All Discussions Tagged 'pre-owned' - DealerELITE.net2024-03-28T23:09:48Zhttps://www.dealerelite.net/forum/topic/listForTag?tag=pre-owned&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHonda, GM crack down on certified-used rule benderstag:www.dealerelite.net,2014-09-23:5283893:Topic:4330242014-09-23T17:39:32.821ZMike Elliotthttps://www.dealerelite.net/profile/MikeElliott
<h1><img border="0" src="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/CA/20140922/RETAIL04/309229967/AR/0/AR-309229967.jpg&MaxW=622&cci_ts=20140922063336" style="font-size: 13px;"></img></h1>
<div class="box_article"><div class="article_photo_cap">Industry sales of certified used vehicles such as those at this dealership are on track to set a record in 2014.</div>
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<p><span class="font-size-3">American Honda Motor Co. and General Motors are among the auto companies closely monitoring dealerships' compliance with their certified used-vehicle programs -- and sometimes cracking down on those who bend the…</span></p>
<h1><img src="http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/storyimage/CA/20140922/RETAIL04/309229967/AR/0/AR-309229967.jpg&MaxW=622&cci_ts=20140922063336" border="0" style="font-size: 13px;"/></h1>
<div class="box_article"><div class="article_photo_cap">Industry sales of certified used vehicles such as those at this dealership are on track to set a record in 2014.</div>
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<p><span class="font-size-3">American Honda Motor Co. and General Motors are among the auto companies closely monitoring dealerships' compliance with their certified used-vehicle programs -- and sometimes cracking down on those who bend the rules.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Brian Butts, manager of auto remarketing at American Honda, and Larry</span> <span style="font-size: 12pt;">Pryg</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">, national manager of GM Certified used operations, said most of their dealerships administer their programs properly. But those that don't, get temporarily suspended from the programs. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">It's all about maintaining the programs' integrity, Butts and Pryg said. Neither would say how many dealerships have been suspended from their programs or detail the violations. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">"I think every OEM is concerned with ensuring that the dealerships are properly certifying the vehicles, doing what's necessary both pre- and post-sale," Butts said. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">The suspensions are one reason American Honda's certified used sales are down this year, Butts said. Another reason is because the company's off-lease volumes -- the bread and butter of certified used programs -- are down this year, the result of production cuts in 2011 after the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. That supply shortage has affected certified-used sales, Butts said. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Through August, American Honda certified used sales dropped 7 percent from the year-earlier period to 186,248 vehicles. Industrywide sales of certified used vehicles rose 9 percent in that period, putting them on track to top last year's record 2,113,173, which was up 15 percent. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">American Honda is restructuring the certified-used programs for Honda Division and its luxury sibling Acura and expects to introduce improved programs this year, Butts said. Among other things, the company is changing how it oversees dealer compliance, he added. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">"Unfortunately, we can't visit every dealership ourselves, so we have companies that assist us," Butts said. "We want to ensure that we're doing the best we possibly can to ensure that our dealers are certifying the vehicles properly and documentation is complete and accurate." </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Honda Division and Acura dealerships that lose their right to sell certified used vehicles are suspended for 90 days. They must submit written action plans and work with field staff to correct the problems if they want back in, Butts said. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">GM's Pryg said GM Certified has monitored dealers' performance "for years," but began adding emphasis about 18 months ago. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">"For the first time, we said, 'If you fail [GM audits] consecutively, we will remove you from the program,'" Pryg said. "That's a discussion we've had with dealers for over a year. The idea is to fix them, not get them out." </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Pryg said GM Certified representatives visit participating dealerships one to four times a year. Dealerships are graded on how well they execute the program. Those that do well get fewer visits. Stores that need to improve get more visits. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">"This is our way of keeping our promise that the car is properly certified," Pryg said. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">GM Certified, which includes Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Pontiac and Saturn brands, increased its unit sales 10 percent through August to 255,077. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Bill Fay, Toyota Division general manager, said Toyota dealers do an "excellent job defending and supporting the parameters of the program, but we have to stay on it like everybody else does." </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">So each quarter, a third-party inspection company, on behalf of Toyota Division, conducts unannounced audits at participating dealerships to inspect the quality of the vehicles being sold as certified, said Tom DeLuise, Toyota Motor Sales national manager of certified vehicles and rental car sales and operations. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">"We'll decertify a vehicle, if in fact it needs to be," DeLuise said. "But in those situations, we'll sit down with our dealers and counsel with them and say, 'Here's what you need to do to make sure that the cars are right.'" </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Toyota Division's certified used sales dropped 6 percent through August to 239,251, also in large part the result of lower off-lease volume due to the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.</span></p>
