Dee Vaszily: Biggers Chevrolet's Fleet Manager Extraordinaire

In model year 1971, Biggers Chevrolet in Elgin, Illinois, had 63 fleet sales. Now their fleet department anticipates 2,000 sales.

This extraordinary growth of Biggers' fleet department can be summed up in one word. Or one name, rather. "Dee."

Delores "Dee" Vaszily joined Biggers Chevrolet in September 1971, and, currently with a staff of two, is solely responsible for the fleet department of a growing dealership. Although the future certainly appears bright for the dealership's fleet department, much of Dee's successful work is now history. That is, from a beginning of 63 fleet sales in model year 1971, she has been responsible for a dramatic increase in fleet sales to 550 in model year '72; and a hue jump of 1,400 fleet sales for model year '73.

In fact, President of the dealership Leo Leichter attributes the fleet program as a strong influence towards expanding Biggers facilities to over 18,000 square feet, with 10½ acres of land. The new home of the dealership will be ready in time for model year 1975.

In discussing Dee's work at Biggers, Leichter says, "Fleet business can be very profitable if you have excellent fleet people, and we do." We have had profits from our fleet department the first day. And now we have two additional office personnel helping Dee because of our expanded volume.

Although fleet sales leaned towards intermediates and standards during the dealer incentive programs, Biggers fleet sales have been very heavy towards the Vegas, Malibus, etc. From the beginning of the year, Biggers sales have been 15-percent regular-size vehicles, and 85-percent subcompact, compact and intermediates.

Fleet success has paralleled retail success for the dealership. And the reason for this is obviously the care exerted by the dealership to treat all customers - fleet and retail, with top, courteous attention.

Catering to their customers, Biggers offers free oil changes for up to the life of the car. And this is for fleet and retail customers. The program, started one year ago, has been highly successful for the dealership, establishing strong service ties with their customers.

Whenever a fleet customer requires maintenance work, he contacts the fleet office directly. This allows Dee to have personal contact with all fleet inquiries, and to insure rapid service work, as well as working out a free loaner car for fleet drivers.

Tremendous dealer backing has helped Biggers Chevrolet to cater to their fleet customers. Every car on the dealership's lot, every auto in inventory, is for sale to a fleet customer. And Biggers "will not bump prices of any car that is hard to get, like the Monte Carlo was last year" says Dee.

Anxiously awaiting the move into their new location on Irving Park Road and Lovell (Elgin), Biggers Chevrolet is proof of what an efficiently operated fleet business can do for service to its customers, and profits to its dealership.