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Here is an email I received from a friend who sells licensed Jeep products (edited for privacy):
"Our devoted customer base continues to grow and in fact we will be sold out of this year’s xxxxx in the next two weeks. We were due to renew our license this year. However, since Chrysler’s bankruptcy Jeep has new ‘leadership’ and a new approach- they want to upscale the brand and become ‘the new Land Rover.’ This really goes against what Jeep is all about. I was disgusted to learn that the new Wranglers come with power windows. Anyway, we were told we are ‘not relevant to Jeep and we do not generate enough in royalties’ this despite us always paying the guarantee amount that they dictated. They also informed us that we are not allowed to appeal their decision. So, even though we’ve helped their marketing department significantly in the past on numerous occasions, as well as the Chrysler Museum and written countless articles on Jeep and its history, I guess it truly is ‘what have you done for me lately.’
We are not the only ones getting the axe by the way. I was told Revell models was also terminated after 18 years. This just baffles me beyond belief. If you ask most any Jeep nut, they started their love affair when they were about seven years old by building styrene Jeeps. This is a horrible way to alienate future customers as far as I am concerned
I am somewhat please to see our issues have gotten very public and customers have informed me that they have called Jeep and wrote to their CEO and many magazines about our plight. I think this ‘new strategy’ has somewhat backfired on them. This has generated 100% negative publicity and nothing positive. This in a time when they can’t afford anything negative as their horrible quality reputation and taxpayer bail out does not sit well with Americans. "
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