NEW ORLEANS - General Motors Corp. management told hundreds of Oldsmobile dealers on Monday that it won't reverse its decision to kill the brand or sweeten the separation agreements with dealers. <br>
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"They reiterated twice. It's done. It's over. It's important for everyone to realize it. This is a cloud," said Alan Starling, an Oldsmobile dealer from St. Cloud, Fla., said after the meeting. <br>
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Leo Jerome, who owns three of the largest Oldsmobile dealerships in the country, operating in Warren, Mich., and Lansing, Mich., said the deal is unfair because dealers are paid the same compensation despite the length of time they sold the brand. <br>
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GM's vice president for industry dealer relations said he understands the dealers' feelings, but the company is not reversing its decision to end production of the Oldsmobile line by the 2004 model year. <br>
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"The decision has been made, and we're working to the best of our abilities to work with our dealers and to work with each and every one of them through the situation," Darwin Clark said. <br>
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He said compensation was more dependent on sales volume than time in business. <br>
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Of the 2,801 Oldsmobile dealers, approximately 58 percent have signed or intend to sign the separation agreement, Clark said. He said another 800 dealers are "in discussions" to sign them. <br>
