Auto Retail News

Jim Flint, Director of Interactive Sales & Marketing for the John Eagle Group, in Texas, talks about how the group on track to sell 9,000 vehicles out of the Internet department this year, up from 7,000 in 2009. Tell us about the history of the J

Prior to becoming a dealer, Mike Reichenbach was a factory guy working at Ford Motor Co. After deciding automotive retail was the place to be and going to work for Tim Stewart Ford, Ford called on him three different times to act as interim general m

In my last column I wailed about free or dirt cheap oil changes, no appointments, and ridiculous commitments impossible to meet, which are too often creating the “perfect service storm.” Only this week I witnessed customer after customer

“Servant leadership” has been a business buzzword the past three decades. But in the 1,000 leadership presentations I’ve given in 14 countries over the past decade, I’ve discovered that many leaders have a misguided understanding of what it i

Of course I am speaking of the all important, yet fleeting Flat Rate Hours here.  These are the family jewels of service and without their fabrication; both service and parts would wilt like the Celtics in the fourth quarter of a game seven champion

In my early years in the auto retail industry a dealer told me, “You cannot cut your way to a profit.” At the time, the comment perplexed me. It seemed to ignore a fundamental business fact. Specifically, profit is simply the difference between y

Bass Sox Mercer (our law firm) handled arbitration filings for 74 GM and Chrysler dealers seeking reinstatement of their franchises. Almost one-half of those dealers were reinstated very early in the process, primarily by GM. The remainder of those m

Are you as amazed as I am that the year is almost over? The good news is you still have ample time to pump up the volume in 2010 but you may have to re-think your traditional advertising mindset. In some markets the political ads for this mid-term el

Dealers need to be wary of “warranty repair shoppers.” Sometimes, for various reasons, a car owner has decided he or she wants out of the vehicle. The disgruntled consumer is convinced the car is a “lemon” and nothing will change that person