The real story of Enterprise rent a car

[Bob32]

I started working for Enterprise in 1965,it was known then as Executive leasing. My dad was one of Jack Taylors first customers. Jack Taylor came from Lindbergh Cadillac his boss was A.R. Lindbergh a very successful auto dealer in the greater St.Louis area.

Jack went on vacation to Florida in the mid fifties. Whale on that he ran into a dealer that was leasing cars and he thought it was a great idea. When Jack got back to St. Louis he told A.R. Lindbergh all about the auto leasing concept and wanted to start a leasing company in St.Louis. But there was only one problem
Jack needed capital to do it. Somehow Jack sold A.R. on putting up the money.

Will Jack opened up Executive Leasing but Jack wasn't an all star salesman. After two years of trying Executive was still in the red an A.R. wasn't happy he told Jack he had one more year to brake even are he would have to close down. Jack hired Bob Mohan a ad salesman for the news paper. Mohan was an all star salesman many times i have told people that Mohan could sell you a blind seeing eye dog an you would not only be happy but recommend him and Executive Leasing to your friends. Mohan was the best salesman I have ever found in my life.Executive Leasing grew to three offices over the next 10 years thanks in large part to Bob Mohan.

I went to work at Executive Leasing and started under Wayne Coffman it was Wayne who had the concept or renting cars to insurance companies. I worked for Wayne only a short time. Executive started Famous & Barr rent a car and was transfered to the Clayton Famous & Barr to rent cars. That was so boring. But after a year I was promoted to long term leasing that was much better.
After about a year an a half Things were good. Then one day I was told that Jack Taylor wanted to see me and instead of going into the Kings Highway office to just go out to Ladue office and be there at 9:00 am. I was worried because I had no idea what to exspet. I Was going to merry in a few moths and if I got fired everything would go up in smoke. 9:00 o'clock came and I was sent into Jacks office I sat there as Jack told that Don Nations was opening the second out of state branch in Atlanta Ga. Don Had requested me to work with him With that Jack hands me $500.00 expense money and a plane ticket. Jack told not to worry about anything that the company will move me and even pack all my things up . I wouldn't even have to come back. Jack told me I could fly back on weekends to see Pam my future wife but Jack also wanted to fly Pam to Atlanta Ga. a few times and for me to show her a good time.

I still remember Don going over profit and lose statement every month because his bonus was based on the profit. Some of the accounting was very creative. I didn't really care because I was on a smaller base salary plus commission on the cars I leased. I got lucky and leased all the cars to lykes Youngtown and then Bic Pen I was maxed out but the money was good. Oh I forgot WE were Enterpise in Atlanta.

Well things changed I was promoted to branch manager of a new enterprise office in downtown Atlanta.So my base salary increased to 2000.00 a month but all my accounts stayed with my old office so I was making less than I was as a salesman but had no choice in the matter. I stayed for a while but my dad got very sick and I resigned to take care of him.

It was shortly after that Enterprise changed its business model From renting and leasing cars to building a real estate empire that you pay for. Good for the Taylors but not good for you. You never will get any part of the real estate profit.

Comments welcome.

[32AATopIPEandDub]

Wow, very interesting post. Sounds like Jack was good at coming up with the idea and his son, Andy, was good at coming up with the business model for ERAC. Can't blame them for their greed. It's kind of funny how they brag about how they take care of their customers.

Where will ERAC be a decade or two from now with all of the oil running dry in the world?

[yambag]

good post Bob, thanks for sharing.
what is your opinion about the future of the company?
is/was jack taylor a good guy?

[Bob32]

Originally Posted by yambag

good post Bob, thanks for sharing.
what is your opinion about the future of the company?
is/was jack taylor a good guy?

Future of the company is made in gold.The real estate is there safety net. Yes Jack was an ok guy but lust ok as time went on and Atlanta became more successful it went to his head and he got a little wired.

[Bob32]

Originally Posted by 32AATopIPEandDub

Wow, very interesting post. Sounds like Jack was good at coming up with the idea and his son, Andy, was good at coming up with the business model for ERAC. Can't blame them for their greed. It's kind of funny how they brag about how they take care of their customers.

Where will ERAC be a decade or two from now with all of the oil running dry in the world?

No Andy was to young Andy he worked with me. Jack asked me to because we were close to the same age and I don't remember Andy ever being that sharp.

[32AATopIPEandDub]

Originally Posted by Bob32

Future of the company is made in gold.The real estate is there safety net. Yes Jack was an ok guy but lust ok as time went on and Atlanta became more successful it went to his head and he got a little wired.

Absolutely true. They own so much damn land that they're filthy wealthy.

Andy wasn't a bright guy? I thought he had come up with the business model. Isn't he the current CEO of the company?

[Cynical]

Originally Posted by Bob32

No Andy was to young Andy he worked with me. Jack asked me to because we were close to the same age and I don't remember Andy ever being that sharp.

Are you trying to say that Andy's position has more to do with who his father is and less to do with his talent and smarts? Man I just don't see the corporate world working like that.

[32AATopIPEandDub]

Originally Posted by Cynical

Are you trying to say that Andy's position has more to do with who his father is and less to do with his talent and smarts? Man I just don't see the corporate world working like that.

That's exactly how Corporate America works when it's passed down from family to family. Obviously George W. Bush didn't become president because of his smarts. Even Donald Trump was a failure until he inherited wealth from his father.