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According to Joe Mazza, the Special Events Coordinator, Eva’s Village receives 4 million of it’s 7.8 million dollar annual budget through donations and events such as the L. Robert Keller Memorial Invitational Tournament. For the 6th time,  Douglas Infiniti was happy to assist Eva’s Village with their fundraising efforts at the tournament. If a golfer sunk a Hole-In-One at 181 yard Hole #10 on the South Course, they would win a 2012 Infiniti G37 sedan courtesy of Douglas Infiniti.

We at Douglas Infiniti highly recommend volunteering or being involved in some capacity with Eva’s Village. While purchasing a new automobile can elicit an immense sense of joy, satisfaction and accomplishment, there is no feeling superior to knowing you helped make someone’s life just a little bit better.

The Douglas Auto Group Traveling Road Show is always looking to expand its horizons. If you are a high school or college looking to offer your students test drives of cutting edge automobiles or a Mom Meet Up Group looking to check out some of the safest family cars on the road (VW leads the US market with 9 Insurance Institute For Highway Safety Top Safety Picks), you need to experience “The Douglas Difference” at your locale. For further information, please contact Douglas Auto Group Digital Marketing Director Ken Beam at 908-522-7300 x 118 or Douglas Auto Group Social Media Director Patrick Nash at 908-522-7300 x 120.

Douglas Infiniti Service Manager Gary Darling and Douglas Infiniti customer Tom Kachelriess in front of Food in Summit, NJ.

I’ve been working for the Douglas Auto Group for nearly a year and am grateful that I made the decision to work here. When I met longtime Douglas Infiniti Service Customer Tom Kachelriess today, I am now completely confident I made the right decision. While sitting down to a delicious lunch at Food in Summit, NJ with Tom and Douglas Infiniti Service Manager Gary Darling, Tom told me of his unwavering conviction of only using Douglas Infiniti to service his automobiles. “I’ve always liked the Douglas Auto Group because of their Service Department. If I drop a car at Douglas Infiniti to be fixed, I tell Gary not to call me until the car is ready to be picked up. That’s how much I trust him” says Tom.

Tom Kachelriess has been a customer of the Douglas Auto Group since 1980. Over the last 32 years, he has purchased over 20 automobiles from Douglas. He originally purchased Buicks and VWs from Douglas but purchased his first Infiniti from Douglas, an FX, in 2006. Since then Tom has been hooked on Infinitis. He has additionally purchased a 2008 FX and a 2012 FX from Douglas Infiniti. Says Tom, “buying an automobile is a major purchase in one’s life. You want to have stability and comfort in the company standing behind those purchases. When you walk into Douglas Infiniti and see the same Service Manager, Parts Manager, Auto Technicians and Sales Managers for years on end, it lends you confidence in the belief that you entrusted your auto purchase to the right organization.”

From Day One at the Douglas Auto Group, I’ve been told that morality and integrity are the cornerstones that the organization has been built upon. While I don’t mind sharing this philosophy with the general public, it is much better when these virtues are corroborated by a Douglas customer. Says Tom, “Douglas Auto Group has never made me feel like a foreigner. They have never looked down to or lied to me. I’ve seen other dealerships where if you’re not spending money there that day, they want you out the door. I’ve never had that feeling in my 32 years as a customer at Douglas. I’ve run a highly successful real estate appraising business. I can assure you that when money becomes the sole driver of your business, you’re dead. How do you think an auto dealership like Douglas has been able to thrive in a small town for nearly 50 years?”

Not only does Tom bring his 2006 FX, 2008 FX and 2012 FX to Douglas Infiniti Service for regular maintenance, but he brings his daughter’s Nissan Murano as well. “It’s actually cheaper to service the Nissan Murano at Douglas than it is at my daughter’s Nissan dealership.” Upon hearing this, Douglas Infiniti Service Manager Gary Darling chimes in that “the Douglas Infiniti Service Department takes in between 30 to 45 cars monthly for service that weren’t purchased at the dealership.” Gary attributes this to having a multitude of auto technicians with nearly 20 years of service at Douglas. In full disclosure, Tom does own one 2009 Infiniti FX that wasn’t purchased at Douglas Infiniti. “I wanted a 2009 Infiniti FX with a specific brown interior. Douglas Infiniti went to great lengths to procure this FX for me but wasn’t able to locate one.” Upon returning to the local Infiniti dealership one month after purchasing the 2009 FX from them, Tom said, “I walk in to talk to the salesperson who sold me the 2009 FX and he had left the dealership. The Service Manager and the Parts Manager had also been removed of their duties.”

Tom went on to make an interesting analogy. “I love to go to the downtown Westfield area and shop. If I spend $500 in a store there then I come back to return something or I have a complaint, the store employees there not only remember my name but are more than happy to accommodate me. If I go to the Short Hills Mall and spend $500 in a store, when I return with an issue I’m met with a stern face and told coldly to fill out a form. Douglas Infiniti has the mindset of the small store owner in Westfield while the highway dealerships treat you more like a store in the Short Hills Mall.”

As Tom made that last point, I said, “so you most enjoy working with Douglas Infiniti because they make you feel comfortable?” Tom looked at me with a fiery look in his eye and said, “no, I do business with Douglas Infiniti for security reasons. I get paid several hundred dollars an hour and I can’t afford to take time away from my work schedule because the people who service my automobiles aren’t reliable. In Douglas Infiniti Service, I trust.”

http://www.infinitioffers.net/

Why Douglas Infiniti?

