Statement from Husker BMW - the other side of the story

[Jeff Kershner]

In the Dealer Refresh article "Wrath of the Net - talk about Ouch!" we told you a one-sided story about how one small incident can go completely awry for a single dealer. Our intentions for the article were to help other dealers understand how strong the Internet can be and realize how important it is to take reputation management seriously. We linked some things simply to help show how far things can go. Since posting the
article we have been made privy to the other side of the story, and now also know there is a larger group behind things. This is a group we have the utmost respect for, and would like to help them tell their side of the story. Here is a release from them:

On behalf of Husker BMW, the following is an update on this situation.

Per the conditions of the eBay auction, the successful bidder is required to purchase the vehicle within 72 hours. After acknowledging its initial mishandling of the situation, Husker gave Mr. Tanisaka another fresh 72 hours to consummate the transaction at the $60,000 bid price. There were absolutely no conditions attached to that offer.

This 72 hour period has now expired. Husker BMW will agree to extend the time period for Mr. Tanisaka to purchase or lease the vehicle until the close of business on Monday, March 31, 2008, which is now the dealership's second 72 hour extension of the time period.

There have been baseless details reported concerning the dealership’s handling of these negotiations. The fact of the matter is that Mr. Tanisaka has supplied the dealership with no financial information, and contrary to statements made, Mr. Tanisaka has never presented the dealership with pre-approvals from Capital One, BMW, or any other financing source. For any pre-qualified buyer, Husker would, as it does on a routine basis, make delivery the same day of purchase.
At no time has Husker requested Mr. Tanisaka to fund his purchase through the dealership. But unless and until the dealership receives the agreed upon funds, the transaction is not complete and the vehicle cannot be delivered to the buyer.

Mr. Tanisaka has refused to accept Husker’s assistance in obtaining financing, and has chosen to seek leasing terms through a financial institution of his selection. Husker has
attempted to accommodate Mr. Tanisaka at every turn, including providing everything requested by his outside financing company in a timely manner, but no funding has been received. While Husker does not intend to suggest that Mr. Tanisaka does not have the financial wherewithal to consummate this transaction, any inferences that Husker has been delaying his consummation of the transaction are entirely unfounded. In fact, Mr. Tanisaka has routinely been dealing very cooperatively with Husker’s sales manager and has been very complementary toward him. Another unreported fact is that, as a gesture of
goodwill, Husker offered to pay to fly Mr. Tanisaka to Lincoln to take delivery of the vehicle, and also offered to pay the costs associated with shipping the vehicle in a covered truck from Lincoln to California.

Husker does not seek to silence or in any way limit the rights of those who wish to express their opinions on this now widely publicized ordeal. But based on several reckless distortions and omissions of fact, the dealership and its employees have been grossly mischaracterized. Husker acknowledges and commends the comments posted by Mr. Tanisaka, his attorney, and the many others that have requested the personal attacks to cease. Husker would ask Mr. Tanisaka to go one step further and provide his truthful commentary on his agreement, or disagreement, with the statement of facts set forth above.

Husker will hold the vehicle in inventory for Mr. Tanisaka until the end of business Monday. For the sake of all involved, Husker BMW would like nothing more than to have this saga end with Mr. Tanisaka proudly driving his new E90 M3 and showcasing his “Husker BMW” plate frame throughout Southern California.

Thank you to the Husker Automotive Group, your corporate leaders, and representatives for enlightening us. We hope you continue to allow other dealers to learn from your unfortunate example, as we would expect you to learn from any of ours. We will continue to honor our invitation to give you a forum on Dealer Refresh anytime you like to help us make the car industry a better place for everyone!

-Jeff & Alex

P.S. There may be some varying opinions on the time constraints put forth in this letter against what has been posted in other areas. That is something between the Husker BMW store and Mr. Tanisaka.   To further clarify, Dealer Refresh is not taking sides in this debate.  As dealers ourselves, we sympathize with the situation, but we are simply posting what was given to us.

 

[Lao Shi]

Well done Jeff and Alex. These past two days you have shown many the benefits and power of the Internet. Thank you for having the courage to follow through. It also shows us the a path to policing our industry and making us stronger and better for it, the consumers will notice.

Well done also to Husker (HAG) for standing tall, setting a great example of “Reputation Management.” and doing the right thing. This is an example we should all remember in our own areas of influence as a process to adhere to.

They should be proud to display this interaction on their web site as they have earned the right to let the public know they take their commitment to excellence to heart and not just talk about it.

 

[Gilbert A. Chavez]

Good for Husker. Sounds like they did all the right things. They are credit to car dealers everywhere for taking care of this like gentlemen.
 
Props to Alex and Jeff on this one. They did all of us a great service in showing how we can all learn together.

 

[Blaine Timmoms]

I just looked at the eBay listing for this automobile. At the bottom of the page it mentions that full payment is required within 7 days of auction close, not 72 hours.

 

[Sean]

If "standing up" means continuing with the "72 hour" statement, then I'm shocked by this forum and its members. Does this industry not understand the very basic statement that "one's perception is one's reality?" Thanking Husker for posting something that has already been displayed elsewhere and giving a statement that says you're 100% behind them is continuing to give a negative light on your industry to those you hope to make money from. You are continuing to erode our perception.

To the meat of the rebuttal: the auction also clearly states, (in two places), that the buyer has "7 days" to complete the purchase. And since when does time not stop while there is a dispute over how to move forward? The Husker group clearly stated at first they would only sell the car "with conditions" until the buyer sought representation from a lawyer. The clock stopped right there and could not continue until an agreement was made. An agreement that didn't happen until this past week.

The Husker group isn't being generous with their time extensions -- they initally delayed the proceedings and now they're looking for sympathy by extending a timeframe that hasn't even expired!

 

[Alex Snyder (blog)]

Thanks for pointing that out Blaine. Regardless of the varying time-constraints, the auction ended on March 20th and Husker BMW has given the winning bidder till March 31st to finish things up. It sounds as though there was an agreement made between both parties on that closing date.

 

[Alex Snyder (blog)]

Thanks Sean. I think you misinterpreted the intentions here. Dealer Refresh is simply posting a statement from Husker BMW. It is not defending Husker BMW.

You are absolutely right though: perception is everything!

 

[dTor]

According to the buyer's lawyer, the auction states that payment is due within 7 days is displayed twice, and 72 hours is displayed once.

 

[Tre Martin]

Dude,

You don't know which way to go on this, do you? I thought I'd give your blog another try but it's pretty weak.

Your handling of everything from the hysteria; to the video; to taking down the video; to supporting the bidder; to kissing up to the dealership - I don't know - it's just all so.... weak.

If you're a blogger with a blog that has a philosophy - stake out a position and stick with it.

If you're trying to report on things - do that well.

But do something one way or the other - not just flip and flop.

You probably won't post this either. hahaha

Tre

 

[Brian T in Etown]

Tre just out of curiosity what would be your position? Troll sites and post negative comments? I am not trying to flame you but you have to remember most of us here (unlike you) use real names and urls that can be linked to our livelihood. This has been a touchy subject for all those involved directly and indirectly. I am actually ashamed to be calling you out on this and even acknowledge your "insightful" posts but I think it would be very "G" of you to state your position and what you hope to gain by visiting dealer refresh? Is that asking too much?
thanks in advance for your reply.......