An Open Letter To Bill Hatfield

So, GM pulled your Buick/GMC franchise this past week.

That's sad news, your family having owned the oldest Buick dealership in the whole goddamned country. GM must have always been something of a thorn in your side, though. I know they kept pressuring you to build a shiny new facility for, what, decades now? (Bet you're glad you blew them off on that one!) And, they continually gave you product that Redlands, along with the rest of the USA, knew was iffy on quality and desirability.

So: screw 'em.

You're not even 60 years old, and you've said yourself that you are too young to retire. Lets look at the next phase in your career.

One thing money can't buy in the car business is reputation. The Hatfield name has been a trusted part of this community for a long time. There's no reason this can't continue.

Starting tomorrow, start planning on turning your repair facility into the largest, independent shop in the area. Invest in equipment and people so that the Hatfield name will be known as the place to go to have every make serviced with Hatfield-quality care.

Got a Chevy? Bring it to Hatfield. Honda? You bet. Toyota, Ford, you name it, make it your goal that your guys can fix it, right, the first time, without the bullshit people get elsewhere.

As for selling cars, everybody knows the money is in used cars, not new, so go for it. Again, don't limit yourself to GM domestics -- this town is full of people looking for the cleanest, most perfect BMW, Mercedes, or Lexus they can find. Make Hatfield the place to find it.

To borrow from "Field of Dreams" -- if you sell it, they will come.

Come on Bill, go for it. Redlands will be with you.