10- Technology at your fingertips- Douglas Infiniti tries to make your relationship with our dealership as easy as possible. From our new smartphone app, to our mobile website all the way to our industry acclaimed videos, our digital prowess is unparalleled amongst other NJ dealerships.

9- Service Lounge- Many Douglas Infiniti customers have commented that they feel as though they are in a high-end boutique hotel when sitting in the Douglas Infiniti Service Lounge. Gourmet coffee, Wi-Fi, a Plasma TV and other luxurious amenities abound to make your stay at Douglas more than comfortable.

8- Service Perks – Douglas Infiniti offers a Shuttle Service to and from the Summit Train Station. Additionally, we provide loaner cars for Douglas Infiniti Service customers and a free car wash with each service appointment.

7- Caring For Those In Need – In light of this recent economic rough patch we’re experiencing, Douglas Infiniti realizes that we must all look to help each other. This past winter, we collected over 738lbs of food for the Community Food Bank of NJ in Hillside during our Douglas Infiniti Fill’er Up Food Drive.

6- All Roads Lead To Douglas Infiniti- Douglas Infiniti is nestled in Summit, NJ and conveniently located minutes from the Garden State Parkway. It is also not only easily accessible from Route 78 and Route 24 but a short drive from Route 287.

5- Small Town Values- Many of our customers come from within the Summit community. We see them on the roads and at the local shops. Throughout the years, we’ve come to be close friends with lots of Douglas Infiniti customers. We don’t consider ourselves to have a low-pressure environment but a no-pressure one. Our number one priority is to make sure you leave the dealership grounds satisfied.

4- Repeat Business- Lots of dealerships sing their own praises on a regular basis but very few have double digit customers such as Dr. Stephen Korson. Throughout the history of Douglas, we have been blessed to have many customers who have bought their 5th, 6th & 7th Infinitis from Douglas.

3- Family owned and operated since 1965- At Douglas, our company culture is far more precious than our bottom line. I can attest that not only are the employees valued and treated like family but so are the Douglas Infiniti customers. Cultures like that aren’t magically created overnight but harnessed and developed by a dignified and diligent ownership over a long period of time.

2- Employee experience- Douglas Infiniti boasts a workforce filled with a vast amount of employees with over a decade of service at the dealership. Specifically, our Sales Manager Jamie Fishbane has over 25 years at Douglas Infiniti and our Service Manager Gary Darling has over 20 years of service at Douglas Infiniti.

1- Customer Satisfaction- The single greatest truth in any business is that its backbone is its loyal customers. We’ve helped out over 150,000 customers over the years and strived to make each and every one of them a Douglas Infiniti customer for life. Take a look here at what they say about us.

Douglas Infiniti’s Customer App

“Where else? Only at Douglas” is a common phrase you hear thrown around by the Douglas Auto Group. Well, Douglas Infiniti has now gone the extra length to satisfy their customers with a new technological development. Douglas Infiniti has just launched their dealership app. You can download it either in the iTunes, Android or Blackberry App stores or by downloading a QR code.

Some of you may be wondering, “ok, a dealership app is a nice piece of technology but is this something I need on my phone?” The answer is a simple and emphatic “yes!” The Douglas Infiniti app is a convenient, value-added and informative piece of technology that is a must have for any Douglas Infiniti customer. The heart of this app is found under the “My Garage” feature. From here, you can store all the pertinent information about your vehicle and have it handy at the touch of a finger. Some of the data you can load are the VIN, Year, Make, Model, License Plate, Policy Number and even Oil Type. After adding all of your vehicle data, you can then schedule a service appointment from the app with the Douglas Infiniti Service Dept. Once the service appointment has been completed, the app will then save your service visit under “Service History” for your permanent record. Now…a new wrinkle we will adding to this feature within a month is the ability to chat with a Douglas Infiniti Service Advisor. While your car is being serviced, if you need to run a few errands, you can communicate directly with the Douglas Infiniti Service Advisor about your vehicle. Not only will you get a current update on the servicing of your automobile but you will also be able to pay for your service directly from the app! If that wasn’t enough, we will also be adding a second wrinkle in the next 60 days that we think customers will truly appreciate. Douglas Infiniti customers will now be able to scan their VIN directly to the app. Once the VIN is scanned, the customer will receive immediate updates on any recall information related to their vehicle. Another convenient feature of this extraordinary app is the “Postboard.” From here you will get exclusive coupons, discounts and specials for Douglas Infiniti App customers as well as updates on any events currently being undertaken by Douglas Infiniti.

When your Douglas Infiniti app loads, you will be brought to the “Tool Kit” screen. From here, you can navigate through several value-added functions that are sure to make your travels a little less hectic. Some features are a one touch click to Roadside Assistance, the ability to find the cheapest local gas prices and a Parking Assistant that uses GPS to track your car along with a timer to monitor your time left on a parking meter. From the “Tool Kit” screen you will also be able to schedule service appointments with Douglas Infiniti. In an effort to keep our Douglas Infiniti customers up to speed on all things related to the dealership and their automobile, we have not only incorporated all of our Social Media feeds such as Facebook and Twitter but also included all industry news related to Infiniti under the “Manufacturer News” tab.

