Another night of being up late...thinking about work, personal life, work...and of course this whole TrueCar debate.  I'm not sure if this it's a good or bad thing that for the past two hours I have been catching up on all of the blogs, videos, phone conversations recorded etc.



Now, before I state my thoughts on this.  I realize that there are a few close friends and mentors in the automotive online network here that may have a different opinion.  I am the type of person however,…

Good Memories:

The Gift That Keeps on Giving

In a world preoccupied with the quest for material possessions,

it's easy to overlook the fact that the most valuable…

Time for Part 3 in a series of social media marketing tips for businesses...



Tip #103~ Embrace The Power of Tagging



Your company knows the importance of getting involved with the community. Whether it's volunteering for a fundraising dinner, hosting a team building campaign for charitable cause, or being one of the sponsors for a local event, letting your customers and friends know that you are working to make a difference in the world around you is a fundamental way of…

 This True car deal is no different than the guy down the street advertising at cost or below. It's no different than when the internet came out and people were worried everyone will come in with the cost of a car. This simply is not the case. One thing will remain the same. The best trained sales force can overcome anything. What's your thoughts?

Just saw this article on TechCrunch about CarWoo. One of the main things in this whole TrueCar scenario (other than data) was TrueCar's goal of removing salespeople from the process.

I thought this part of the article was interesting.

"That’s the promise of CarWoo, a startup that looks to take the stressful negotiation tactics and pushy salespeople out of the equation, allowing consumers to buy their car online with a relatively small amount…

Scrambled eggs can’t be undone. Neither can your past. The only guarantee in your life is the present. Often we focus on the tiny rearview mirror affectionately known as our past, instead of being fixated on the large windshield of our future. You can’t be bitter and sweet, you can’t be hot and cold, neither can you move backward and expect to advance forward in your life. Sometimes we become stuck because we like it. Not because it is enjoyable, but because it is…

Great infographic from peaksalesrecruiting - sales and marketing go hand in hand, and this chart has some interesting stats regarding social profiles, internet usage, and how people are viewing and sharing information. Also: techniques for better sales and PR.

Add your own to the list...…

Yesterday I conducted an interview with Scott Painter, CEO of TrueCar.  I asked him some tough questions and he candidly provided the answers. Answers that I didn't always agree with, but he did answer my questions.  I commend Scott Painter for reaching out to people like myself and Jim Ziegler. 



There is no doubt that Mr. Painter is very passionate about his business.  He believes in what he is doing and he's defending his vision, and I can't fault the man for attempting to…

ActivEngage was honored to have its CEO and Co-Founder Todd Smith featured as a keynote presenter as the Ignite! Dealer Summit. Todd’s workshop highlighted more than 17 easy to use and powerful online tools and …

Very few dealers are both aggressive and effective in selling Extended Service Agreements (ESAs) after the new or used vehicle has been delivered. If you are so fortunate to be among this minority, you don’t need to read any further. Since most F&I departments don’t seem to have the inclination or motivation to work these post-delivery opportunities, let’s explore an alternate strategy…structuring a process to have our service advisors aggressively and effectively sell ESAs in…

Five days ago on dealerelite.net I posted this Blog titled True Car Pricing. I reviewed the snap shot of Seven vehicles SOLD in a regional area. Today I went back to TrueCar.com and reviewed "My Vehicles". Check out the difference when four cars got added to the metrics from 7 to 11 Regional Sold.

According to TrueCar, if I would have purchased this vehicle…

Attitude, albeit good or bad is infectious; as a salesperson ask yourself, are you infecting your clients? Are you sneezing optimism on every opportunity or are you coughing doubt and pessimism spoiling your attempts in making a sale? The ABC’s of selling has traditionally stood for Always Be Closing. The acronym’s purpose is to remind sales…

The article indicates Acura is to roll out a sub $30,000 sport sedan.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-12/honda-wants-new-acura-ilx-to-help-keep-gen-y-out-of-lexus-bmw.html

So the sky is falling – What lands on your head is up to you.

The economic realities of today are brutal and greatly affect the service and repair industry.  When you’re out of work or underemployed, you may simply not have the cash to perform needed maintenance and repairs.  Those of us fortunate enough to have enough work all know someone who does not, and that…

Customers never buy things based on price alone........

If you don't believe me take a look at Starbucks or Apple computer. What dealerships need to realize is customers can buy vehicles anywhere and most brands have great product lines as well. The question is what are you doing to attract new customers and maintain your existing customers by creating an amazing customer experience. Think about your local high end hotel, that dry cleaner or grocery store that…

I received this email about eight hours ago from an employee of DealerTrack.  They asked me that I kept it discreet so I will not be mentioning who it was that sent this to me.  It is amazing that DealerTrack's own employees have certain opinions about DealerTrack selling ALG to TrueCar.  Does it mean that DealerTrack's own employees are against this deal too?  I know that I myself could not work for a company that would allow something like this (no matter how much money I was getting…