Page 42 - GIADA-May-2018-Final

LEGAL

Integrity, Dedication and Kindness; A

Description of Billy Graham

By J. Eric Gregory, Attorney, Gregory Law Group, LLC, eric.gregory@thegregorylawgroup.com

It’s hard to write an article for the Georgia what he said he would do, it was about national, state and local rules and laws
Independent Dealers Association this treating others well, it was about having which are there to help not only consumers
month without thinking about Billy integrity. This month I have been ecstatic but you and your dealers.
Graham. His passing is a significant loss to as two of my clients put themselves at risk
all those who knew him and even for those by having the great integrity to own up BE NICE. I know I say this all the time,
who didn’t know him they will miss him to issues even when the question was a but it’s so appropriate now as I think about
fighting in the myriad of ways he dedicated mistake from the past and unbeknownst to Billy. Through all the adversity in his life,
himself to independent car dealers. I met the consumer. These dealers put integrity Billy was one of the nicest men I knew. He
Billy when I was in college, in 1992 while he first, and they wanted to be honest and could whip anyone in a physical match,
managed a prestigious used car operation display integrity with the knowledge that but he was just too nice. Remember, all the
at a new car dealership. Even back then he it posed a risk. I have had two dealers just planning and compliance in the world won’t
was helping the “little guy." When I first this month go back to clients on cars that substitute entirely for merely being nice.
met him, he was prodding, joking, laughing they accidentality failed to disclose a prior Even if you are not nice naturally, think of
all the while mentoring. issue and tell them. These dealers lived out the reasons that being nice is right for your
a daily example of the display of integrity dealership and your bottom line. A few
By looking back at the way and the type of behavior that Billy would examples of being nice that will keep you
Billy treated others and ran have condoned. out of trouble are to address all customer
complaints early and take them seriously
his business, we can all learn DEDICATION. If you are a used car and negotiate with customers even if you
and be taught by his example, dealer, you can’t just be half in. Success think you are right because it often will help
and the majority of the issues stories like Billy knew that you have to be you limit expenses and be more profitable.
dedicated to your business. Dedication
that dealers need my help to means that you’ll be there when things are Having integrity, dedication and being
get them out of trouble would good and when things are bad. It means nice is something to strive to achieve.
never exist. you will follow the laws. It means you
will continually make yourself and your
business better. Dedication means that you When you miss the mark, you
I generally write my monthly article as a will be the kind of dealer that you commit can go back to the same three
result of a case(s) that I have encountered to being when you joined GIADA. If you words and start over, trying to
working for one of your fellow dealers. This will go back and look at the 9 GIADA Code
month I would like to remind you of our of Ethics points, you have agreed to as a do better the next time.
loss how we can all be better by looking at a member and dedicate yourself to those you
great example. will be going a long way to displaying the Who knows maybe you’ll wake up and have
Dedication to the business that will help a huge community that loves you, respects
INTEGRITY. If you go back to the time you, your customers, the used car business you and admires you. Billy wasn’t nice in
that I entered the car business integrity and your bottom line. Every single month my humble opinion for what he could get
was an essential element. If you didn’t treat I have clients who if they merely were but for what he could give. Let's all learn
other dealers well it was a small world, dedicated to the 9 Code of Ethics points from him and go out and be better dealers
and sooner or later you wouldn’t be able they would not have been in hot water. To and serve those that we are lucky enough
to do much business. Today it’s easier to name a few, commit yourself to truth and to come into contact with through the
avoid local dealers or those that have been accuracy in advertising (or anything you blessings that have been entrusted to us. As
harmed or hurt, and some dealers don’t say or do), stand by all warranties (and always you can reach me at eric.gregory@
put effort into treating one another with any commitment you make whether its to thegregorylawgroup.com if you need
integrity. I remind you that men like Billy consumers or dealers or others), correctly assistance with any of your dealerships legal
worked diligently to address others the title every car you sell, do your paperwork needs. n
way that he wanted to be treated. It wasn’t right and with specificity, comply with
only about the contract it was about doing

40 | GIADA Independent Auto Dealer MAY 2018