New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-17
Getting Under the Hood
of the Automobile Business
ack of Honest Ideals in the Factory and on
the Floor Is Fouling the SaleS-Cyllnders
of the Motor Car Industry
Bv c. E. T. SCHARPS

IsTcd not =
has been great that anything got by he time has come TO
separate those who merely getting by from those who deserve
TO prosper know there concerns building good stun
and right know that there too many which
have no interests outside of financial profit The tribune gong
10 tell which concerns are right and which wrong
Automobile making this has grown to tremendous
size IN twenty wears That why the industry should
be full of crudes and Misunderstanding Or If IT " an excuse
i IS the only one that know fair time that the business got
through the period and settled down to better
business time bring to the bar those who are mar
ltne chana mistakes hastily conceived and brought forth
L an eve single TO big production and big dividends The public
getting tired paying repair bills for the design and testing
work that should been done before the lett the
factory
know too that car owners are tired of doing business with
automobile dealers who merchants Some OF these dealers
represent the best made They they are not me
their failure render satisfaction unequvocang style
Reputable makers ought to cast loose from
and the public ought be freed from the necessity OF
doing business with them.
Don't think for minute that only the small concerns in
the automobile that playing fair with their custom
es OF course the little fellow struggling hard to get along
that might imagined likely every dodge and twist to
get business regardless of methods But the automobile industry
has certain element of big little rich fellows who sacrifice
regulations profits They do recognize that leader in
public should be in all respects model to the trade
the morals and standards of the big where
public for satisfaction Present practices cannot
and leave the industry in a healthy condition
Two things particular about the automobile business have
heard made the subject of the greatest complaint by automobile
users They are service and factory warrantes Just what
service rarely explained advance because the
nonmerchant automobile dealer afraid he will lose sales if he
explains too much That's fine basis for mutual confidence to
begin with isn't it3
Service with only to keep in repair from
time to right from the beginning And
they expect accept prompness and
handling repair work substitute for road of the They
think must be who be reimbursed for the
time has lost and the pleasure he has been deprived Of when
of the road and the through fault
except the fundamental and innate defects Of the itself
The under which most sold is highly
satisfactory 1t really guarantees nothing and what little
cred by left the actothc seeralone determine
Where the factory the right business principles this all right
Unfortunately automobile factory has such principles
believe that the only satisfactory warranty for goods should
simple plain and unequvocang and should
the automobile which manufacturer sells unit. But there
many automobile manufacturers who think good guaran
tee one that works way If the factory the best Of it
s good guarantee. Otherwise, not
As write these lines there my mind several
mobile agencies New York where do business with
out fear that anything will be put him. And also
thinking others where he couldn't get square deal be
deck stacked against him before the cards dealt
These conditions duplicated in every city this
There thousands Of persons who and there thou
sands more day will be point out what
wrong what calls for and adjustment in this
dusry that many thousands Of persons not only The
Tribune night; the plain duty of The Tribune to its readers
whose faith goods advertised its columns has to be
bounded and who things by the standards set for them
by The Tribune.
that the public receives the fair deal which is
entitled from the puveyor OF any goods The Trbunes idea
Frankly there much bunk the automobile business If
the automobile industry be removed from the held OF the
automobile game a standard substantial line, the buncombe
and unfair dealing be eliminated Automobile makers their
dealers and advertising agents should work rather to the end OF
keeping the public sold than eenay selling into fields AS
TO dav constituted the automobile business stable has
not confidence Of the public SO publication to
tell the facts and help public know which manufacturers and
what trust.
This is latest step taken by The Tribune its
for truth advertising and fair to the customer Prom
ses unkept outed; devious overweight
avertisng free publicity service pledges beyond nterPeta
onhese are of the things found the indictment Of the
offenders in the automobile industry When The Tribune has held
the mirror UP the automobile business has to other lines the
reflection may be satisfactory all behoe but the leaders
in the industry will be conscious that their calling
an beautiful And only the