About United Dealers of New Jersey

December 10, 2009

Over one hundred (100) Exxon locations in the state of New Jersey have joined UDNJ and have been members since our inception.  We are united and we will not waiver.  We fought hard and earned the well deserved “First Right of Refusal”.  Now, we are asking for fair and just treatment for ourselves and our customers.

Over the years, ExxonMobil has built is lucrative empire on the backs of thousands of service station owners like us.  After earning billions of dollars last year alone, ExxonMobil may sell out stations to the highest bidding distributor.

The neighborhood Exxon stations are typically family-run enterprises.  Their hard work over the years has added substantial goodwill value to ExxonMobil’s business.  Any unilateral sale of stations to distributors without franchisees involvement or input leaves the franchisees’ financial health uncertain, and will lead to higher cost of doing business, which in turn translates to higher gas prices.

UDNJ’s members are not “anti-Exxon.”  Most of our members are long-time franchisee.  In a recently filed lawsuit, we have alleged that Exxon has engaged in certain unfair business practices and that our expenses have been significantly increased.  Higher rents, higher maintenance fees and higher fuel costs will ultimately lead to lower margins, lower sales volumes and higher gas prices for the consuming public.  Without adequate protection, many of us may very well be pushed out of business.  We will continue our struggle to protect our businesses so that we can provide for our families and continue to serve our communities.  If we are successful, the outcome of our efforts will have an unmistakable impact on the public motorist in the state of New Jersey.

We are taking  on the world’s largest oil company and most profitable corporation, a task which is not easy and certainly it is not cheap.  Now, more than ever we need the support of our customers.  A portion of every dollar spent in our locations by our customers will go towards financing our legal efforts.  UDNJ will continue to fight for our members as well as our customers.  Certainly, we need the continued support of our customers more than ever.  We need our customers to continue to patronize our locations and we are counting on them.