Law and Rights
Times are tough when the sweet tooth of Ford's Mustang isn't enough to get buyers up off the couch. We've talked before of Ford's dismal sales numbers lately, but you know the economy sucks when Mrs. Fields Cookies files bankruptcy and Hershey jacks up the price of a candy bar.
Like Henry Ford, Debbi Fields started her own business doing what she knew best. Her famous homemade cookies won her legions of fans. Despite the bankruptcy filing, the company, founded in 1977, will keep on baking and dealing with rising fuel and food prices as best it can.
Meanwhile Hershey, on the other side of the country, announced an average 11% price increase, for much the same reasons as Mrs. Fields.
And Ford? Well, total sales for July 2007 were down almost 12% from a year ago and light truck sales dropped 22%.
If it was just Ford, you could argue it's quality and brand issues. But when cookies and chocolate sales are hurting, and profits are down everywhere, the economy is a problem far beyond Detroit. Ford can work on quality, I suppose, but there's not much you can do to improve Mrs. Fields' cookies.
It all comes down to profits, money, quality and the economy.
For Hershey and Mrs. Fields, just as for Ford and GM and Chrysler, turning the economy around is what it will take to improve the bottom line in the US marketplace. Until then, buy carefully.
And stay away from manufacturers who try to take away your legal right to go to Court when their cars turn out to be lemons, too (are you listening Hyundai?).
Got a lemon? Call or email us. We know how to squash them. That's what we've been doing since 1978.
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Law and Rights
Ford and Mrs. Fields Cookies
Times are tough when the sweet tooth of Ford's Mustang isn't enough to get buyers up off the couch. We've talked before of Ford's dismal sales numbers lately, but you know the economy sucks when Mrs. Fields Cookies files bankruptcy and Hershey jacks up the price of a candy bar.
Like Henry Ford, Debbi Fields started her own business doing what she knew best. Her famous homemade cookies won her legions of fans. Despite the bankruptcy filing, the company, founded in 1977, will keep on baking and dealing with rising fuel and food prices as best it can.
Meanwhile Hershey, on the other side of the country, announced an average 11% price increase, for much the same reasons as Mrs. Fields.
And Ford? Well, total sales for July 2007 were down almost 12% from a year ago and light truck sales dropped 22%.
If it was just Ford, you could argue it's quality and brand issues. But when cookies and chocolate sales are hurting, and profits are down everywhere, the economy is a problem far beyond Detroit. Ford can work on quality, I suppose, but there's not much you can do to improve Mrs. Fields' cookies.
It all comes down to profits, money, quality and the economy.
For Hershey and Mrs. Fields, just as for Ford and GM and Chrysler, turning the economy around is what it will take to improve the bottom line in the US marketplace. Until then, buy carefully.
And stay away from manufacturers who try to take away your legal right to go to Court when their cars turn out to be lemons, too (are you listening Hyundai?).
Got a lemon? Call or email us. We know how to squash them. That's what we've been doing since 1978.
Burdge Law Office
www.NewCarLemonLaw.com
Because life is too short to put up with a bad car.
www.NewCarLemonLaw.com
Because life is too short to put up with a bad car.
Subscribe in a reader- Where The Best New Car And Truck Deals Are Right Now
Economy Getting Good - New Car Sales Up AgainYou can tell the national economy is getting better, car dealers across the country are saying, because people are buying more cars than at any time in the last two years plus - in fact for 27 months in a row...
- Is Ford Killing Off The Mercury Marque?
Things have been rough at the Mercury brand. Since 2000 the sales of Mercury motor vehicles have plummeted 74%. Rumor has it that Ford has had enough of the failing brand. Automotive News reports that industry insiders are saying that top executives...
- Isuzu Gives Up
Last year in the entire United States Isuzu sold a grand total about 9 cars a day --- in the entire country. You can't make a living that way, so Isuzu gave up. Isuzu is pulling out of North America, unable to compete with either price or quality...
- Big 3 Fight For 4
Toyota USA sold more than Ford did last year, bumping Ford Motor Co. down to the No. 3 spot. Last year Toyota sold 2.62 million cars and trucks last year while Ford sold 2.56 million, according to Automotive News Data Center statistics. General Motors...
- Big 3 Warranty Repair Costs Reflect Quality
Ford's 2005 warranty repair costs were $3.986 Billion, which was 2.6% of product sales. Maybe a small percentage, but it's a really huge number. GM's 2005 warranty repair costs were $4.696 Billion, which was 3% of product sales. The only good...