Dealerships May Have Bad Reputation, But People Look After One Another Like in This Case

Today I saw a very heartwarming story related to people who work in car dealerships. There is a Facebook group called Life at a Car Dealership 2.0. I don't know why the 2.0 is added to the Car Dealership, but I assume it refers to the modernization of automotive retail, shifting away from high-pressure sales tactics and rigid, siloed desks.

So in this group a 20-year car sales veteran, who said he was struggling financially, asked for help. He literally asked for monetary contribution from people, whose reputation for a mix of reasons isn't crystal clean.

Anyway. He said it's the "last resort coming on here" and asking for help from people who are probably the least likely that will help, but who are also are the most likely people who will understand him and care for him.

The man wrote:

I'm a 20-year car sales veteran struggling financially after a job loss and health issue. I've been at a new job for a few weeks.  No check until the 15th and this is my last resort hoping for car guys and gals to help a stranger.  Please 🙏 I need help paying bills and feeding my cats until then.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated. (Here is listed his Cash App, Zell and Apple Pay credentials, which I am omitting for privacy reasons).

Cat food $88 for hard and wet.

Santee Cooper light bill $92.

Spectrum cell bill $43.

Just trying to get a few bucks together to feed my cats, keep the lights on, and my cell phone also!  Life is really rough every $1 helps and I am grateful for any help!  I’ll pay it forward or pay it back to you.

Sober since 1/1/2007

Clean since 1/19/2017

This 20-year car sales veteran also posted several images of his cats.

What struck me, and other people in the group who expressed it in the comments, was how compassionate and caring many people turned out to be in the car dealership community. I don't know how many people will read this article, but please share it in your social media, so other people may see the goodness and the compassionate hearts of the people who work in the car dealerships, which is known to be an industry, where - as one of retired car dealer put it - the "lack of respect in that biz is immense."

"Prayers my dude," wrote a fellow car dealer, recognizing that this was not an easy thing to do. The original poster, replied with "thank you so much man last resort coming on here I do my best and will keep my head up."

"Sent you a lil something," wrote another person.

"Look for Zelle," wrote yet another fellow.

And these are people, who I assume work at their local car dealerships because they are all in a "Life at a Car Dealership 2.0" Facebook group, actively discussing modernization of car sales.

"Do you Venmo? I’ll help you with cat food," wrote another person from the group, referring tot he cats' images the original poster shared.

But this comment, by a person, named Travis, made me to write this article. He wrote, "This is awesome. Seeing people help each other like this in the car business."

Other people offered prayers, they wrote their phone numbers and asked him to text them. One person even went as detailed as writing "PM cat food type and will send it to you."

One female, who is also working at a car dealerships, wrote about her situation, saying she is almost in the same situation.

"I’m in almost the same boat. I moved to another shop, and my last shop owner didn’t pay me for April commission. I did win to get it, but he isn’t in a hurry. It’s going to be the same for May. Glad I kept the original copy of my new contract. It’s iron tight. But I hope others are able to help you! Thank goodness my family helps me until I get it. It sucks."

How is your experience working at a car dealership? Isn't it really heartwarming to see people in the car business taking care of each other? This story may not seem to be a significant automotive story, but knowing there are compassionate people in the car business and sharing about them, is significant.