LeeCars and Lee Credit Express - By Michelle Libby

When looking for a car, consumers need choices, options and a dedicated sales professional who will listen to find the perfect car. At LeeCars and Lee Credit Express, their sales representatives have a large selection of cars to show customers and bruised credit is not a problem at Lee. 
 

“We’ll sell it to you if you have A plus credit or if you have bad or bruised credit, bankruptcies or repossessions,” said general manager Lori Katz. Lee uses several different lenders who are willing to work with Lee because of the volume and the track record they have. “We are the biggest dealership in Maine. We usually get the best rates,” Katz said.

Store manager in Windham, Rick Chaplin is new to Lee but has 20 years of experience in the business.

“We are happy to have someone with all this experience,” said Katz. Chaplin has four sales representatives.

LeeCars opened the Windham business in December 2003, but LeeCars started in 1926. Of the five standalone LeeCars, Windham is the largest. Windham also has the Lee Auto Care service department, where most of the cars that are sold are inspected and checked before they are put on the lot. LeeCars also offers a three month, 3,000 mile warranty and give the option to purchase an extended warranty after that. Each customer is given a CarFax for the car they are purchasing. 

“We have all makes and models, and unique things,” said Katz. “We have 20 Lee locations throughout Maine, even if we don’t have it…we have access to hundreds of used cars.”

Lee has a good supply of late model used cars. They keep a variety of trucks and SUVs. 

“We pride ourselves on customer service,” she said. “We treat every customer the same. It doesn’t matter what your credit is. We value each and every customer. It’s their second biggest investment over their house.” 

Lee has a lot of word of mouth advertising and hope that happy customers tell their family and friends about the care they received at Lee in Windham. 

“It’s a good feeling when you can help someone who hears ‘no’ at every dealership and we say ‘yes we can,” Katz said. The cars Lee has all pass Maine State inspections and the Lee Auto inspection before going on the lot. There is something in every price range. 

Customers come from Bridgton and New Hampshire and all the towns in between, but most come from Windham and many are repeat customers.

When a customer comes into LeeCars they are greeted and a sales representative will find out their needs, wants and desires and help guide them into the right car for their situation. Test drives are encouraged. New cars are delivered every week for customers, although they can have a car driven over to the store with a little notice. 

Ken Kay has been a sales representative for 21 years. He loves his repeat customers, he said. 

People are keeping cars longer than they used to, Katz said. Keeping them for five or six years is normal.

“A lot depends on gas prices. If the prices are high, people trade in for smaller cars. When prices are low, they upgrade to something bigger,” she added. Either way, people in this area need cars. “In Maine you’re driving to where you’re going or you’re not going.”

LeeCars is open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Online at www.LeeAutoMall.com, the store is open 24/7. All of the used car inventory is online. “We’re a little store that’s part of a big group,” Katz concluded.