Department Spotlight

Commercial and Fleet: All your questions answered

Friday, May 21st, 2010
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Ford Commercial Vehicles

Q: How long has your dealership maintained a commercial and fleet department?

A: Bartow Ford is a leader in the commercial industry, equipped with dedicated expert staff, commercial service facilities and one of the largest inventories in the country, for over 30 years. That’s before the first IBM-PC, disposable camera or digital phone.

Q: Does your commercial sales staff know what they’re talking about?

A: Combined, our 12 commercial sales representatives have over 300 years experience with commercial and fleet sales. They understand custom creations for your growing business. Call them, they’ll prove it.

Q: Do you provide premier commercial services?

A: Our commercial department is among the top 25 Business Preferred Network dealers in the country for business credit and for our quality certified technicians. The pampering is complimentary.

Q: Is your service department equipped to service large vehicles?

A: Bartow Ford is one of the few dealers in Florida to sell and service medium duty trucks. With a dedicated service lane for commercial vehicles only, CAT and Cummins certified service technicians, you can have assurance we provide top quality care and support after your purchase. Call our heavy duty service manager to visit the facility.

Q: Are there tax benefits?

A: There are new tax reasons to ask about vehicles for your fleet.  New laws can provide you with great tax savings on commercial vehicles. Alternative-fuel vehicles and bio-diesel vehicles with advanced lean-burn technologies are eligible for additional tax credits. Be certain to speak to one of our dedicated commercial representatives to see what these incentives can do for your business.
*Bartow Ford as an institution does not advise on any personal income tax requirements or issues. Use of any information from this site or any other web site referred to is for general information only and does not represent personal tax advice either expressed or implied. You are encouraged to seek professional tax advice for personal income tax questions and assistance.

Did you know?

Our commercial department provides vehicles for many municipalities in the central Florida area and out of state governments. We have a wide range of options available and are able to create a fleet of vehicles for one or hundreds that could lift, turn, empty, transport, pull or move just about anything. You configure, we deliver.

Community Corner: People are the most important part in making Bartow Ford’s commercial department such a success. Our team is made up of great people that as a whole supports and sponsors various community events. They are very active with the Bartow Chamber of Commerce and are members of many organizations such as Ducks Unlimited and NTEA.

$7.2 million in sales and 285 years of Parts experience.

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
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After 61 years Bartow Ford Parts Department has flourished to a $7.2 million operation in parts sales yearly. With 285 years of combined experience, the 17 member staff team continues to dedicate their expertise to sustained growth.

Ford OEM Parts

We believe convenience is key. Having three delivery drivers and two outside sales representatives covering territories from Dade City to Clewiston, Plant City to Celebration and two Ford authorized distributors coordinating deliveries 3x a day, you can be assured your part will be delivered in a timely manner.

A night drop is always available for 24/7 service making it easier to have the part you need when you need it.

With almost $1 million in inventory, we’re likely have the parts you need in stock or most parts are available over night out of our local depot.

Every year, Ford makes improvements to availability and pricing. If you haven’t shopped Ford Original Equipment parts lately give Bartow Ford Parts Department a call and see how affordable the prices are.  You might be surprised.

“Being with Bartow Ford for 31 years I have seen many changes in the parts business and the way Ford Motor Co has been there to help us and encourage us to grow our business” says Nancy Stone, department manager. She adds “Through the last few years Ford has been restructuring the way they handle parts and the amount of vendors they have producing parts, trying to simplify and lower expenses to help us to be comparable to the aftermarket parts houses.”

DID YOU KNOW? The Original Manufacturer Equipment parts we sell are the parts that were made specifically for Ford vehicles and are exactly the same as the ones that were built on your new vehicle.

Ford Motor Company gas engines and transmissions have a 36 month/100,000 mile warranty. That is the best in the industry.

Dedicated & Committed after 41 years

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
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“I am set up to retire but I love what I do so much I don’t want to go.” With a twinkle in his eye and a huge smile on his face, Dan Gobble clearly expresses why he has been a part of the Bartow Ford family celebrating 41 years this past October.

Dan Gooble Parts Sales Bartow Ford

Dan Gobble Parts Sales Bartow Ford

“Bartow Ford has been so good for me. They have treated me really well and always have taken care of me all these years. But if I knew I was taking away from someone’s job and I told them if they had to layoff, I wanted to be the first one to go to give someone else a chance.” Nancy Stone, Parts manager, asserts “Dan is such a great all around guy, always a pleasure to work with.”

Dan started as a counter man at a local Ford Dealer in Wauchula. In his 6th year a vendor told Dan that Bartow Ford was growing and needed more help.

In 1964 he made the decision to join Bartow Ford as a counterman,  and then as a manager through 2000. “Bartow Ford is a great place. I worked directly under Ernst Smith (founder); then Benny Robles (President/Chairman), Bob Ambrose (Vice-President) and Denny Mullis (Treasurer/Secretary), and they are all just great people. It’s hard to leave good people;  that’s why so many have been here so long.”

Transitioning to an outside Parts & Service representative has allowed Dan to make a change to be in the field calling on accounts, fulfilling orders and servicing fleet accounts for parts and service. “If a customer is out in the field and they have a problem I guide them into our service department.”

Mr. Gobble lives in Fort Meade and was born in Tennessee. His daughter was 6 months old when he started at Bartow Ford. Today he enjoys spending time with her and his three grandchildren when Dan is not golfing or spending time in North Carolina with his wife. Dan also works with the Fort Meade High School Athletic Department. “I thoroughly enjoy being a part of the athletic department’s “chain gang” at Fort Meade High School football games since 1978.”

Reflecting over the years Dan admits the industry has become easier because of computers. “But the auto industry,” he adds “has always been great, still is great and always will be great. I’d give anything to be thirty again. I’d start this all over again with the automotive industry, it’s exciting times. I’ve made what I needed to be set for life, but business is only getting better and Bartow Ford is still growing every day.”