<div class="both"><span class="font-size-3"><a href="http://www.autonews.com/article/20140922/RETAIL04/309229967/honda-gm-crack-down-on-certified-used-rule-benders" target="_blank">Arlena Sawyer's Article in Automotive News</a></span></div> Titan Certified and JG Lubrication Services Join Forcestag:www.dealerelite.net,2013-02-20:5283893:Topic:3548582013-02-20T09:19:56.140ZWilliam Brian Killionhttps://www.dealerelite.net/profile/WilliamBrianKillion
<p>JG Lubricant Services (JG) of Plainfield, IN, has entered into a venture partnership with Titan Certified. JG and its staff brings more than 80 years of lubricant testing experience to the marketplace which services automotive, RV, Marine and support vehicle testing.</p>
<p>“Titan Certified is a welcome complement to our existing portfolio of clients” states Tom Johnson, President of JG. </p>
<p>Barney Gerdts, VP of Sales for JG says “…this partnership should open up new markets for us and…</p>
<p>JG Lubricant Services (JG) of Plainfield, IN, has entered into a venture partnership with Titan Certified. JG and its staff brings more than 80 years of lubricant testing experience to the marketplace which services automotive, RV, Marine and support vehicle testing.</p>
<p>“Titan Certified is a welcome complement to our existing portfolio of clients” states Tom Johnson, President of JG. </p>
<p>Barney Gerdts, VP of Sales for JG says “…this partnership should open up new markets for us and help us gain more penetration with our existing clientele. “ </p>
<p>JG Lubricant Services offers coolant and lubricant analysis for many different types of equipment and a host of different applications including engines, transmissions, differentials, generators, refrigeration equipment (reefer units) and APUs (Auxiliary Power Units). Our engine oil analysis service is designed to meet your needs and provide both individuals and fleet managers with complete data that shows the overall health of both the oil and the host equipment.</p>
<div id="panel" style="display: block;"><p>Lubricant analysis has been proven to be a very effective way to maintain equipment, minimize maintenance costs and ensure against equipment breakdown and loss of use or lost revenue. We provide oil analysis kits for many vehicle types and systems from School Buses to Recreational Vehicles, Concrete Mixers, Over the Road trucks, Transit Buses, Commercial Fishing Boats, Refrigerated Trucks and Wind Turbines. Our engine oil analysis kit provides the user with a detailed, yet easy to understand, report that covers all of the test results and shows the outcome of the engine oil analysis.</p>
</div> Pre-Owned Vehicle Descriptions - Is Less Really More?tag:www.dealerelite.net,2011-07-07:5283893:Topic:1489082011-07-07T05:11:17.721ZEd Wilczekhttps://www.dealerelite.net/profile/EdWilczek
<p>As an independent consultant for dealers, our goal is to advise the store's GM, GSM, and UCM about how to improve efficiency with vehicle listings. With vehicle descriptions which are posted to various sites, including Cars.com, AutoTrader.com, and their own websites, two schools of thought seem to prevail regarding Pre-Owned inventory:</p>
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<p>-- Dealer A believes that customers spend more time reading all the descriptions and verbiage on a web page because the dealer feels…</p>
<p>As an independent consultant for dealers, our goal is to advise the store's GM, GSM, and UCM about how to improve efficiency with vehicle listings. With vehicle descriptions which are posted to various sites, including Cars.com, AutoTrader.com, and their own websites, two schools of thought seem to prevail regarding Pre-Owned inventory:</p>
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<p>-- Dealer A believes that customers spend more time reading all the descriptions and verbiage on a web page because the dealer feels that more customers want as much technical information as possible. Dealer A has spent several hundred dollars per month for an ad-building software which culminates ad copy from various reputable sources that paint their product in a positive light. The final description can be anywhere from 1-2 paragraphs long.</p>
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<p>--Dealer B believes that customers spend more time looking at the pictures of the car. While most consumers want to know and understand technical details about a vehicle, they believe that most shoppers have done their pre-buy homework before looking at active inventory. The dealer wants the customer's eyes to draw their attention and get them excited enough about the vehicle to call or stop in. Dealer B uses a very general description that emphasizes one or two key points, while still leaving enough room for questions.</p>
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<p>Is there any particular rhyme or reason that you follow when marketing that aligns more with either of these dealers? Does one method or another work better in your experience? Are there any obvious flaws with writing too much or too little in the vehicle description?</p>
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