I can attest that at the Douglas Auto Group, we are always working feverishly behind the scenes to make our customers lives a little easier. Now at the touch of a button from our Douglas Infiniti customers fingertips, never has it been easier to ensure that you get the most value not only out of your vehicle but out of your dealership experience. “Where else? Only at Douglas.”

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Dr. Korson bought his first Douglas automobile, a Buick Century, back in 1983. A few years later he bought a Ford Taurus from Douglas. In 1990, Dr. Korson unfortunately experienced an inordinate amount of tragedies. He theorized that he developed a need for instant gratification due to the personal difficulties he was enduring. As a result, he purchased his first luxury automobile, a 1990 Douglas Infiniti Q45. From that moment going forward, Dr. Korson was hooked on Infinitis. As he puts it, “I said to myself, I could get used to this.” Over the last 22 years, Dr. Korson has bought an impressive ten Infinitis at Douglas Infiniti. He currently owns a 2004 G35 and his personal favorite Douglas car, a 2010 M35. “The comfort and handling of the M35 combined with features like Sirius radio plus the back-up camera make it a sublime automobile to own” said Dr. Korson.

One of the lynchpins to Dr Korson’s loyalty in purchasing ten Douglas Infinitis has been the people of the dealership. According to Dr. Korson, “Our Douglas Infiniti Sales Consultant Gil Coronado has always been there for me and made it easy for my wife Rochelle and I when we’ve needed guidance with our Douglas cars.” The Korsons have also maintained their Infinitis with the Douglas Service Department. “Douglas Infiniti Service has also made the process of servicing our cars seamless and as easy as can be” said Dr. Korson. Even when they’ve had a few fender benders over the years, the Korsons have brought their automobiles to the Douglas Body Shop where according to Dr. Korson “The Douglas Body Shop Estimator Nick (Riello) has always been highly organized and attentive in making sure our auto body repairs were handled smoothly.” As lunch continued, Gil Coronado mentioned to me that the Korsons always stop by and say hello anytime they come to Douglas Infiniti for one of their needs. “At Douglas Infiniti, we feel like we have friends there” said Dr. Korson.

As he began to describe his personal background, it began to become even more apparent what drove Dr. Korson to be such a faithful customer of Douglas Infiniti. Residing in Summit with his wife Rochelle, the Korsons have raised two children. Both his son Alex and his daughter Johanna are Summit High School graduates. For over two decades in Summit, Dr. Korson has developed a thriving pediatric dentistry practice called Summit Pediatric Dentistry. States Dr. Korson, “Dentist practices like car dealerships may be an uncomfortable visit for some people. I believe both my goal and Douglas Infiniti’s goal is to make the experience of the customer as easy, painless and enjoyable as possible. When you accomplish those goals, you end up seeing the same people for so many years that your customers become your friends. That is exactly what transpired between myself and Douglas Infiniti.”

As we were winding down our lunch, I began to tell Dr. Korson how my three-year old son gives my wife and I a difficult time with brushing his teeth. Dr. Korson then started to explain to me how he uses magic to entertain the children who come into his office. “For a magician, I’m a very good dentist” said Dr. Korson. Not only did he proceed to make a lime slice disappear behind Gil Coronado’s head but he took out his iPhone and showed us clips of him displaying magic for his pediatric patients. So as myself, Gil and Dr. Korson headed out of Fiorino Ristorante, the parallel to both Dr. Korson and Douglas Infiniti was unmistakable in my head. Both have a genuine concern to make their customers feel part of a larger family. In a cold-hearted world ruled by numbers and metrics, decency, humility and transparency can build the type of loyalty that can power two small businesses to thrive for decades.

When new dealership guidelines were announced by Infiniti, Douglas Infiniti in Summit, New Jersey recognized an opportunity to make more than a building. We seized the moment and made a statement. It isn’t often you hear of an automobile dealership renovating with it’s human and municipal environment in mind. Driven by a design ethos and a recognition of the need for human scale, Douglas Infiniti broke new ground in several ways. Following principles in spatial design set forth by Infiniti, in it’s TOE or Total Ownership Experience, Douglas has brought a casual elegance to a category of automotive retail formally known for it’s “over the top” monumental architecture and ostentatious interiors. Throughout an entirely renovated and purpose-built salon showroom, natural sunlight bathes a group of the latest Infiniti models in simple surroundings. A Douglas staff member added: “As a family owned business in Summit New Jersey since 1965, we’ve had a stake in our town and an interest in enlightened

design incorporating light, form and space to make an environment more comfortable and efficient.” A new service waiting lounge & café incorporate recycled materials, understated furnishings and internet work areas reminiscent more of home, rather than a retail space. Additionally, Douglas Infiniti made a commitment to do more with less installing energy-efficient heating, cooling and lighting systems.

As one of only a handful of neighborhood located Infiniti dealerships remaining in the metro area, Douglas Infiniti has burnished it’s commitment to the economic well-being and unique personality of the town that it calls home while staying on the leading edge of dealership development. Taking a cue from a recent Infiniti branding campaign where bold brush strokes create a silhouette of Infiniti’s latest model, creativity and spontaneity played prominently in the final facility design. Inspired by a recognition of human scale and comfort Douglas hopes to continue it’s success within a crowded marketplace of commodity products. Despite the promise of increased sales, dealership renovations often involve risk, disruptions of business and significant investment. And, many competitors have chosen to move to high traffic locations incurring a higher cost of doing business. But Douglas Infiniti has remained firmly anchored in Summit. Just as importantly, it has embraced contemporary design thinking into it’s facilities and practices, creating a place it’s customers can enjoy and where heroic, inspired service just happens naturally.

