Auto Retail News

Traditionally obsolescence has been defined as parts that have not had a sale in anywhere from six months onward, the time frame dependent on the source defining the term. Over the last few years the manufacturers and importer/distributors have reduc

A number of going-forward GM dealers recently received an unexpected “welcome letter” from New GM.  The welcome letter did not include words of encouragement or a thank you for hanging in there through GM’s bankruptcy mess.  Instead, New GM�

You hear the name Bruce Qvale (pronounced kevallee) and probably think it sounds familiar. That’s because it is, especially if you have a fondness for exotic sports cars. The Qvale family maintains a long-respected and eclectic history within the U

Businesses couldn’t survive without a vibrant network of suppliers providing a wide range of equipment, services and supplies to sustain and support the enterprise. High performing suppliers bring consistent value by providing quality goods and ser

One of the graphic pictures in one of the presentations I recently gave is a picture of a bullfighter. The bullfighter’s shin has been punctured by the bull’s horn and the picture captures that moment when the horn punctured the skin, but still r

Calculating fixed absorption is one of the most important business-strength measurements a serious dealership investor can make. In case you aren’t savvy on this, fixed absorption is a calculation of the gross profit generated in the “fix

I have been thrashing The Garage drum (check out www.NetProfitTraining.com) for a number of columns now. We and a hundred of our closest dealer friends have learned quite a bit this past year, both from victories and gaffes while implementing this un

Corina Diehl has been a dealer for three years, owner of the Diehl Auto Group in Butler, PA, a small town a few miles north of Pittsburgh. A devastating personal tragedy brought her into the business a year before the collapse of 2008 and 2009. Yet,

Less than 10% of used car buyers return to the dealership for customer-pay service work. But don’t take my word for it. Run the numbers and see for yourself. Run the VIN numbers for all the used vehicles you sold in 2009 and compare it to the VIN n