To Zone Victim of Zone 66 and sara  (by: Former resident  -   11/13/2009)

To Victim of Zone 66 - Many industries are hurting. Its not unique to the auto industry or Sebring. And if you think Alan Jay himself controls the future of the auto industry, then it is you who needs to be chasing the greener pastures. In response to me knowing about all of the nuances of the auto industry; and how techs are paid and such, no I don't know. I'll take your word though that you do know. What I do know is that there is nothing preventing you from going to SFCC at night after work to learn something different so that you have a contingency plan if things are really as bad as you say or if you sincerely fear a job loss in the near future. However, the question is will you come up with enough excuses to sell yourself on why you can't go give yourself that option? Would rather lay in your mud puddle, whine, and be a " victim " as you so aptly referred to yourself, and be jealous of those who go out and go after what they want in life? FYI - never been employed by the Alan Jay Automotive Network, and nor do I intend or need to be. Why I moved from Highlands County is none of your business. And as I said in my previous posting, Alan has no guarantees that his businesses will make a go of things from week to week. No business has that. No person has that. So who sold you on this belief that life has guarantees and why do you think you are guaranteed anything in life? That's life pal. Job security is no more a guarantee than you waking up tommorrow and finding out you have terminal cancer (God forbid). And while you are complaining about the changes in the industry pay (which may or may not be necessary to keep all of his techs employed and getting paid something vs. nothing), there are plenty of people who would rather be in a job being paid something than being without a job being paid nothing. Count your blessings that you are employed. To sara - will concede two points. The building of the home is not the best public relations move he could be making right now and it would appear he does like for his good deeds to be covered by media. However, the mere fact that his good deeds and donations are in print doesn't diminish the fact they help people who need it. I fully understood the point of others, and some points were well made, but you are guilty of the very same thing you accuse me of, which is that you failed to look beyond your own opinion as if it were the only one to be made. This is a discussion forum to which people give their opinions, not just the opinions that favor one side or the opinions that appear to be more like yours. I am an impartial writer I can assure you. What I am is a business owner with several years of experience through good and bad economic times and will give you and (living off 66 or zone 66 or whatever his forum name is) an alternative way of looking at things. Sara, have you ever owned a business, been responsbile for paying the bills of that business, and been responsible for several employees and their families? It isn't easy. Employees always think its easy for the business owner. "We business owners are all on easy street and can just guarantee a raise to all simply because you showed up one more calendar year regardless of the economy or any other setbacks. We have money trees you know." Never mind more work or output for more pay. Sara, unless you have been self-employed, taken the risk with no guarantees of success or guarantee that one month your business didn't collect enough revenue to cover all the bills including employee payroll and benefits, I would highly suggest you try it first before complaining and passing judgment on those who do take those risks and do provide jobs for people. With regards to him cutting insurance premiums, I can't speak to that specifically but can only offer some logical and practical opinions. Maybe he had to because his business is bringing in less revenue. When revenue goes down in a business, something gets cut. Money doesn't just magically appear in his bank account to pay bills and employees. And whether this sits pretty with your idealistic views of how he should run his operations and how much he should pay people; at the end of the day, he is the one who has his money on the line. He is the guy who went to the bank and borrowed the money to build his network of dealerships. He took the risk with no guarantees of success. And with risk can either come abysmal failure or rich rewards. Do you not cut out personal expenses of some kind if you earn less money during a given month? Lets say for example, you cut out getting your nails or hair done. Well, by you not getting your nails or hair done, you cut the revenue of the person who performs that service, and so maybe now they couldn't afford their health insurance premium all together. Did it occur to you that maybe by him cutting his contribution to the insurance premiums, that afforded him the ability to do something positive like keep more people employed? Maybe he made a tough choice. Do I keep all my techs and pay less towards health insurance or do I keep my contributions the same and let a few techs go? Again, I don't know and can only speculate. I can assure you that you don't know either. Did it also occur that when economic times get better, he may increase his contribution or even offer other benefits you aren't currently getting? Many employees are willing to share in the good times, but won't make concessions in the bad times. Many companies and govt. organizations are forcing employees to take pay cuts, accept cuts in benefits or loss of benefits altogether, along with unpaid days off'; all in the name of staying afloat. Those are tough and unpopular decisions that has to be made by someone at the top. So, even if his interests in acquiring those two dealerships in Wauchula were completely out of selfishness and lets say for conversational purposes I concede that point to you, at the end of the day, ALL the employees of those dealerships (not just the techs) are still in jobs getting paid something vs. nothing. Alan could have very easily did nothing and watched those dealerships get closed down by their respective manufacturers and he would have still financially benefited to some degree without spending as much as a penny in Hardee County, for the simple reason that some of that business (sales & service) would have come from Wauchula to his Sebring locations. Did you think of that option? I'm sure he did, but instead he chose to invest in those areas. Would you have rather he let them get closed altogether and all of those people have no future? What would be your solution? I would love to hear it. As far as what could an employee do if they get in a dispute with him? This may be another tough pill to swallow, but his dealership, his rules. If you or whoever works for him doesn't like them, you have the freedom to leave, the freedom to bide your time and put up with what you don't like until you can find something better, or while you go to school in the eves to gain skill sets so that you can go do something else like start your own business. If you are a tech., start your own business on the side, and when your weekend and late evening repairs becomes so overwhelming that you are making more money on the weekends and eves, leave his employ. You are only limited by your thoughts and fears. As far as my tone, admittedly was a little toned, but you would do well to heed your own advice. Oh Sara, one more thing; he has 3 kids, not just 2. Last but not least, I sincerely wish you and your family, and Victim of Zone 66 and his family well, especially during this holiday season and during your times of uncertainy.

