Equifax has named Jennifer (Jenn) Reid its Vice President – Automotive Marketing & Strategy Lead – U.S. Information Solutions (USIS). In this role, Reid will be responsible for the development of Equifax’s automotive growth strategies, as well as overseeing specific marketing plans and initiatives. This includes understanding competitive automotive industry market dynamics and trends, key customer insights, new product…

What one person has the opportunity for an uninterrupted 10-20 minute conversation with your potential buyers and service customers?

Your courtesy shuttle driver. Is this a person you trust to represent your store? The benefits of a friendly, professional shuttle…

Jenny.

Tommy Tutone said it in 1981 and many of you reading this know that number. It’s Jenny’s number. And we remember it. Why? Sure, it was a catchy song and has become a staple in early pop music, but it does hold a hidden gem that every car dealer would be thrilled to possess.

For dealerships, customer information is only the beginning of…

When you plan to sell your Audi a4 Avant, you need to ensure that all your paperwork is in place. This means that you need to ensure your insurance is not expired, your car papers are up to date as well as your last servicing receipts are kept in proper files. This is because all of the servicing, the purchase as well as the insurance are proof of the car’s ownership as well as its maintenance. This helps in better sale of your luxury car without any hassles for both you and the person…

As an industry, we have pretty much perfected the process of following up on Internet leads, but we are far from perfect when it comes to handling inbound phone leads. According to CallSource and IHS/Polk research, 84 percent of consumers purchase vehicles from a different dealership than the one…

This week, Jeff covers the most common question at this time of the year: Why did my numbers drop? And how do we fix it?! Summer months can be overwhelming, and so many advisors give their customers half effort for the sake of time. To get back to 2.5 HPRO, you have to reset! Stay tuned to hear steps to reset and get back on top. Copyright 2018 Wm Jeff Cowan

Click HERE to watch!

Website:…

Parts inventory may not be a sexy topic however, it could not be any more critical in achieving peak performance in your fixed operations. Many dealerships make the mistake of managing their parts inventories by the number of dollars instead of having what is needed. They believe aged inventory isn’t a real cost and they refuse…

Buying nearly new cars or used vehicles

When it comes to buying a car, you may be wondering whether to get something shiny and new with no history or whether to get something that’s been around the block – just not too many times.

While driving away in a top-notch vehicle that no one has ever owned before may seem appealing, a used/nearly new car can also provide you with a significant amount of joy – so let’s look at the…

Do you have sales personnel or solution specialists at your dealership? Is there truly a difference between the two terms? Can changing the language you use really increase your sales?

When selling to women, language can make all the difference between a successful customer engagement and sending a prospect out the door. Why? Women rank trust as their #1 reason for buying from a dealership. Trust matters more than price. This means that language matters when creating a customer…

Courtesy of Jumpstart Automotive Media's shopper insights team, below are some highlights of automotive brands that are capturing the attention of automotive shoppers this summer. "Everybody in America knows that trucks and utilities are hot currently, but the following brands and vehicles can help answer specifically what the American shopper wants to drive next," said Colin Thomas, senior analyst, strategic insights at Jumpstart. "Jeep has…

Courtesy of Jumpstart Automotive Media's shopper insights team, below are some highlights of automotive brands that are capturing the attention of automotive shoppers this summer. "Everybody in America knows that trucks and utilities are hot currently, but the following brands and vehicles can help answer specifically what the American shopper wants to drive next," said Colin Thomas, senior analyst, strategic insights at Jumpstart. "Jeep has…

Any of you familiar with that classic song from Diana Ross, “Upside Down?” Well, sometimes it’s an apt description of what can be a complicated sales process for today’s car buyers.

There’s a focused shift in the automotive community to reduce friction and create a more seamless experience for consumers from online to on the lot. Sure, some consumers – albeit…

Data from over a half million consumer interactions analyzed by PERQ illustrates the value of a personalized shopping journey for websites selling high-touch, big-ticket items; reveals that the more online tools and assessments consumers engage with, the more likely they are to purchase; offers key tips for improvement

Indianapolis, IN – August 8, 2018- PERQ, experts in online consumer engagement and shopping…

Luxury SUVs Depreciated More

Welcome to this week's edition of Black Book Market Insights, with in-depth analysis of used car and truck valuation trends and insights straight from the auction lanes. …

When automobiles were first introduced into society, people didn’t know what to think. For the most part, early automobiles were reserved for the wealthy, while everyone else continued their transportation needs with the use of horse and carriage.

However, people were very curious about this strange new phenomenon of transportation. So curious, in fact, that…

Auto Loan Originations Observations through April 2018 reported as of June 2018:

• 7.96 million auto loans, totaling $179.7 billion, have been originated year-to-date. This is a 0.3% increase in accounts and a 2.7% increase in balances over this time last year. Auto loans represent 85.8% of all auto account originations and 89.4% of auto origination balances YTD.
• 1.841 million auto loans have been originated YTD to consumers with a VantageScore® 3.0…

Continued Strength & Demand for Used Vehicles Drives Additional Increases in the Market

Black Book, a division of Hearst that provides industry-leading used vehicle valuation and residual value forecast solutions, released its Used Vehicle Retention Index for August showing that it increased +0.5% during July registering 113.9 and up from 113.3 in June. The Index has changed +0.7% over the last twelve months (113.0).…

Bulletins, TSB’s, LSC, TJ, whatever they want to call them, have the same requirements as a normal warranty. We have seen so many different and creative technician comments when it comes to technical bulletins.

Here is an example:

Customer states- "Noise from left front of vehicle".

First of all, this really doesn’t give your tech any helpful information from the customer on how…

What do customers expect during the vehicle purchase process? What do they value most? In a survey included in the AutoLoop 2017 Digital Experience Study, we discovered valuable insights to these questions and more – insights that can give your dealership the competitive edge when customers start shopping. Read on to grasp a better understanding of what customers want, and…

University students are leasing short-term vehicles to meet their transportation needs for college

With hefty tuition prices rising each and every year, college students and their parents brace themselves for college expenses. Outstanding Federal loan debt has reached almost 1.4 trillion dollars, the…