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Kalrog wrote:

flintknapper wrote:As an aside: This would be an excellent time for Kalrog to revisit the dealership.

If he were to introduce himself to Kenny and let him know of his concern, I'd be willing to bet he would get a pretty sweet deal on the vehicle he was looking at, as well cement some relations for us all.

Except that I chose the Kia Sportage over the Ford Escape. I might still stop by, but I won't be purchasing no matter what.

No problem here.

Good luck with your new vehicle, enjoy.

As an aside: This would be an excellent time for Kalrog to revisit the dealership.

If he were to introduce himself to Kenny and let him know of his concern, I'd be willing to bet he would get a pretty sweet deal on the vehicle he was looking at, as well cement some relations for us all.

Liberty wrote:

flintknapper wrote: I can share this much however: He stated that "they have No Position" one way or the other concerning Concealed Carry.

He said the sign is leftover from when the location was another business and apparently was put up before the Covert's owned the dealership that is there now.

I will post back when/if I receive anything to add.

Flint

Thanks Flint.
But he can no longer claim he has no position, he is now aware of the sign and how offensive it is to those who wish to carry. He now has a decision to make, either to leave the sign up or to remove it. A decision to leave the sign up reflects a position.

I am of the same thought concerning the above.

I just received my second reply from Kenny with permission to print here.

My email to him was a simple inquiry about the sign, a question about any personal/company position on the matter and a "heads up" that it may be costing them sales.

His replies to me:

Hi John,

We don't have an opinion on the matter. The sign from what I know is from a long, long time ago before my family even owned the dealership. I also heard that the sign we have doesn't even permit someone that has a concealed license from carrying a gun into a location, apparently there is some other current sign one would have to post.

Thanks,
Kenny Covert
General Sales Manager
Covert Ford Austin
512-345-4343
kennycovert@covertauto.com

Yes, feel free to post a reply. We would still love to sell an Escape to that one gentleman who was in here a week or so ago. Like I said earlier we don't really have an opinion on the matter, I never really even noticed the sign until this came up. Maybe we are supposed to have that old sign there for some sort of legal reasons, I really have no idea. Anyway, I hope we didn't make anyone too upset. Let me know if I can ever help you or any of your friends or family with a new car or truck.

Thanks,
Kenny Covert
General Sales Manager
Covert Ford Austin
512-345-4343
kennycovert@covertauto.com

I will leave all interpretations of this up to each individual.

I hope I have not stepped any toes, or unduly labored this issue in any way. I just could not sit by and say/do nothing when so much speculation was being put forth.

Usually, just "asking" is the best thing to do.

Flint.

carlson1 wrote:

flintknapper wrote:I can share this much however: He stated that "they have No Position" one way or the other concerning Concealed Carry.
Flint

That is exactly what I thought someone would get if we emailed them. "They Have No Position" is the answer that most folks it this thread said it would be. No position is a position.

It struck me the same way. That is why I emailed him back requesting anything else he wanted to offer.

Clearly, they do not want to upset either side.

When you consider this dealership is in one of the liberal bastions of Texas (Austin), I would almost expect it.

I agree, it amounts to taking a position.....but I truly believe that position is mostly a neutral one.

If this were Lloyd Doggett or Ronnie Earle....I'd know right away where they were coming from.

The Covert's are good folks just trying to do business IMO.

Kenny Covert (General Manager Covert Ford) e-mailed me today with a reply.

I won't post it here yet....as I have written him back and asked his permission to do so. I have also requested that he add any additional information he thinks might be helpful.

I can share this much however: He stated that "they have No Position" one way or the other concerning Concealed Carry.

He said the sign is leftover from when the location was another business and apparently was put up before the Covert's owned the dealership that is there now.

I will post back when/if I receive anything to add.

Flint

carlson1 wrote:Flint it does not make a lot of difference to me either way since I am not in the area to do business. I am just speaking in general about ANY Business with ANY sign. "The proof is in the pudding."

I can appreciate that point of view.

However, we don't know (yet) if the general manager even knows about the sign, and we certainly shouldn't speculate about his (or the companies) feelings about the 2nd Amendment based on this IMO.

I may be wrong, perhaps this new generation of Covert's are anti-gun, anti-RKBA, etc... but I kind of doubt it. If I hadn't grown up in Austin....and didn't know anything about this family...I might take a different point of view. But I did, and I do....so I'm going to reserve judgment.

If I get a reply from them....I will post it here (with their permission).

Thanks,

Flint.

The answer to your questions can probably be had right here:

Name: Kenny Covert Department: New Sales

Title: General Sales Manager Phone No.: 512-345-4343

Email :

kennycovert@covertauto.com



http://www.covertford.com/aboutus.jsp


I emailed Kenny this past weekend, but have not gotten a reply yet.

Perhaps the prudent thing to do (for all those concerned) would be to email him and see what he says.

Then, we can all stop speculating.

I guess I am at loss to understand how forbidding firearms from a particular piece of property equates to non-support of 2nd Amendment rights.

I haven't lived in Austin for quite some time now, but I am sure the Covert's own 4-5 dealerships by now. Undoubtedly, any signage is simply a business decision made for the sake of insurance purposes.

I can tell you for certain they are "reasonable" people, so anyone wanting to discuss the matter...can just call them.

txinvestigator wrote:

Longtooths wrote:

txinvestigator wrote:

Kalrog wrote:I am car hunting right now and and I stopped by the Covert Ford dealer in north Austin on 183 to test drive an Escape. Went in and noticed that they had a completely non-compliant "no guns" sign (it wasn't even close, but it did make reference to 30.05). Well, I didn't let it stop me from test driving but I am going to let it stop me from purchasing there. And I will let the internet sales manager (CJ - the person I spoke to) know why. I doubt it will make a difference, but at this point the big 3 in Detroit can't afford to lose ANY sales. Did you hear about GM's loss this morning?

That sounds like cutting off your nose to spite your face. I think its silly.

You think it is silly that he chooses to not spend his money with people that do not believe in the 2nd amendment? not like he can not take his business to another dealership..

How do you know that those people, "do not believe in the 2nd amendment"? Assuming that is silly also. Bill of rights refers to the government, not private proprty owners.

You are correct.


The "Covert's" are an old "Austin" family and are fine folks. If anyone wants to know where they stand on the 2nd Amendment they can call Rox, Duke or Danay, they'll be happy to tell you.