You may remember that last November I won the C-Class Walk-Around Competition for all of the dealerships in the Southern Region. Mercedes has just published a DVD showing my presentation along with the 3 other regional winners. This DVD has been sent to all US dealerships and will be used as a training example.

Before you watch the video, it’s important to know that we were given a theoretical customer to tailor our presentation to. My customer was Art Vandelay (someone likes Seinfeld), an Architect with a wife and new baby.

The highlights include:
• A day in Luzern and Zurich Switzerland
• AMG factory in Affalterbach
• Production plant in Sindelfingen
• Fuel Cell Development Center in Kirchheim
• The Test Track at Unterturkheim
• The New Mercedes-Benz Museum in Untertuerkheim
• Engine Development in Cannstatt
• Tour of the Heidelberg Castle

I can hardly wait!

The 2008 JD Power Initial Quality Study measures new owner satisfaction after 90 days. In the last few years Mercedes has been moving to the top of the charts! This year, in addition to being #4 overall, Mercedes received several model segement awards and a prestigious Platinum Plant Quality Award for the Sigdelfingen assembly plant.

Platinum Plant Quality Award

“The Mercedes-Benz assembly plant in Sindelfingen, Germany, receives the Platinum Plant Quality Award for producing vehicles yielding the fewest defects and malfunctions. Averaging just 33 problems per 100 vehicles, the plant produces the Mercedes-Benz CL-Class, CLS-Class, E-Class Sedan, E-Class Wagon and S-Class.”

Segment Winners

Compact Premium Sporty Car
Highest Ranked: Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class

Midsize Premium Car
Highest Ranked: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (tie)

I am pleased to announce that I have been chosen to receive Master Guild Recognition this year! There are four levels of achievement with Mercedes-Benz — Certified, Star Certified, Master Certified and finally, Master Guild. The first three levels are based on time with the company, keeping up with certification requirements and attending training classes. Master Guild members must already be Master Certified and then are chosen by the Regional Managers. Only 160 employees from the whole US market are picked for this recognition each year!

This also means I will be traveling to Germany!

“In recognition of this achievement, these individuals will be invited to participate in an all expense paid, once in a lifetime trip to Germany, an extraordinary opportunity through which they will experience the heritage and passion behind the Mercedes-Benz brand. Participants will visit various Mercedes-Benz facilities in Stuttgart, the birthplace of Mercedes-Benz, as well as be immersed in the local culture, history and traditions.”

It looks I’ll be making the trip in October but I’ll post more details when it’s finalized.

For the 2nd year I’ve achieved Mercedes-Benz Master Certification

Mercedes-Benz USA sponsored a competition this fall for salespeople to present the new 2008 C-Class. The goal was to increase product knowledge while tailoring a 10 minute walk-around presentation to the interests of a specific client.

I was selected by my peers to represent Atlanta Classic Cars at the Market Level in September and was chosen by our Market Manager as the winner! Then, in November, I flew to Jacksonville to compete against the other 8 Market winners for the title of Grand Champion of the Southern Region. I won! It was quite an honor to present to all of the Market Managers and fellow competitors.

If you have any questions about the new C-Class this would be a great time to ask…I could talk your ear off!

I was part of the winning team for our third quarter sales contest!

Atlanta Classic Cars was nice enough to send the 6 winning sales consultants and a guest to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas for 4 days and 3 nights. We had a great time lounging by the pool and eating at all of the wonderful restaurants.

The highlight was eating at Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill on the last night with Kevin Coster at the table next to us! It was like being famous!

For the first time I was named Salesperson of the Month! Thank you to all of my first-time and repeat clients who I had the pleasure to work with this month! I sold my personal best of 12 cars and maintained a 100% customer satisfaction score.

I look forward to this becoming a more frequent occurence!

For the second consecutive year Atlanta Classic Cars was awarded the Mercedes-Benz Best of the Best Dealer award. MBUSA presents this award annually to the top 20% of dealers in the United States who demonstrate superior performance in various areas of their business including sales, management, and most importantly customer service.