Scripts aren’t just important, they’re critical! And it’s not just the importance of scripts themselves but the strict adherence to them with ongoing inspection and confirmation of progress to their correct deployment. 

A strong process sets you free, we all know that. It’s proven time and again in the military, business, and academia.…

We'd be lying if we said we didn't enjoy the time when cars flew off the lot faster than we could restock our inventory. But as that excitement hit the road, have we asked ourselves, "Are we ready to sell again?" Let's be real, over the past three years, we could easily overcome objections and even achieve record levels of profit. But did we actually stick to a sales process during this frenzy? The truth is NO, most of us didn’t. …

As a savvy customer, nothing is more infuriating than being ignored or receiving a response that dodges all your questions. Pre-Covid, dealerships used to pride themselves on their promptness in addressing leads. Even the OEMs had standards in place to ensure that all inquiries were answered within a specific timeframe. However, during the peak of the pandemic, when demand outstripped supply, some dealerships conveniently chose to overlook their leads. And if they did bother to…

It's one thing to be great on the phone, have efficient systems in place, or even flaunt a sleek, modern website. But, oh boy, it seems like we're a bunch of klutzes trying to fit a square peg in a round h*** with those tasks. Now, ever wonder why we trip over these hurdles? Maybe we're spewing the worn-out "time is a luxury we can't afford" excuse, or even the grand old "we've sold cars since the dinosaurs roamed, and we're doing peachy." Peachy? Really? Is being stuck in the mundane…

One of the most glaring issues affecting dealerships today is the dismal state of their phone skills. It’s alarming to witness how poorly some sales consultants handle inbound calls. Often, they fail even to say a simple "thanks for calling ABC Motors," instead opting for a generic introduction like "sales, Chris…" This lack of professionalism right at the outset leaves a negative impression on potential customers and set the tone for the entire interaction. …

When it comes to training, there are an endless number of things that you can prioritize. While the specific issues you may be facing at your dealership may be unique, there are certain things that every sales training schedule should include.

Set More Quality Appointments

Setting appointments is the lifeblood…

Sales agents spend much of their time on the phone, so it’s important for this time to be used effectively. While some may be natural at selling, everyone can stand to have at least a little training to help them out. There are some areas of phone etiquette that you should be focusing on to help them be the most effective.

Active…

We have all had days where we walk around with what feels like electricity pulsing through our veins; we’re hitting all of the green lights, and we feel GOOD! But what about the days when we don’t feel that hot? In the automotive industry, one day, you are on top of the world, and for some reason, the next day, you feel like you went through a meat grinder.…

When you want to improve the quality of your phone calls, it can be challenging to know where to start. Even if you have standardized procedures and phone scripts, every phone agent operates a little differently. To improve outcomes, you need to know how to use quality assurance training and what some of the outcomes you should be looking for are.

What is Quality Assurance…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…