Getting service from start to finish: Bell Chevrolet has everything to get people on road

By Leslie N. Dees

August 29, 2007 11:33 am

— Do you want to buy your automobile from people that care or just have it serviced with trained professionals?
Look no further than the employees at Bell Chevrolet Pontiac Buick GMC on Highway 35 North in Kosciusko.
Dealership owner Fred Allen Bell said he never dreamed of being in the automobile business.
“I made an uncharacteristic decision and especially at my age of 60 years,” Bell, a life-long resident of Kosciusko, who was in the concrete business, said. “In January of 2002, I purchased controlling interest in this GM dealership from Dr. Tom Crowson.”
“It has been more challenging than I had anticipated but also fulfilling and rewarding.”
One of the first things Bell did at the dealership was to instill the customer comes first with his employees.
“He puts customers first,” Samantha Pope, the dealership’s controller said. “We don’t look at everyone that comes through that door as a dollar sign. We try to make everyone feel at home.”
Jim Yarbrough, dealership’s business manager, said there is no need to travel a far distance just to buy an automobile.
“We can actually sell someone a new vehicle as cheap here as they can buy it in Jackson – Probably cheaper,” Yarbrough said.
Yarbrough said all dealers have the same lenders and work with the same banks.
“Every year General Motors brings out approximately three or four new models or total redesigns,” Richard Saxton, dealership’s sales manager, said. “We have some of the best products on the market.
A big selling point on their new cars is starting on 2007 General Motors came out with a five-year, 100,000-mile warranty, Yarbrough said.
The dealership also has several lines of used automobiles.
“Each vehicle before it gets to the lot gets a 110-point inspection check in our service department,” Bell said.
There are 75 used automobiles on the lot with access to hundreds more on the Internet.
The dealership sells about 400 used automobiles a year and brings in 15 to 25 new used cars a month.
The dealership also has an interactive Web site and conducts Internet sales as well.
For those not needing a new or used automobile, the dealership offers complete service and parts departments.
Bell said the people in his service department are GM certified and have to stay up to date with the technology.
Any domestic vehicle can be repaired right here in Kosciusko with service manager Tammy Pope and assistant manager Jessica Ingram and the three trained technicians.
The service department also does basic automobile maintenance such as oil changes and automobile detailing.
The fully equipped GM parts store sells auto parts but also sells toolboxes, floor mats and much more. Tommy Martin and Scott Crowson run the parts store.
“We really want to focus on the local people because that is what this is all about,” Saxton said. “Give us a chance.”
“We would really love for locals to come up Highway 35 and drink a cup of coffee or a Coca-Cola and visit with Bell Chevrolet,” Saxton said.
The employees at Bell welcome anyone’s input on their service and their automobiles.
Visit them on the Web at http://www.bellchev.com/

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