Dangers of Failing to Check Warranty Notes

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
Sep 1, 2010

Don’t Write It in Sand, Carve It in Stone

Every time I do a 20 group, dealer state association meeting or anything where a group of dealers are gathered without their managers, I start hearing what used car managers will not do or adhere to, or what they want as policy. I have some recommend
Aug 1, 2010

With History there is No Mystery

As all of you are aware for 28 years I have been teaching you in class that “every used car has a story, but if you can’t tell it, you can’t sell it.” The importance of having a customer involved in their trade in is vitally important to the
Jul 1, 2010

The New Reality of the Used Car Business

Every day I’m more convinced that dealers’ strategy for making money in used car operations is outdated and wrong. Have a conversation with any dealer or manager about used car operations and the words “gross profit” will be mentioned in shor
Jul 1, 2010

Is It Time for a New Kind of Sales Department? Consider combining the new and used vehicle sales departments

Last year we saw things that were previously unimaginable. OEM bankruptcies, franchise terminations, and many more dealers that just went out of business because they couldn’t survive the economic challenges. Automotive financing, both retail and w
Mar 1, 2010

Quick Tips to Improve Online Pre-Owned Sales

Creative merchandising of inventory improves sale chances We’re well into the first quarter, but it’s never too late to tweak our annual goals. At the very least we all can use a reminder of the basics that got us to where we are today. Think bac
Mar 1, 2010

Documentation is the New Negotiation

By now, almost everyone recognizes the importance of pricing vehicles competitively. Almost every shopper has checked the Internet before they burn their $3 per gallon gasoline and valuable time and venture out into the marketplace. Unless your deale
Feb 9, 2010

All Roads Lead to Rome (Washington, DC)

I was recently on a trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil doing a used car school for Fenabrave (Brazil’s NADA). On the way to Brazil, while waiting in line at the food garden in the airport, I met a gentleman from Germany also traveling to Brazil. He and I st
Feb 1, 2010