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JAMESTOWN – Wilhelm Chevrolet Buick GMC received 10 awards in the Best of the Jamestown Area.
Wilhelm Chevrolet Buick GMC earned first in Best Car Dealership and Best Auto Service/Repair and second in Best Body Shop, Best Tire Shop and Best Oil Change.
Also receiving second-place awards were Tim Kotaska for Best Auto Technician, Johnny Jerome for Best Salesperson Auto and Randy Krapp for Best Diesel Mechanic. Honored with a third-place award was Taylor Vining in Best Salesperson Auto.
Receiving third place in Best Outdoor Event was the Huntington’s Disease 5K Color Run, which is sponsored by the business.
“I’m overwhelmed that the public would vote, give us their support,” said Co-owner Rod Wilhelm. “That’s our job, that’s what we do every day.”
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About 50 people work for Wilhelm Chevrolet Buick GMC, and Wilhelm said the employees strive to provide a good customer experience in all departments.
“The big thing is to try to make their experience an experience that they’d want to come back again,” he said.
They also stand behind anything they sell or service.
“I’ve always gotten involved taking care of the customer after the sale,” Wilhelm said. “If there’s any issues, we try to be real fair with people, we stand behind what we sell and we try to send people out with extended contracts and protection. … If there’s a problem, we’re here to take care of it, we’re not going anywhere.”
He said providing good service is also about building relationships.
“We try to have repeat sales. Not just sell them one vehicle, to sell them the next one and sell their family vehicles, their kids,” Wilhelm said. “You want to build a relationship is what it’s all about. Customers for life. And that goes with sales and service. In the parts experience, I know I have a lot of good comments on the body shop.”
Service is key to the business, he noted.
“The service is the one that sells the second or the third car too,” he said. “If you don’t take care of them in service you won’t have them back.”
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He said right now for all businesses, the word “patience” comes to mind.
“... I think we have some good businesses in this town,” he said. “We’re very fortunate. Especially - it’s tough times right now as everybody knows with staffing,” inflation and other issues.
Wilhelm said he appreciated that people voted for the business.
“I’m overwhelmed … ,” he said. “But you want to make sure you earn that, people’s business. Their business isn’t free by any means, you need to earn it.”
Also receiving awards in the categories where Wilhelm Chevrolet Buick GMC placed were the following:
Best Car Dealership: R.M. Stoudt Inc., second; Lloyds Toyota, third
Best Auto Service/Repair: Xtreme Auto Repair, second; R.M. Stoudt Inc., third
Best Body Shop: Klein’s Collision Center, first; R.M. Stoudt Inc., third
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Best Tire Shop: Northwest Tire, first; Quick Lane, third.
Best Oil Change: Pit Stop, first; Northwest Tire, third
Best Auto Technician: Devin Schumacher, Xtreme Auto, first; Mason Herr, R.M. Stoudt, second
Best Salesperson Auto: Josh Larson, R.M. Stoudt, first
Best Diesel Mechanic: Devin Schumacher, Xtreme Auto, first; Buffalo City Diesel, third
Best Outdoor Event: Running of the Pink, first; Fishing For A Cause, second
