New J.D. Byrider outlet offers variety of used cars to buyers with credit issues

The customers Jonathan Gandolfo sees tend to be hard-working individuals and families.

But they also share a hard-luck trait increasingly common in this downbeat economy: they've struggled financially.

Gandolfo, via the J.T. Gandolfo dealer group, heads the new North Charleston franchise of J.D. Byrider. The chain has 134 used car stores nationwide that cater to people with less than stellar credit.

The local outlet, which opened March 17 at 7053 Rivers Ave., is easy to see with its bright orange and blue sign. "It is a good market for subprime (lending), buy here, pay here," involving loans to people who aren't top-notch borrowers. "There's not someone else with the same offer," said Gandolfo, who also operates the 10-year-old J.D. Byrider store in Columbia.

The North Charleston outlet has 40 vehicles in stock, with about 20 cars and trucks in its voluminous showroom. The large windows make vehicles readily visible from high-traffic Rivers Avenue south of Ashley Phosphate Road.

"We are proud of our (air conditioned) showroom," he said. "We know how (hot) the summers are here."

Most of the vehicles were new cars in the early 2000s or late 1990s.

"Our average vehicle (age) is 7 years old, and average mileages are just under 100,000," Gandolfo said. Each of the vehicles is inspected at the J.D. Byrider service shop less than a block away. They all come with an 18-month warranty and $5 oil changes for life.

J.D. Byrider has a variety of vehicles from which to choose: minivans, sport utility vehicles, sedans, coupes and some trucks. "We have both imports and domestics," he said. The used cars and trucks are typically bought at car auctions or are trade-ins acquired from other dealerships. The store has access to other outlets in the chain, notably the Columbia locale just two hours away.

Car buyers receive a Carfax report, so they know the history of the vehicle before they purchase one.

Financing is short-term, from two-and-a half to three years on the terms of the loan. "We don't drag financing out six or seven years," Gandolfo said. "We get you in and out of the program," which includes reporting payment information to all three major credit bureaus. "It helps repair your credit," he said.

Indiana car dealer Jim DeVoe launched J.D. Byrider in 1989. He focused on selling dependable 5- to 10-year-old cars, financed through the dealer, to buyers who lacked access to traditional credit sources.

Since then the company, headquartered in the Indianapolis suburb of Carmel, Ind., has sold more than 750,000 cars and trucks. Its revenue in 2008 was $759 million. The Web site is www.gojdb.com.

The J.D. Byrider store has 11 employees in sales, service and administration. Hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday Friday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday.

Gandolfo said he believes the new store will be successful. "I would say our goal is to serve and many customer as possible and to continue to expand."

Gandolfo, 29, first worked for J.D. Byrider a decade ago. "I love it," he said. "It is really a great job. It's nice to help. People still need transportation," he said.

Reach Jim Parker at 937-5542 or jparker@postandcourier.com.