While containing Infiniti’s signature grille and striking good looks, this vehicle will also surely be a trendsetter in its market for a variety of reasons. To me, as a man with two small children, the easy access to the 3rd row is truly remarkable. Not only can you access the third row from both the driver and passenger sides but you don’t need to remove the child safety seats when entering the third row. This is a HUGE plus to all of us who deal with our families and in-laws trying to squeeze into our family cars on a regular basis. In fact, with a child safety seat in place, there is still more room to enter the third row than in an Acura MDX with no child seat in the 2nd row. Another unique feature of the JX over the Acura MDX is you can recline the back of the third row seats. As a man over 6 ft tall, I find this feature most appealing.

The ride in the JX is also sublime with it being the first Infiniti to utilize a CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). This transmission keeps the engine in its most efficient range at all times, you don’t feel shift changes and allows for smooth acceleration from starting to cruising speed. Additionally, the CVT has a manual shift mode that allows you to shift through six gears. So whether you just want a luxurious vehicle to showcase around town or want to toy around through the hills twists and turns of Union County, the 2013 Infiniti JX35 crossover pleases all driver segments.

Infiniti’s safety technologies are also prominently showcased in the JX. You not only have a 360 degree Around View Monitor with Moving Object Detection and a Lane Departure Warning and Prevention System but a world first Backup Collision Intervention System. Not only does the BCI System detect objects behind the JX when it’s in reverse, but if necessary it will engage the brakes to avoid a collision.

After the viewing public got to see the wonder that is the Infiniti JX they not only left with bellies full of delicious hors d’oeuvres but also a comfort in knowing they just witnessed a vehicle that pleases all; safe and smart driving for the busy parent, comfort and safety for kids and grandparents….a stylistic and spacious crossover for the whole family.

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Deron Williams of the Nets is said to have the best crossover in New Jersey but the Infiniti JX Crossover gives Deron a run for his money. It has already been hailed in the February 2012 issue of Parenting Magazine as one of the smartest family cars to own. While Infinitis have always been known for their performance and unique styling, the JX Crossover brings you an Infiniti with those traits plus a practical and utilitarian comfort. Some of its family friendly features are: 1- World’s 1st backup collision intervention system. 2- 360 degree round view monitor. 3- The ability to access the 3rd row without having to take out the child safety seat.

Who said performance and styling weren’t friends with practicality? The 2013 Infiniti JX Crossover….the ultimate family driving experience.  Come see for yourself on Tuesday March 13th at Douglas Infiniti.

Summit High Performing Arts

Back near the end of 2011, the Douglas Auto Group had our 1st Douglas Fill ‘Er Up Food Drive. At Douglas Infiniti and Douglas Volkswagen, we collected nearly 750 lbs of food for the Community Food Bank of NJ at Hillside. A substantial amount of the food was collected through the efforts of Summit High School’s Performing Arts Group. There was an event at Summit High School and the Summit Performing Arts students made sure the food drive flyers were distributed to all the local high schools in attendance. The Douglas VW van rolled onto the scene that morning and all the Summit Performing Arts students came out on that bitterly cold day to donate cans of food. Not only did their goodwill gesture of their food donations catch my eye but their polite, respectful and warm personalities made an impression on me. Their parents also continually checked up upon myself, my wife and two small kids to make sure we weren’t hungry or needed hot cocoa to keep ourselves warm.

Now these deserving kids need our help. They were one of only 40 high schools in the United States chosen to participate this Summer at the largest performing arts festival in the world, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Many times throughout the year, we all get inundated with various organization asking us to donate our precious resources. The problem is always, “which ones do I help out because I can’t help them all?” Well, if you are going to pick and choose whom to help, I can vouch that these children and their parents are people worth helping. These children embody what I want my 2 small children to turn out to be: responsible and caring teenagers who will only improve the world once they embark on their adult lives. Please help their cause:

Here is a link to their donation page: http://shsfringe.tk/

Amed Olivares

When Amed Olivares first came to Douglas Infiniti a few months ago, I was thoroughly impressed with his story. Amed is not a typical first name of a son of parents from the Dominican Republic. However, his mother’s favorite actor in the Dominican Republic had the first name Ahmed so “Amed” it was for her son. He was raised in the Bronx, NY and attended Bronx Community College but had to leave when his mother became ill. His first job in the automotive industry was as a Parts Counter Clerk at Autozone. Amed then moved on to be a Service Driver at Yonkers Avenue Dodge. He eventually moved on to become the Lot Manager at Infiniti of Englewood. Amed maintained all the cars and dealt with customers picking up cars. He made sure every car was immaculate and had a friendly and personable disposition with all customers. The General Sales Manager at Infiniti of Englewood soon took notice of Amed’s work ethic and meticulous nature. He offered Amed a promotion to not only work in the  Business Development Center but also handle inventory and Swaps. He excelled at generating business and helping Infiniti of Englewood pick out new and used car inventory.

