Automotive Training Professionals

Whether you train sales, F&I fixed ops, management, or even dealers, please share your experiences, questions, and success stories here.  We want members who are serious about making a difference in the auto industry, one client at a time.
  • John Fuhrman

    Why do you feel dealers are so resistant to training from an outside source when it comes to sales?  They send their techs to train elsewhere.  They even send the office people to learn about HR.  And, many send their F&I people to learn more about the ever changing finance environment.  Yet, too many dealers feel threatened by outside experts who can and will help their sales people become better.
  • John Fuhrman

    If you could only train in one area, which would you choose?  For example:  While I am very familiar with all areas of front end operations, I prefer training new and inexperienced sales people BEFORE they get trained by the exisiting staff.

  • John Fuhrman

    If you could have or do only one type of training, what would it be?  Details are welcome.
  • Troy

    (In reference to John's comment on 5/23)
    Basically the question was why dealerships don't trust outside trainers to train their sales staff?
    I think ??? you may be asking a rhetorical question but .. if not ,I have certainly seen too many of these so called training companies over the years,that use to be endorsed by large vending companies in the auto industry.These companies were only out to make large profits, as they move in with big promises mostly teaching immoral and corrupt tactic in selling and promotions (if you call it that) . These training companies would collect a nice check and be gone! Even thou the dealers should have looked at these companies better ,they sometimes only seen the BIG dollars these companies not only promised but... guaranteed, and yes the dealer got what they asked for they made large amounts of money quickly ,instead of good money for longer periods of time ,creating long term relationships with generations of auto buyers. It's really in my option ,it's important for the trainers to show the dealers that building long term trusting systems, with new refreshing continuous training plan with clean fair goal setting is the only way ... to endure the longevity in our business to get us through the great and very poor economies we've seen in the years of our Industry. Thank you so much for the invite,it's great to to see this forum of professionals and Christian professionals with visions of improving industry!
  • John Fuhrman

    Troy,

     

    Thanks for the comment and for accepting my invitation.  There are good and bad dealers, sales people, vendors, and even bad training companies.  I think any company, affiliated with a vendor should be held suspect.  Usually the agenda is to get the vendor into the dealership.

     

    When I formed The Dealer Resource Group, I took all of that into consideration.  I also chose to focus on NOT being all things to all people.  Our trainers work with dealers to bring them new sales people, begin their career with good training that fits into the client dealer program, and then we give a real guarantee.  We don't have them pay a part of the progam or part of the expense.  We do it all again at no additional fee.

     

    Some of our trainers do more advanced training when the dealer asks for it.  That happens because the trainer did exactly what was promised, exceeded the dealer's expectation and earned the right to provide even more knowledge.

     

    I am proud of the trainers I associate with.  Many of them came from companies just like you described but wanted a home where integrity was more than just a word. 

  • Michael Baker

    Why do you suppose that most dealers do not have the same mind 'share' with Fixed operations as Variable, since it usually reigns with 85% of the dealership's net profit bt? And why is the synergy of fixed and variable operations so neglected. I have processes with little expense that creates definite enhancements with little investment or learning required by Management for significant improvements in ROI...

  • Steve Richards

    Can anyone provide the name of a company that does a good job of training service consultants to better handle the phone, both incoming and outbound calls? Thank you for your help.

  • Ernie Kasprowicz

    Automobile Trainers/Vendors...Question for all of you: How often while at a dealership doing what you do are you asked a question concerning hiring salespeople,staffing their BDC or internet dept? The question you get asked could be as straight forward as I need more or better salespeople,where and how do I get them or as vague as I don't have the right people to achieve what I need to achieve to sell more cars and make more gross...."If I just had a couple more "studs" I'd be set.How often are you asked about other positions as well...from Porters to Presidents?