According to Black Book® data, the average price of a used vehicle for model years 2009-2013 overall saw larger depreciation in June compared with the previous two months, signaling typical summertime patterns. Average segment prices saw -1.0% depreciation in June compared with May levels of -0.4%. Domestic cars changed -2.0%; import cars changed -1.4%; domestic trucks changed -0.5%; and import trucks changed -0.8%. Average pre-recession depreciation is historically between -1% and -2%…

In most markets, those seeking jobs are also those buying your goods and services.   So how should companies engage with these candidate/consumers while navigating changes in shifting age demographics, new recruiting tools and the desire for a…

Live chat can be a great way to generate leads and build lasting relationships with your shoppers. When customers click to chat, they want knowledgeable associates that will answer their questions and build their trust. However, that’s not always the case...and the worst part is you could be avoiding it!

Today I’ll be sharing three ways you can make sure your managed chat team is giving the kind of customer service that knocks your shoppers’ socks off. For the…

Welcome to this week’s edition of Beggs on the Used Car Market, with insights and analysis of the used car market from Ricky Beggs and Black Book. It was an abbreviated week of wholesale activity. The car segments came in at -$45 which is right around the change levels of the previous nine weeks. The lone segment that caught my attention was the Entry level Cars at -$37 or -.52%. The previous week this…

DIY recruiting campaigns can be cumbersome and time consuming, but it can also put a strain on your company image.  There is a growing chasm between company and candidate satisfaction with recruiting…

WEST MIDDLESEX, PA – April 30, 2014 – Leading dealer management system (DMS) provider Autosoft, Inc., (www.Autosoft-asi.com) announced today that Autosoft FLEX DMS has been approved for integration with Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.

“Toyota dealers can now benefit from the affordable, feature-rich Autosoft FLEX DMS that helps them operate their dealerships comprehensively and yet more…

The rise of the sales scientist is a reality as we see a far more scientific approach to driving sales,especially relating to all aspects of the car sales industry now and moving forward into the future. The automotive industry needs to consider the reality that in the monetary sales arena they have not kept pace, as younger professionals opt for careers that offer far more…

I started selling cars at the tender age of 16 and I bought and sold my first car while still studying at school. I can clearly remember and recall the great feeling of making my first profit. As I watched the taillights disappear down the driveway I realized I was on my own journey to a career in sales.

I grew up in the automotive industry and cars and people…

I love my profession and when I started my sales journey I wanted to make a career out of retailing motor cars as opposed to viewing it as just another job. The road I chose to travel was one that involves the following, discipline, business morals, and a code of conduct coupled with the highest levels of ethical standards. The automotive business is renowned for…

The Automotive Industry has certainly been through an obstacle course of metal testing challenges in 2014.

The fact that dealerships have seen a decline in footfall and far less visits to the showroom floor has impacted on sales and staff morale.

The reality is the purchasing journey has changed totally. The industry has to start changing and adapting…

The Automotive Industry has certainly been through an obstacle course of metal testing challenges in 2014.

The fact that dealerships have seen a decline in footfall and far less visits to the showroom floor has impacted on sales and staff morale.

The reality is the purchasing journey has changed totally. The industry has to start changing and adapting…

Local Mustang Forum Reveals the 2015 Ford Mustang Packaging Guide. 

For Ford enthusiasts myself, getting a peak at the Mustang Packaging Guide for 2015 before the crowds is always great! Originally released on several online Mustang Forums like …

Combat is a leadership laboratory. That laboratory is a proving ground for veterans like Leif Babin, who shared his insights on leadership and teamwork at last Fall’s Driving Sales Executive Summit. A former Navy SEAL and co-founder of management consulting firm, Echelon Front, LLC, Babin gave an inspiring keynote address where he translated his experiences as a SEAL and SEAL Officer…

Happy Fourth of July!

I love the 4th of July and everything it stands for. It is the pinnacle of summer. It’s family, it's friends, and it's fun.

From the celebration of the very first one, our forefathers new the 4th of July would be a date that would be celebrated indefinitely. As a matter of fact, John Adams, in a letter to his wife Abigail, said this about the 4th of July, once the declaration of independence was signed and passed by the continental congress. "I am…

Video Review of the 2014 Mazda3 Models by Ramsey Mazda.

The team at Ramsey Mazda reviews the 2014 Mazda3 5-Door Hatchback and Mazda3 Sedan model and all of their new innovative technology and safety features. The SkyActiv technology featured in the 2014 Mazda CX-5 has been introduced into the Mazda3 lineup with two very…

The 36-month lease has long been the norm in auto leasing circles, but Toyota and Chrysler are beefing up their 24-month lease offerings. According to a report in Automotive News:

     "Toyota is seeing a strong shift into two-year leases this year, a trend that promises quicker customer turnarounds   and fuller used-car inventories down the road. At Toyota…

Video testimonials are an excellent way of displaying your brand's authority, and can directly influence a purchasing decision for a potential shopper. Viewers of your testimonials want answers to specific questions about previous shopper experiences. If your dealership currently does video testimonials or if you are considering them, then you may be interested to know that there is as a wrong way and a right…