When the Sales Manager at Infiniti of Englewood left to go to Fette Infiniti, he asked that Amed go with him and become an Infiniti Sales Consultant. With Amed’s knowledge base of Infiniti automobiles and his affable nature with customers, it was a perfect fit for his progression at Infiniti. I can personally attest to Amed’s skill set as an Douglas Auto Group Infiniti Sales Consultant. He comes to work dressed to the nines. I am fairly new to the automotive industry so Amed regularly and with enthusiasm is always explaining the different nuances of each Infiniti automobile to me. I’ve also seen him take great care and consideration with each customer at all touch points of communication- in e-mails, in person and over the phone.

While Amed displays a passion for his work here in Infiniti, he does relish his downtime. “I’m normally mentally and physically exhausted when I get home so sleep is a priority” says Amed. When he’s not off in Dreamland, Amed considers himself a food connoisseur or “foodie” as he puts it. He loves to go around the great melting pot that is NYC with his girlfriend and try different cuisine from around the world. Amed’s favorite food is Mexican and he is new to the Summit, NJ area. He’s found Tito’s Burritos but if you know of any other Mexican restaurant in the vicinity worth visiting, please shoot him an e-mail and let him know.

Amed Olivares…clean cut, knowledgeable, personable and detail oriented. So while Amed may enjoy sleeping, when you’re in the market for an Infiniti or any vehicle for that matter, don’t sleep on Amed.

Service With A Smile

When speaking with Douglas Infiniti Service Consultant Alexis Maldonado, it’s refreshing to talk to someone who cares so much about their career. “If any of our Douglas Infiniti Service customers are upset about something then I’m upset. Even after leaving work, I tend to take it home with me” says Alexis. It’s this type of passion, care and concern that has made her a real hit with the Douglas Infiniti Service customers.

Alexis is originally from Hoboken, NJ. She impressively received a double major in Sociology and Psychology from Montclair State University. Alexis also has a Masters in Early Childhood Education from NJ City University. She got her start in the automotive industry fourteen years ago at Prestige BMW of Ramsey as a receptionist. She quickly worked her way up to Service Adviser. Ten years ago she accepted the Douglas Infiniti Service Consultant position here in Summit, NJ. Residing in West Orange, NJ with her husband Oscar and their English bulldog Brooklyn, Alexis is always running into Douglas Infiniti Service customers all the time. When walking through the Short Hills Mall and a stranger approaches, her husband Oscar just shakes his head because he doesn’t have to guess where Alexis knows them from. “I’ve been on the treadmill at my gym and gotten a tap on the shoulder. It’s one of our customers who wants to make a service appointment” says Alexis.

One of her most fond memories is a recent one around Christmas. A woman who purchased a QX56 came into Douglas Infiniti Service in a panic a few hours before closing. She was getting ready to go on vacation and her QX56 wasn’t driving properly. Alexis went out to her truck and quickly realized that someone at a local car wash had put the QX56 in the 4 hi 4WD mode so she switched the knob back to automatic mode. The woman was so happy that the situation was quickly resolved that she began hugging Alexis. When done hugging Alexis, her children asked if they could hug Alexis too and she was more than happy to oblige. When I asked Alexis why she’s been able to have ten enjoyable years at the Douglas Auto Group, she responded, “being around good customers and co-workers has fostered a real pleasant working environment.”

So if it’s a top priority that your automobile is serviced by a person who is sharp, personable and deeply cares about your overall satisfaction, don’t hesitate to visit Alexis at the  Douglas Infiniti Service Department.

No One In America Should Go Hungry

So we packed up the Douglas Auto Group Van with 738 lbs of food collected at Douglas Infiniti as well as Douglas Volkswagen and headed out to the Community Food Bank of NJ in Hillside. I expected to pull up in front of a big old warehouse, drop off the donation, shake a hand and be on our way. When we arrived, I got to meet Tristan Wallack, the Food Sourcing Coordinator for the food bank. He started to chat with myself and the Douglas Auto Group Marketing Director Ken Beam. What he told us was both humbling and eye-opening. The Community Food Bank of NJ started with one woman handing out assorted foods from the back of her station wagon in Newark, NJ nearly 20 years ago. Today they operate out of the largest food bank facility in the United States. It is a 280,000 sq/ft facility that is formerly the home of Kraft Foods. It is equivalent in size to 7 football fields.

When Tristan started at the food bank in 2008, they were providing food for 500,000 residents of NJ. Today at the end of 2011, the food bank provides for over 900,000 residents of the state of NJ. This past year, they have distributed roughly 40 million pounds of food within NJ. However, if they stopped receiving food today, the shelves of the entire facility would be barren within 6-8 weeks. Right before Governor Christie was sworn into office, he visited the food bank. He was quite straightforward in stating that he couldn’t make any promises as he was elected to help balance the budget and every program was on the table for discussion. When all was said and done, the Community Food Bank of NJ was one of only 3 state programs that wasn’t cut by Governor Christie.

While their food contribution to the state is an amazing feat, it only encompasses a part of the picture about the Community Food Bank of NJ in Hillside. As Ken and I were getting a tour of facility, we were shown their culinary arts program. The students were people given second chances in life by the food bank. Most of them were still in halfway homes trying to get their life in order. They were all being trained by a professional chef and it was mandatory that they weren’t late to class more than 3 times or they were dismissed from the program. If a student makes it through the program, the food bank has a year to year average of a 75%-90% job placement success rate. The Community Food Bank of NJ also runs a program to supply free school supplies to low-income schools, a clothing store for low-income families composed of new clothes from department stores and a thrift shop.