victim of zone 66  (by: sara  -   11/13/2009)

I agree, I miss stated the title of what the memorial should be called. I agree a larger tract of land with privacy would be much better for the neighbors and also the unsuspecting gardners. Who knows what they might catch site of going on in the gardens.

former resident  (by: Sara  -   11/12/2009)

Yes some people are jealous and also whinners, however the point some people were making was the statement that he bought the dealership because he didnt want 24 families to loose there jobs. The monopoly I think he ment was not the buyers but the employees. Since he owns almost all the dealerships where is someone going to go if he has a dispute? This is why he is paying so low to his garage staff, they have no other choice. Is that smart for a owner ? Yes it is. But again if someone is so interested in his workers? Why did he cut there insurance at a time when he is building a hotel for himself and his 2 kids? And as far as his donations, yes he is very good at that, but he sure makes sure his name is posted and everyone knows what he has done. A true generous person doesnt tell everyone how generous he is. I think more of someone that really cant afford it but still manages to pick up a extra turkey at thanksgiving or xmas and drops it off at the mission without taking a add out in the paper. What I have found to be more true through out life is that someone who does these things is normally a very lonely person, and does these things because he or she likes to see there names in the media. So next time you write a reply, try and tone it down, so it is maybe believeable that it is written by a true unpartial writer and not a employee or head of his PR dept! Also this down turn in the economy is far from over so maybe you should wait until the commercial mortgage meltdown is over before you scream from the dealership that none have closed.

former resident and Wally  (by: victim of zone 66  -   11/12/2009)

Jealous of what? An uncertain future? Showing up Monday to a job that doesn't exist? Why are you a former resident? Chasing greener pastures? Nobody is arguing that Alan is a smart business man, just questioning the future of the auto industry. Especially the people on the front line that cannot afford to make themselves "former residents". With opportunistic creatures like Wanda Cunningham circling a Chrysler dealership like a vulture over a wounded moose, looking for an i not dotted, or a t not crossed on a warranty claim, how do you expect any mindset other than panic from an automotive technician in this area? In the dealership world there is a simple rule you learn as a technician. The more you know, the less you make. Training is futile, as it will guarantee you inheriting the hard cases in lemon law arbitration. The pay for that is comparable to income generated from selling snow cones at the north pole. The backyard greasemonkey's that only know how to perform maintenance, not actual repairs, are the ones that scoop up what gravy there is to go around. You know it, the certified technicians know it. You sound like you are brown nosing in preparation for becoming a "returning resident" needing a job and planning to show up at Alan's doorstep. Why don't you send him some roses? Prepare to beg.....Hey Wally, it's not a hotel, it's the Taj Mah Alan. Building that home where it is versus on a large tract of land with some privacy screams out "Look at me! Look at me!"

