Going the Extra Mile in Augusta, GA

It isn't often that the owner of an automobile dealership will have his or her home telephone number printed on their business card. It is exactly, however, the number that Andy Jones wants prominently displayed on the card that identifies him as one of the owners of the Gerald Jones Dealer Group.

"I'm probably the most easily accessible automobile dealer in the business, " Andy Jones relates. "My customers know that they can reach me on any question they may have concerning any automobile they purchase at the Gerald Jones Dealer Group."

That level of commitment continues to define the core philosophy of the family business that Andy Jones, the founder's son, and his cousin David, operate today.

While the founder's original commitment of offering quality vehicles at fair prices remains the primary focus of the present owners of the Gerald Jones Dealer Group, the business today is a far cry from the Volkswagen and Honda Dealerships that Gerald Jones established more than 40 years ago. Shoppers can choose from new and used vehicles in those two lines as well as Subaru, Audi, Mazda and Volvo automobiles.

A Family Tradition

Andy Jones was an energetic twenty-year old when he completed his studies at the University of Georgia and joined his father's business on a full time basis in 1983. He considers the years he spent working around the business as a youngster as his "internship," and never considered going into any other career.

"I learned the business from my father literally from the ground up," he notes. "While I was in high school, I washed cars on the lot, worked in the parts and service departments, and generally did whatever needed doing. Most importantly, I learned from my father that people have a lot of options and choices in which quality automobile they can buy. It's the dealer that makes the difference."

Andy focused on being the dealer that made that difference when he and his cousin joined Gerald Jones in the operation of the business. Today, the Gerald Jones Dealer Group is among the top three automobile dealers in the CSRA in terms of sales volume and the largest in physical size of operation. The Gerald Jones facility on Washington Road is anchored by a 125,000-square foot building that houses a sparkling showroom, a modern service department, and a complete inventory of parts.

Parts and Service

When it comes to authorized service of the vehicles they sell, the Gerald Jones Dealer Group continues to lead the way. All mechanics are factory trained by the respective automobile manufacturers whose products they sell. At least one person servicing each has achieved the Master Mechanic designation in that line.

The Service Departments of the Gerald Jones Dealer Group are open on Monday through Saturday, offering customers the ultimate convenience in scheduling maintenance and repair work. In addition, customers can go online to check the status of the work being performed on their vehicle.

A sprawling Parts Department holds thousands of factory-authorized parts for the automobiles sold at the Gerald Jones Dealer Group. The complete inventory of parts is available for viewing and purchase online for people who want to work on their automobile themselves.

"We strive to be internet-friendly for our customers," Andy explains. "In addition, we are very proud of our Car Finder service. Prospective buyers can access our website for a look at our extensive inventory of vehicles. They can then enter the details of a specific vehicle they are interested in, and we will be glad to contact them when we find the exact vehicle that they are looking for. It's part of our commitment to offering our customers the ultimate shopping experience."

Financing

The Financing Department at the Gerald Jones Dealer Group maintains a staff of experts who can access the resources of more than three-dozen financial institutions. These experts are available to help buyers tailor custom financing plans to fit almost any need. Applications can be completed online to further streamline the approval process.

Customer Satisfaction

"Customer satisfaction" has been more than just a buzzphrase at the Gerald Jones Dealer Group. "My wife began working here three years ago," Andy explains, "and she oversees our Quality Assurance program. Each of our customers, whether they purchased an automobile or visited us for parts or service, receives a follow up phone call from us asking them to evaluate their experience at Gerald Jones. Many manufacturers now conduct a satisfaction survey of the vehicle that someone purchased, but we do our own evaluation. We want to provide the best possible service for our customers before, during and after the sale."

That commitment to service goes far beyond the traditional hours of operation of most automobile dealers. Andy recalls a telephone call to his home at two o' clock in the morning from a lady traveling alone who needed a tow truck.

"She told me that my card was the only one she had in her purse and she didn't know who else to turn to at that time," he relates. "I was able to contact an emergency repair service for her, and I phoned a friend of mine who lived in the area where she was stranded. He drove to meet her, and waited with her until the emergency vehicle arrived. A few days later, her husband who had been out of town at the time phoned to thank me. We want to go the extra mile for the people who trust in us for their automotive needs."