Tristan pointed out that they get about 29,000 volunteers a year at their Hillside facility. Ken and myself cannot stress enough what an amazing experience it is to visit a place as inspiring as the Community Food Bank of NJ in Hillside. We strongly encourage everyone to volunteer some time there at some point in the near future. Typically the minimum age to volunteer is 12 years old. However, once every quarter they have a Family Day where everyone in your family can come down and volunteer. If you can’t make the time to volunteer at the food bank, please make sure to donate to their cause whenever possible. It is needed now more than ever. If you want to donate money or time to this food bank or any other charity, please first visit Charity Navigator,  American’s leading independent charity evaluator. Have a Happy Holidays.

Mike Carchia

In my brief time at Douglas Auto Group, Mike Carchia’s lunch pail work ethic has been a joy to be around. We now live in an era of get rich quick schemes and “look at me” personalities dominating our culture. Mike, on the other hand, comes to work with his head down, carries a calm temperament, is willing to help if needed and is able to impart helpful advice if asked.

He first learned the automotive business serving as a Certified A Technician at Ed Carney Ford in East Hanover, NJ for 24 years. While he thoroughly enjoyed his extensive time there, the physical toll of 24 years in the auto shop became burdensome. In 2007, he left the automobile industry to pursue an entrepreneurial venture. He opened Powerhouse Gym in Bloomfield, NJ where he still maintains minority ownership. In October 2010, Mike joined the team here at Douglas Infiniti as a Sales Consultant. Although only working here briefly, Mike’s character and integrity has shown through quite easily to his customers. I’ve personally witnessed several customers drive up all the way up from Virginia to purchase a vehicle from Mike. They struck up a conversation with him on the phone and enlisted enough trust in him to take a 7 hour excursion on a good faith basis in Mike’s word. For what it’s worth, they have all left happy with their purchases. If you go to Douglas Infiniti’s website and check out our reviews, they are chock full of positive experiences with Mike Carchia.

When Mike isn’t busy with work at Douglas, he enjoys bodybuilding, fishing and is an avid shooter. He proudly was born, raised and currently resides in Nutley, NJ where he lives with his wife. Mike also has a 21-year-old son who is currently in college.

The Douglas Auto Group’s mantra is “bringing honesty, integrity and professionalism to Summit since 1965.” Since Day One at Douglas, we all have been told to keep that mantra at the forefront of our minds. Mike Carchia has never had to think twice about it.

Being aware of these facts, the Douglas Auto Group has organized the “Fill ‘Er Up Food Drive” at their Douglas Infiniti (430 Morris Ave) and Douglas Volkswagen (491 Morris Ave) dealerships in Summit, NJ. There is a Infiniti QX56 and a VW Van waiting to be filled with canned goods at Douglas Infiniti and Douglas VW respectively. For every family that loads 2 canned goods into the automobiles, they are entered into a contest where the Douglas Auto Group will give away 3 great prizes; a 32 GB iPad2, a free car detail and a free oil change/tire rotation. Once these automobiles are filled to capacity, they will be driven to the Community Food Bank of NJ in Hillside.

So while you are out shopping during this holiday season, please remember to stop by Douglas Infiniti or Douglas VW and donate to the food drive. You will not only be doing a good deed but you may be helping out someone you know and love.

Fill Up That QX56!

From Monday November 21st until Wednesday December 21st, Douglas Infiniti will be running the Fill ‘Er Up Food Drive. Bring down two canned goods to Douglas Infiniti at 430 Morris Ave in Summit, NJ and fill up the Infiniti QX56.

People who donate will then fill out a form to have a chance to win three prizes. We will have a drawing on Thursday December 22nd in which we will give away an Apple iPad, a free car detail and a free oil change/tire rotation to three of the people who donate.

Once the Douglas Infiniti QX56 is filled to capacity, the canned goods will then be driven off by Douglas Infiniti employees to the Community Food Bank of NJ in Hillside.

Going The Distance

The following story is written by Ralph Paglia of Automotive Digital Marketing. It’s a piece on our Marketing Director Ken Beam and how he went to extreme efforts to make a customer satisfied. Just another example of “The Douglas Experience.” The YouTube link of this particular story is below:

Ken Beam Saves The Day

Video Readiness and Well Honed Presentation Skills Save A Deal Sunk by Bogus Used Car Inspection!

Ken Beam of Douglas Infiniti in New Jersey recently shared one of the most impressive and compelling sales scenarios I have ever heard about that proves the business case for how valuable it is to develop processes for creating and sending video presentations to customers. A little bit of learning time, some practice and using the Internet along with a $250 investment in a Flipcam has paid off many, many times for Douglas Infiniti in Summit, New Jersey…

In my opinion, the way Ken Beam handled the situation described in this story is a superb example of “creative problem solving” ingenuity applied to a “Save A Deal” challenge by using a good quality high-resolution digital camera and a decent HD video camcorder such as Flipcam’s Minos HD… Then, combining those tools with Ken Beam’s well-practiced video presentation skills.