An ominous sign  (by: Saturn tech  -   11/10/2009)

Isn't it ironic that there was a big banner in front of the Saturn dealership that declared something like" If you are wondering where the auto industry is headed, it's right here"? Saturn, the one that is being phased out according to mass media reports. Some future. Good luck Saturn techs, you can at least take your knowledge with you to the independent shop you choose, there are still plenty to work on, hopefully you will be able to get good aftermarket parts for a little while.

To The Jealous  (by: Former resident  -   11/9/2009)

For those who like to gripe and moan about Alan Jay. First, you are all jealous do-nothings. You have no clue how long of a day the guy puts in and how hard he has worked to build his organization in to what it is today. And when all of you are sitting at home in your recliner, complaining, and drinking beer to make your bellies as big as your mouths are, he is still at work many nights. It takes a highly intelligent and resonsible person to manage the cash flow of that many businesses and make sure week to week all of his employees and customers are cared for. With the rewards his life has brought him come many responsibilities too. There aren't any guarantees for him that his businesses will make a go of it. Aside from that, none of you have a clue how much he gives back to the Highlands County community over all. He donates money along with other in-kind donations to many public schools, their clubs and events, sponsors several fundraising events for community civic clubs throughout the year, and donates to many charitable causes among many other things, all of which depend on donations like his to carry out their worthwhile causes; that in turn may have at one time or another helped you, your children, a relative, a neighbor, a friend, or an acquaintence . Many of those aforementioned donations are given because he knows it his civic duty when there is no chance for financial gain, but he does it anyway. Not to mention he is a generous person. I personally know the guy and have for close to 16 years. He is a very sharp and an astute business person. He has done well with the opportunities and resources he was given and has been charitable with those resources. And so I say to all of the jealous whiners, even if he is motivated by expanding his business interests, he must be doing something right for none of his dealerships closed during this debacle except Saturn and that was beyond his control due to Saturn going out of a business all over the U.S.

Not quite  (by: Another Opinion  -   11/8/2009)

Fortunately, there's no such things as monopolies anymore, at least not in retail sales. The internet has changed all of that. Utilities, sure. But, car sales? Not hardly....competition is fiercer than ever. If Alan Jay conducts unfair practices, I'm sure that people will quickly turn against him. However, with that organization growing in a time that many are actually closing, one would be more inclined that the opposite may be true. I say "Good job", smart businessman.

Zone 66 is a dead zone  (by: Wanda Cunningham's best friend  -   11/8/2009)

Now it must be pointed out that dealership technicians work on a "flat rate" basis. They do not get paid for just being there, they get paid by the job. Chrysler pays next to nothing for warranty repairs performed by a dealership. People cannot afford to bring their vehicles into a dealership for repairs they have to pay for themselves, therefore, often a technician makes the majority of his/her hours from warranty work. Translation: A technician can work 45 hours only to be paid for fifteen. This makes for a very weak paycheck after deducting tool costs. The independent shops do not have the overhead that dealerships have, enabling their repairs to be more affordable. They are the future for automotive technicians working at dealerships unless they can begin to make a decent paycheck off of warranty work. Something needs to be done for the technicians, or they will continue the mass exodus into the aftermarket. Soon there may not be anyone to perform the warranty repairs at the dealerships. The district representatives for most auto manufacturers are under incentive to cut corners on what the manufacturer pays in warranty reimbursement to dealers. It is their job to find ways to get out of paying the dealership for warranty work. This "trickles" down to the guys on the front line, working hard to fix Chrysler's many faults, including performing hundreds of recall modifications for chump change.

Monopoly  (by: observer  -   11/8/2009)

And the winner is....

Alan Jay & Wal-Mart  (by: Sebring_Resident  -   11/8/2009)

Will it ever come to the day that the Alan Jay Automotive Network will be as big as Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.? Hummm...only Alan Jay and God know that answer. Congrats to AJAN and it is nice that he thought of the families in Hardee County.

Hmm  (by: Wally  -   11/8/2009)

Something tells me there was something else motivating Mr Jay than worried about two dozen families ,loosing there jobs, Nice try but I would bet a monopoly of the Auto industry in the area, sales and workers was a little higher on his list. What would be a great PR move would be for him to open his hotel he is building on lake jackson for all the people loosing there homes. Heck he could house 24 of those and not even know there in the house.