The U.S. economy entering 2023 is much more strained compared to even the early days of the pandemic just a few short years ago. Inflation continues to affect U.S. retail and automotive shoppers, with ongoing fears of a recession this year. Vehicle prices are still extremely high and now there’s even talk of gas prices rising again.

However, auto retailers and their lender and OEM partners continue to push forward, knowing that despite the economic pressures and higher prices…

Have you ever noticed when the sales floor goes out for good third-party training that they come back with a pep in their step? That’s because whatever speaker they had got them fired up and ready to go all out for your product. There is nothing better than rekindling that spark and feeling some extra motivation to get back into the sales game full steam ahead. But what would make that even better? Someone to come back to the dealership and discuss it with, not even just that day, but days…

HUNT VALLEY, MD, February 16, 2023 – Armatus Dealer Uplift, the industry leader in retail warranty reimbursement submissions, is pleased to announce the move of its headquarters to 50 Schilling Road in Hunt Valley, Maryland.

The 15,000 square foot space features a comfortable and open floor plan with a modern ambiance, equipped with state-of-the-art technology that ensures the staff can quickly respond to inquiries from customers as well as prospective clients.

“Our company has…

Many dealerships have started using a Business Development Center or BDC to bring in new business and to increase the effectiveness of the appointments that their sales agents have. If you have never used a BDC before, you may not see why it is important or if you have worked with an ineffective one, it might be frustrating to think about dealing with that. Luckily there are some things you can do with…

Caller ID was created to make everyone’s lives easier. Sometimes in a dealership setting, it does, especially when a customer has a thick accent or a hard time remembering their phone number. Other times (98% of the time), the caller ID is the communication killer that staff should avoid at all costs. 



Why is caller ID a communication killer? We…

We can do many things to stand out against the competition. Quality phone skills, streamlined processes, and even an up-to-date website. Yet many of us struggle to achieve any of the above tasks. Have we ever stepped back and asked ourselves why we cannot accomplish any (or all) of the above? Sure, there's the age-old excuse of "not enough time in the day" or "we don't need that to…

One of the most important things that you need to focus on with your phone agents is making sure that they are performing up to expectations and that their phone conversations are effective. Effective calls lead to more sales, which means greater success for your dealership. One of the best ways to evaluate the success rate of these phone calls is by using call scoring. 

What is Call…

Retailer wins volume sales crown for the fourth time since 2018 and was also the # 1 Kia EV dealer in 2022; four of five Car Pros Kia dealerships finish in the top 20 nationwide

RENTON, WA – February 7, 2023 – Car Pros Automotive Group announced today that it has been named the top Kia retail sales…

Let’s paint a picture. We’re in the showroom, and a customer is starting to get noisy at the other end. Our ears perk up, and the first thing that is audible is, “they told me on the phone that…” The thought crossing everyone’s mind is, what DID they say over the phone? Is this customer forgetting/misunderstanding what was said to them, or is one of our customer service representatives not holding up to their end of the bargain when the customer is physically in front of them? Neither of the…

There's nothing sweeter than looking at a hot P&L statement. Sitting back in the chair throwing air hoops for a job well done. Or maybe you’re browsing online for another Rolex to add to your collection. All of this is well and good. In fact, it's fantastic. What's not so fantastic are the problems dealers will face in the coming months. It's a telltale sign when vendors come in hot with their latest tech products to assist your dealership. Offering much of the same products they…

TotalCX is pleased to announce the promotion of Leez May to the role of Customer Experience Officer.

HOUSTON – Jan. 31, 2023 - TotalCX, a leading provider of AI-driven customer experience management solutions, has announced a new member of the executive leadership team, Leez May, who has…

We’ve all come across the “just looking” tire kicker that hits our lot on a sunny Saturday afternoon or the one calling around every dealership for a deal but won’t disclose their timeframe to buy. They have what feels like a million questions or no questions at all, they want to drive your entire inventory, or they just want to peek into a window or two and not be bothered. Each person is different regarding their purchasing process and prowess and how they warm up to a sales…

Artificial intelligence is one of the current buzzwords in business. Everywhere you look, articles and posts talk about how artificial intelligence can redefine your operations. Artificial intelligence has quickly become one of the most important tools your dealership can use to increase sales and the customer’s overall impression of your dealership and the sales process. …

Ouch!

Let's preface this article by saying it isn't about beating anyone up. It's about offering realistic insights into the struggles we're currently facing. If we don't tackle the issues we face head-on, we're asking for a rude awakening in the coming months. For those living under a rock, according to a recent NY Times article, auto sales in 2023 will be at a…

eLEND Solutions adds ‘real deal’ digital finance solution to its suite of digital credit and identification solutions to eliminate frictions and profit leaks in the vehicle purchase process

Dallas, Texas – January 26th, 2023 – eLEND Solutions…

Who doesn't like a nice front-end gross profit? Most of us would be lying if we said otherwise. In the last three years, things have been different, right? For the first time in years, we consistently held a healthy front-end gross profit on new vehicles. Something that seemed to be of a bygone era. Previously, we'd focus on how much we're willing to lose to hit the stair-step program from the OEM. It has been…

New auto dealership solution from eLEND Solutions combats epidemic of identity fraud that is impacting nearly 80% of dealerships

Dallas, Texas – January 25th, 2023 – eLEND Solutions announced today, at NADA 2023, the launch of IDentify, a layered,…

One in four deals reworked because dealership online calculators inaccurately quote payment terms, impacting F&I sales penetration & transaction times, according to eLEND Solutions survey, as dealers report sales pullback driven by economic uncertainties

Foothill Ranch, Calif. –…

Leader in indirect vehicle leasing for credit unions tops previous single-year record for originations as number of dealers participating increases

San Diego, CA – January 24, 2023 – Credit Union Leasing of America (CULA) set a new record in 2022 for lease originations with $2.7 billion in…