Here’s how the story unfolded… Douglas Infiniti had successfully used the Internet to acquire a prospective used car customer who lives in Montreal, Quebec. The Canadian woman was interested in purchasing a 2009 Audi A4 Convertible that she found in the Douglas Infiniti inventory on the Internet. After contacting the Sales Department at Douglas and working out the numbers to her satisfaction, she contracted for a local “Used Car Inspection” service to have them go to Douglas Infiniti, perform a thorough inspection of the Audi and provide her with a written evaluation of the car before she finalized the deal so she would have peace of mind. In the mean time she used her credit card to put a good faith deposit on the almost brand new Audi so Douglas Infiniti would mark it sold and allow her inspector to come in and look at the car.

After the “Used Car Inspector” spent half an hour inspecting the 2009 Audi with full factory warranty remaining and only 8K miles on it, he wrote up a report that rated the almost new car as if it had 150,000 miles on it and needed every wearable part replaced! It was unbelievable to the salesman and the manager on the deal that this inspector would have written up such a horrible (and misleading) report on such a clean, low mileage almost new car… Everybody else who checked the condition of this vehicle remarked about what a gorgeous Audi it was and had barely been used with only 8,400 miles on the odometer, as well as being locally purchased new and traded in at Douglas Infiniti.

It wasn’t long after Inspector McGoo sent the bogus report to the customer in Montreal when she contacted her Douglas Infiniti Sales Representative and said she wanted to cancel her order on the car because of the Inspector`s report! Everyone involved at Douglas Infiniti was shocked and upset over having a deal blow up because of some idiot “Used Car Inspector” who obviously wrote up a BS report… That’s when the manager asked for Ken Beam to be alerted to the situation and when Ken first found out what was going on…

Ken listened to the situation, quickly developed a plan and started to get involved…

First, Ken contacted the customer in Montreal and told her that he would put the Audi under the bright lights in the shop and then take multiple very high-resolution photos to send her… He also informed the woman that he was going to record a video and send it to her. The video he would create would also zero in and focus on the specific areas the bogus inspector had written about in his report, thereby addressing what the inspector claimed to have seen on the Audi.

Next, Ken proceeded to invest more than four hours of work on the “Used Car Inspection” debunking project, but it turned out to be well worth it, at least for the salesperson selling the car!

The customer reviewed the photographs and watched the video, which was filmed at the same time so that it showed Ken taking the photos! After reviewing the detailed high rez images and watching the “Evidence Videos” that showed the photos being taken and live action of Ken addressing each untrue aspect of the inspection report, she went to her bank and wire transferred the full amount to Douglas Infiniti’s bank account!

The customer went on to say that she felt completely confident in purchasing this 2009 Audi AFTER she saw the videos of both the car and the taking of the high-resolution photos that allowed her to “inspect” the Audi with her own two eyes!!

Now, the big question I had for Ken was “Did you get half a deal?” and all I got back was him laughing about it, so I am not sure, but I think the original salesperson may have kept the whole deal and commissions to himself! Let’s at least hope he takes Ken Beam out for a nice steak dinner, or an evening at the Sopranos’ Bada Bing Club…

WHEELBASE- The distance between the center of a wheel on the car’s front axle to the center of the corresponding wheel on the rear axle.  A car’s wheelbase affects the ride quality, maneuverability, and passenger space. A longer wheelbase benefits ride quality because it lowers the frequency of ride motions. It also benefits passenger room by allowing more leg room. However, it but reduces maneuverability by spreading the car’s mass over a longer distance, thus raising its polar moment of inertia. Conversely, a short wheelbase provides better maneuverability at the cost of a choppier ride and less useful interior room.

WHEEL WELL OR WHEELHOUSE- The area in each corner of the car’s body that contains the wheel — and the clearance for it to turn and move up and down through its suspension travel.

Rocker Panel: A longitudinal body panel on each side of the car, beneath the doors. The rocker panel usually conceals the outer frame rail. Some cars cover the rocker panel with a plastic rocker molding, either for decoration or to protect the rocker panel from stone chips and road salt.

Rub Strip: A horizontal trim strip or molding across the door and sometimes the inside of the front fender to protect against dings and scratches from the doors of other cars. It has become popular to leave off the rub strips for a cleaner appearance.

Belly Pan: A smooth pan mounted on the underside of the car. The belly pan’s main purpose is to cover underbody parts in order to reduce drag. There are a few modern sports cars that incorporate venturi to control the speed of air under the car. By speeding up the underbody air flow, the venturi lower the air pressure under the car, creating downforce.

Just Be Cool- When you’re out and about along the Jersey Shore and can’t find a garage, look to park in the shade. The UV rays of the sun and the heat can cause interior damage. If you’re freaked about parking under trees where birds reside who ate too much, invest in some car shades to minimize the sun’s impact. You’ll not only have a healthier car but a healthier you…nothing worse than feeling like a chicken cutlet going in the oven when you step into a hot car in the Summer.

Sometimes It’s Good To Get Hosed- When you’re done giving your car a nice bath, make sure to take out those rubber or carpet floor mats. Turn the hose on to full capacity and blast away. All those little dirt particles from your kid’s soccer cleat’s or your husbands work boots eventually eat holes in your mats.

Tank You Not So Much- The Exxon Valdez tanker isn’t the only tanker you should run from if you encounter it. Unless you are running on fumes and I’m your son waiting for a pepperoni pizza, never fill up at a gas station that has a gasoline tanker filling its tanks. The tankers tend to cause a whole lot of shaking going on, which loosens up a lot of debris in the underground tanks.  Sludge, grit and grime going into your cars’ filters and injectors is something you want to avoid.

