“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.
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.
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.
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