Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve of S&E Auto.
Steve, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
S&E Auto Sales started out in 1985 in a one bay garage on route 53 in Weymouth, MA. My cousin Steve and I were only 20 years old when we decided to start our business. We had a small amount of capital and no equipment, but our passion for cars helped us quit our jobs and open a small repair shop. Steve and I were the only two employees, but we took on all repairs major or minor, and even had to change oil on our backs before we could afford a car lift. Although our repair shop was not fancy, Steve and I were honest, hard-working, and inexpensive compared to the other big-name car shops. As word of mouth spread, business rapidly picked up. We expanded into a three-bay garage, hired a couple of employees, and bought some real shop equipment. Once we had a steady grip on the repair shop, Steve and I started buying and selling a few inexpensive cars which really changed our business.
We had trouble coming up with enough money to buy pre-owned cars, and banks rarely wanted to work with us. We had a customer that worked for a bank, and he helped us secure a business loan which allowed us to buy much newer and lower mile pre-owned cars. Long before CarMax existed, Steve and I were the first non-franchise car dealer to sell one owner, off lease, low mile cars that still had factory warranty at no haggle prices.
We eventually purchased an old ambulance building on route 53 in Weymouth and moved the operation there. Our reputation of selling only the best cars and trucks grew and we decided to open our second location on route 1 in Walpole in 2000.
Steve and I split up the work; I was assigned to our Walpole location, and Steve managed the Weymouth location. In 2006, we acquired the Mitsubishi franchise in Walpole which was previously owned by Ernie Boch. The Walpole store now sells new Mitsubishis as well as high quality pre-owned vehicles. The Weymouth store has expanded to over 2.5 acres, includes a 15,000-ft. service facility, and may be the largest independent dealer on the south shore.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road to success is never smooth, especially when you start out small. A very wise business man once said, “it takes about 30 years to become an overnight success”.
Steve and I have had to fight for everything we have. Every bank turned us down for a loan when we started because they assumed we would never make it. The punch line is that most of those banks are out of business now since they could not make it through the banking crisis in the early 90’s. Good economies come in cycles and when times get tough, the businesses that survive are the ones with good reputations and a loyal customer base.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with S&E Auto and Walpole Mitsubishi – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Our car dealership is S&E Auto Sales and Walpole Mitsubishi. The S&E Auto brand deals with pre-owned cars, and Mitsubishi deals with all new Mitsubishi made vehicles.
When it comes to our pre-owned cars, we specialize in selling only the highest quality, low mile vehicles available at the best price possible. Our goal is to make the buying experience enjoyable and hassle free, and we treat every customer like family. We understand that buying a car or truck is very intimidating to most people, which is why we stick to a no pressure sales approach. The customer always sets the pace and has our full attention throughout the deal.
When it comes to our Mitsubishi franchise, the sales philosophy remains the same. We promise that your experience will be hassle free, pressure free, and completely transparent from beginning to end. It’s that simple! We are proud to be one of the highest rated dealers in MA for customer satisfaction.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Our success has been the result of hard work, slow growth, and a customer first sales approach. We understand that there are plenty of cars for sale and that customers have endless options, but S&E Auto has two distinct characteristics that set us apart from the competition. First, we do our best to make our customers happy. When customers leave satisfied, they often tell their friends and family about their great experience and return for future vehicle purchases. Second, the quality of our vehicles is top notch. The internet has made it much easier for customers to search for the lowest prices, but the lowest price does not always equal the best deal. Our vehicles are bought with the safety of our customers in mind. I make sure that every car I buy is good enough for any member of my family. We keep our prices low and our quality very high. No dealership is perfect, but at S&E Auto, we are giving 100% effort 100% of the time.
Contact Info:
- Address: 575 Boston-Providence HWY
- Website: http://www.walpolemitsubishi.com/
- Phone: 5086607000
- Email: ecoolbrith@walpolemitsu.com
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