Baby Gone Bad- So Junior is finally elevated from Rugrat status to dropping him off at his first soccer practice. You remove Junior’s car seat from your FX35 and one of the 10 Plagues is festering underneath where his car seat used to occupy.  Avoid this catastrophe with one easy move: before securing the seat (according to manufacturer’s directions) take a heavy plastic sheet or an absorbent towel and place it under the seat.

Big John Dud- You’re trying to enjoy your Saturday morning egg breakfast and your wife is reminding you about needed renovations for your house. Her reminder turns to laughter when you say you’ll take care of the renovations yourself. You head off to Home Depot and come back with enough 2×4′s and plywood to recreate the 2nd coming of Noah’s Ark. Unfortunately when you pull up to your buddy’s house for your poker game that night, the transmission starts acting up. Always check your vehicle’s owners manual for roof load specifications or weight limits. If in doubt, have cargo delivered to your house. Your ego may shrink but not as steeply as your bank account.

Infiniti vehicles combine performance, luxury, style, comfort, and safety. This combination allows you to create the perfect vehicle to fulfill all your car needs. Whether you need to transport a lot of cargo, get the great mpg, or feel stylish wherever you park your car there is an Infinity car to answer the call.

There are many Infiniti Massapequa dealerships to choose from. One option is Infiniti of Manhattan. Browse both new and used cars depending on your price range. The online site is especially helpful when you are looking at used cars. You can see each car’s photograph and mileage. The stock of pre-owned vehicles includes G35, FX35, Q45 and other models as well. New vehicle stock includes the full Infiniti line (G25x, G37x, M37x, EX35, FX35, FX50, M45, and QX56).  All of these cars are available at Infiniti Massapequa dealerships.

This Infiniti Massapequa dealership is dedicated to customer service. In fact, Infiniti of Manhattan received the “Award of Excellence” for 2010. Their website allows you to schedule a test drive online, purchase parts, and view specials. Try searching for your dream car today and then go test drive it.

Infiniti of Manhattan is a proud dealership of the BayRidge Automotive Group serving in New York City, Manhasset, Great Neck, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, White Plains, Lynbrook and  Englewood, New Jersey.

Gil Coronado

Gil Coronado is a man with deep roots in Summit, NJ. The second oldest of five children, Gil and his family moved to Summit when he was two years old.  He is the son of the well-respected Dr. Raul Coronado, who ran a family practice here in Summit for 30 years. Gil is a graduate of the Class of 1987 from Summit High School and attended Rogers Williams University in Rhode Island. He has now been a Sales Consultant at Douglas Infiniti for over 18 years. After trekking through a 1 1/2 rush hour commute from Summit to his house in Teaneck, Gil purchased a house in Pennsylvania 9 years ago. He resides there with his two Jack Russell terriers and his Shih Tzu. Dr. Raul Coronado and his wife ended up purchasing the house next door to Gil. While he enjoys the less clogged roadways and peacefulness of his Pennsylvania home, he does put 35,000 miles a year on his car making the daily commute to Douglas Infinti.

Many of Gil’s clients are repeat customers. Some of them have bought anywhere from 7-10 Infiniti’s each from him over the last two decades. Due to this type of loyalty, the owners of Douglas Auto Group have rewarded these clients of Gil with generous tokens of appreciation. When I asked Gil how does he retain such long-standing business, he said “in one word consistency.” “When you are consistent in your work ethic for your clients, you will have success. It’s no secret formula. When you stay focused and committed, the rest will come.”

If anyone has laid the blueprint for a successful career as a Sales Consultant, it’s Gil Coronado. With strong values rooted in his deep ties to his family and the community he services, you can count on his work ethic, integrity and professionalism as sure as the sun may rise.

It’s a very impressive app for $12.99 worth of cell phone software. Dynolicious is an all-purpose automotive performance meter, utilizing the built-in accelerometer in the iPhone and iPod touch to record your driving characteristics. A history of test results for your car are saved, so averages and trends can instantly be retrieved. Dynolicious also allows you to record modifications made to your car, and to evaluate the resulting gains (or losses) in power and performance.

2- Gas Buddy – (Free-iTunes)

Find the cheapest gas on the go – for free. Gas prices change frequently and may vary as much as 20% within only a few blocks. It’s important to be able to find the service station with the lowest priced fuel. You can also search by zip code if you want to see prices in other areas.

3- iWrecked – (Free-iTunes)

iWrecked is the original auto accident assistant on the app store. Since it’s release in October 2008, it has been featured in many publications and websites. iWrecked is a fully featured, accident resource for easily logging all details and info after being involved in a wreck. Conveniently, take unlimited photos of the damage and accident scene with your phone. The app can also generate a detailed, professional-looking PDF accident report with images, which you can send directly from the app to your insurance company.

4- Find My Car! – (Free-iTunes)

Dude, where’s my car?….Find My Car! is a simple application that uses GPS location services to help you find your car.

5- Min To Go- (Free-iTunes)

Save yourself and get this app and you’ll never forget how much time is left on your parking meter. Just launch the app and set how much time you put on the meter. Min To Go is a simple countdown timer app that displays time remaining on the app’s icon on your device’s home screen. The app also offers audio pre-alarm notifications at 5 min, 15 min, and 60 minute points. Note: remember to take your phone’s alarm off of silent before using the Min To Go app.