Former dealer says Chrysler “pirated” her customer list
Janet Reuther-Schopp was angry last May when she found out that her family’s business, Reuther Chrysler Jeep Dodge, was on the list of dealerships rejected by bankrupt Chrysler Corp. She’s still angry, and she has joined a handful of other former dealers in telling her story on YouTube.
In her video, Reuther-Schopp charges that Chrysler stole her customer list:
In addition they pirated 15,000 service customers from our in-house computer system, which included customers that don’t even own Chrysler products. They gave these to the remaining dealers without our knowledge or our consent in order to lead our customers to believe that we could no longer handle their needs.
Her biggest complaint, though, is that her family’s livelihood was taken away without warning or explanation:
What has happened to us and so many other dealers is an unreasonable and unrationable move that solved none of Chrysler’s problems. … We still do not know why we were rejected. We didn’t invest our money in the stock market and we don’t live extravagantly because everything we own is invested in our real estate and our business. We were responsible business owners but we could never have prepared for what has been done to us. We now have one large facility for used car sales and service. We have one empty facility and 5 years remaining on a body shop lease, along with a $2 million note to pay for a franchise we no longer own.
In an emailed news release, Reuther-Schopp says that her video and the others are aimed at winning congressional support for the dealers. Rep. Daniel Maffei, D-N.Y., is sponsoring the Automobile Dealer Rights Restoration Act, which would require General Motors and Chrysler to reinstate their rejected dealers. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has 39 co-sponsors for a similar bill in the Senate.
(7 votes, average: 3.29 out of 5)
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David Nicklaus has covered St. Louis business for more than 25 years. His column appears three days a week on the Post-Dispatch business page. 
I bought three Jeeps from these people and they were always very nice and offered great service. I will never buy another Chrysler/Jeep product again from Obama Motors.
The last time the government stole from it’s people like this was when they stole the Indians land and gave it away.
Both of these are government owned/controlled companies and until they are returned to private ownership they and their products should be boycotted. These companies failed, shareholders lost everything and workers now are as much civil service as those filling cubicles in D.C. I would not have wanted a Bush- mobile any more than I want an Obama-mobile now………boycott, buy Ford, or any foreign brand manufactured in our 50
I will guarantee you that the union mechanics who worked for this lady all voted for Barack HUSSEIN Obama. The man who took away their jobs by proping up a bankrupt company. I hope they all realize what was done to them.
I will never, ever purchase another Government Motors or Obamalyer vehicle again. This country was build on competition. What occurred with the auto maker bailout has only prolonged the inevitable.
Have you been to an auto show room lately. It is deader than kelseys nu–. And the $4,000 government price support has only caused any and every person who wanted or needed a vehicle to purchase one at a reduced price. Thereby lowering both the base price of the product and reducing additional demand.
NOW THE PEOPLE WHO ENJOYED THE PRICE BREAK FIND OUT THAT THE $4,000 IS TAXABLE INCOME……HAHA
Some people can be so simple minded. If the government would not have stepped in, they would ALL be out of work. There would be NO Chrysler or GM dealers left. What they did was to try and strengthen the strongest rmaining dealers. There were simply too many auto dealers which caused everyone to suffer. Now that our government stepped in to help you’re boycotting. So it’s damned if you do and damned if you don’t. I’m so sick of everyone blaming Obama for a mess he inherited.
I am selling my Jeep as well, as I want nothing to do with Chrysler - they are shady as they come… although Mazda doesn’t seem to be much better.
At some point the auto industry needs to look at itself and figure out while they seem to be reviled by so many people. The car buying experience is usually something most people hate (myself included) and the thought of going to dealerships just sucks.
unfortunately Reuther, in my dealings with them, were the exception. Every time I went in for service, they were honest, fair and good to work with. Now they are being phased out, nice call Chrysler.
Reuther Automotive is one of the best examples to show why our current administration is a failure, similar to those that are ruining American automotive manufacturing. Reuther has been the best Jeep dealer and service center for 52 years. Bad decisions by Chrysler/Dodge essentially force them to take on those badges and then suffer the poor sales of that company. Then, Chrysler/Dodge and Jeep are taken away from them? At minimum, they should be permitted to go back to being the greatest Jeep dealer in MO and the midwest. I know this family, have been their customer since I began driving and it tears my heart out to see them treated this way when I know how much they gave back to the community all this time. Our government flat out robbed them or defrauded them. I am currently giving them all of the business I can and wish I could change my oil more often. Show the Reuthers our love and send them your business. You will be rewarded.
Boo Hoo Obama, Boo Hoo goverment run motors, Boo Hoo Unions, Boo Hoo public schools, Boo Hoo Medicare, Boo Hoo birthers, Boo Hoo death pannels, Boo Hoo foreigners, Boo Hoo their coming to get me, Boo Hoo I need a machine gun. Boo Hoo I hate gays, Boo Hoo I hate welfare.
All you wingnuts and teabaggers are against everything but for nothing. You lost HA HA HA People know who got use into this mess and it wasn’t Obama
The government is not making the decisions in the board room. And yes there were to many dealerships for the chrysler market share. However, dealerships that were targeted for closures with many years of quality chrysler representation should have received better compensation than just thanks and now close your doors. I also critize any US loans to chrysler that did not stipulate that since these are largely US taxpayers loan, that chrysler must focus on retaining US manufacturing. Instead thay shut down US plants and kept Mexico plants at full opertion. FIAT (fix it again tony) received a sweet deal.
Hey Mike C., you really believe that if the government didn’t step in, Chrysler and GM would have shut down? Your nuts. What should have happened, they should have filed for bankruptcy like the majority of companies do. That would have forced all the bs out and streamlined the companies, but instead, we’re going to deal with the same crap. And by the way, I’m sick of people saying Obama inherited the mess.