During this pandemic, many dealers introduced measures to ensure vehicle service is more convenient and fits the current lifestyle of their customers. This, of course, comes at a cost. Dealerships have to pay porters or drivers to go to the customer's house, pick up their vehicle, return to the dealership to perform the service, then return it to the…

Regardless of the business model, the dealership's business models have changed over time, with dealers introducing business development centers, exchange managers in sales, product consultants, and marketing managers, to name a few. On the other hand, the GM position is seldom addressed or evolved - a position that manages all departments at the dealer level…

Would you schedule your entire sales team to be on the floor at opening time on a weekday? Probably not, because it just doesn’t make scheduling sense to have a full staff when you’re not all that busy. The same scheduling decisions need to be made for your BDC, whether virtual or in-house.

When it comes to scheduling for your reps in your BDC, peak…

In a robust used car market, does it matter whether you fully recondition cars before moving them to the front line?

Doesn’t it make sense to simply bypass a thorough reconditioning when you can sell very car you get at a premium without first providing a high-level recon? 

That's what a recent article in…

All drivers would like to avoid purchasing a lemon, to begin with. If you find yourself with one, you need to learn how to avoid being taken advantage of by the automaker.

A vehicle may classify as a lemon if the manufacturing flaws interfere with the safety, use, or value of the vehicle while it’s under warranty.…

A recent article in Automotive News showcased how the overall market for DMS software is in flux with disrupters cracking the decades-old duopoly of CDK and Reynolds and Reynolds. NADA 2021 proved the point with as many as 20 companies exhibiting DMS software. If you’re one of the many dealerships who recently signed with a new provider, you’re going to need to buckle up.

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As the internet made way for a simpler car buying experience, many dealerships turned to a concept called a BDC, or Business Development Center, to handle the influx of phone calls from customers. These days, a BDC is practically a necessity in a thriving dealership. However, how do you tell if your BDC is functioning properly and ensuring the most customers…

How many times have you been told by a vendor that your current efforts aren't cutting it? If you don't sign up for their product, you're not going to get the same results. To then go with their product -- having been sold a bag of goods only to be left with a mess putting you in a worse position you were previously. Not to mention, don't you think some vendors have been conditioned to our tactics of saying, "well, what are other (your OEM) dealers doing"? To which they, in most cases,…

Dealers are increasingly adopting video in order to engage customers and win sales. Well, how about adopting this strategy in the F&I department as well?

As front-end margins decrease, many dealerships are placing more emphasis on F&I to make revenue. With digital retailing on the rise and customers shopping from home rather than in the…

One of the most valuable assets we possess can’t be measured, counted or displayed. It takes years to build and seconds to destroy, and we depend on it not only in business but in our marriages, friendships and all the other relationships in our lives. Our…

Cars.com Reports 57% of Americans Plan to Travel for Spring Break; 2 Out of 3 Travelers Say  COVID-19 Impacted Their Decision to Drive1

CHICAGO, March 25, 2021 — As the pandemic continues, Americans are…

When discussing recalls, I have always emphasized the importance of recall repair compliance. It makes the roads safer for vehicle owners, their passengers, and drivers sharing the road. NHTSA has stressed the importance of (and put a lot of effort into) notifying these vehicle owners of open safety recalls with the goal of reaching 100% safety recall…

HUNT VALLEY, MD, March 24, 2021 – Armatus Dealer Uplift, the industry leader in Retail Warranty Reimbursement, announced today that the Mississippi Automobile New Dealers Association (MADA) has named Armatus as the exclusive endorsed partner for Retail Warranty Reimbursement submission services for the MADA membership.

“HB-746 now makes Mississippi the 47^th state where dealers can be reimbursed at retail for warranty work and it also gives Mississippi a stronger warranty…

A new report from eLEND Solutions shows 80 percent of dealers surveyed fast-tracked adoption of digital retailing tools due to the pandemic. It’s no secret many dealers were…

Implementing a BDC at your dealership is a proven way to maintain control of leads and processes. However, too many BDC’s underperform or even break-down completely due to a fatal mistake: a poor BDC manager. Poor managerial skills lead to erosion of processes and employee morale, resulting in unanswered calls, long wait times, loss of business, and high employee turn-over.

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Personal URL Links and Conferencing Features are Designed to Boost Customer Response Rates and Close More Sales

Urbandale, IA—March 23, 2021—Two new features in Flick Fusion’s StreaMe live video calling application are designed to boost customer response rates, increase the number of customer conversations and make it easier for sales and service teams to close more sales.

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The phones are ringing off the hook. Your door is closed yet people keep pouring in. You have sales managers asking for their commissions, management wanting the final numbers for the month, a floorplan needing reconciled, and the statement still hasn’t been uploaded to the manufacturer.

I get it – I’ve been there. The dealership month-end…

While Many Lease Payments Hold Steady, Some Brands Decrease Monthly Rates While Others  

Test an Increase in Rates 

Wantalease.com, the nation’s first online car lease marketplace for new lease deals, reports the latest update on…

The 2020 Annual Blue Sky Report^® by Kerrigan Advisors reveals a red-hot market, with blue sky values up 20% and over 100 transactions in the fourth quarter alone; Toyota’s blue sky multiples increase

Incline Village, NV, - March 22, 2021–The auto dealership buy/sell market set new records in 2020, despite starting the year with pandemic closures and lockdowns, and swept past 2015’s previous high-water…