It is a stormy Thursday morning. We are driving to Santa Rosa, California where Hansel Ford is located. We are running late because we simply underestimated the traveling time. Instead of 10 am, we will arrive at 10:30 am according to Waze.
Edmund is the driver. We are enjoying our drive amidst the fog and rain. I am a bit anxious because the roads are narrow and we are passing thru what looks like a swampy area, in the middle of nowhere.
Oyen is going to meet with Justin Hansel, the grandchild of the founder. He is so nice and accommodating. He agrees to let my daughter go around their facility to observe their actual operations. We are hoping to learn something new that could be adapted to our local operation.
We arrived at 10:35 am.
Oyen and I entered the showroom first while Edmund was parking our vehicle.
My eyes caught a stunning Lincoln Continental sedan with a red ribbon. I fell in love with it instantly. It’s so elegant. Super ganda. I looked at the sticker price, $80,455 or P4,000,000. It could be a lot more expensive if brought to the Philippines because our taxes are higher. Lincoln is the luxury cars division / subsidiary of Ford Motor Company.
Edmund parked the car first, When he entered the showroom, he introduced himself to Justin as Julienne’s driver. You know, Filipino joke. But Justin Hansel, an American who is not used to Filipino brand of humor, thought Edmund was really Oyen’s driver, literally and figuratively. He shook his hand and then Edmund and I took off, leaving Oyen behind. Daughter has to work, while parents go eat and gallivant.
We picked Oyen up at 5 pm. She told us that Justin really thought Edmund was her driver. He was surprised when he asked about her father. When she informed him “that was her dad”. Justin got confused. The driver is the father. ha ha ha.
Hansel Ford’s managers and staff are all very nice and transparent. They are happy and content with their jobs.
Some of their business processes don’t apply in our situation. The way things are done in the US is different. For one, the dealers are not threatened by other Ford dealers because they are not located near each other. There’s no Ford dealer within 5 kilometers radius or within close proximity unlike in Manila. They don’t consider each other competitors and they even support each other.
California also has a strict law protecting the dealers. Their franchise is technically for life that’s why it’s easier for the dealers to make plans for the future and make long term investments. Things don’t change every time there’s a new Ford head.
Oyen enjoyed her one day orientation tour of their office. How she wished she could go back and stay for a couple more days.
Our sincere appreciation to the Hansel group and to Lance Mosley for making it possible.
