customer's car and live up to any obligations we have as far as sales," he said, "but we closed the sales operation."

Based in Columbus, Ga., Bill Heard Enterprises Inc. operates 13 dealerships nationwide. They all will close, Baker said.Bill Heard Enterprises closes its doors
PHOTO (select to view enlarged photo)

Scottsdale, AZ., Sept. 24, 2008 - According to Automotive News' Chrissie Thompson, Bill Heard Enterprises, the country's top Chevrolet dealer group, is closing the doors at all of its 13 dealerships at the end of business today, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

The company notified the stores' general managers at 2 p.m. today, the source said, who spoke anonymously because he was not authorized to speak.

High fuel prices, cancelled floorplanning from GMAC Financial Services, a reliance on trucks and SUVs, a soft national economy and struggles in local markets had troubled the company, which on Sept. 12 closed its store in Scottsdale, Ariz.

In the end, the company could not raise operating capital and could not finance its floorplan, the source said. Company officials have discussed closing the company since Friday, the source said.

Bill Heard Enterprises, of Columbus, Ga., ranks No. 13 on the Automotive News list of the top 125 U.S. dealership groups, with 2007 group revenue of $2.13 billion.


having had first hand experience at a bill heard chevrolet my initial reaction is ding dong the witch is dead

this is on the drudge report

Heard the same about Tom Jumper today, too. Don't know if TJ is nationwide, though.

The Bill Heard dealership in our area is as crooked as can be. Horror story after horror story coming out of that place, plus my own negative experiences just looking at cars there.

I think if Chevy's dealer network had to take a hit, that was the best place to take it.

The only news items I heard about Bill Heard were always from customers that got screwed over.

This is probably a good thing.

The Bill Heard dealership in our area is as crooked as can be. Horror story after horror story coming out of that place, plus my own negative experiences just looking at cars there.
they were pretty much continuously under investigation by the Florida attorney general

even had a few $400,000 fines thrown on them recently

GMAC/Cerberus pulled their financing. $799 dealer fee, separating husband and wife in different rooms, taking their keys, and charging their credit card without authorization, making one sign on the dotted line before letting them leave. Couldnt happen to a nicer guy. :-)

Sad because I grew up with them and remembered always hearing their ads on the radio, but glad that a organization with such a bad rap finally bit it.

I've only heard bad things about Bill Heard dealerships too. I'd be willing to bet their reputation had a decent hand in why their sales were declining. It's not like they are/were the only game in town as far as Chevy dealers go.

I've had two bad experiences with them. This is wonderful news for GM IMO.

they were pretty much continuously under investigation by the Florida attorney general

even had a few $400,000 fines thrown on them recently

I heard about those. There is a giant Bill Heard dealer over by Daytona just off I4 that I heard constant horror stories about. Don't know how true they were but I never heard anything good about the place.

We don't have a Bill Heard around here, but I've heard horror stories about them before.

Good riddance. Hopefully other lowlife dealerships take note and shape up (long shot, I know).

And there was much rejoicing.

We lost our local GM dealer a few months ago, which sold everything except Saturn, Saab, & Hummer. There was always horror stories about this place too. On the other hand there were people that bought new cars there every year. Rumors are flying around that GM took there franchise away from them. Its really sad not having a GM dealer in town, but on the other hand I was never able to make a deal there anyway.

Bunch of crooked bastards. I bouhgt from them once in Huntsville, AL. Good to see them gone.