Lease Credit Approvals Reached 72.9% in March; Up Slightly from 70.8% in February  

  Swapalease.com, the nation’s largest car lease marketplace, reports car lease credit applicants registered a 72.9% approval rate in March. The approval rate is a slight increase from the 70.8% approval mark in…

Lehighton, PA, April 14, 2021 — Dealer World, a full-service advertising agency for franchise and independent car dealers, today announced that well-known automotive industry veteran…

You just paid another huge DMS bill, or you heard about a great new system from your 20 Group, or you want better support. There are a myriad of reasons dealers decide to switch DMS providers. Whatever the reason, it’s a major decision because your DMS touches every aspect of your business.

I get it. I’ve been a Controller during a DMS switch and it’s a decision no one should hurry or take lightly. No matter what, it will disrupt your business and challenge your team. Yet, if…

Listen to an informative podcast with used car dealer and consultant Ed French and the role that efficient vehicle reconditioning should play to help dealers meet demand. 

Turbulent Times with Preowned…

Auto industry veteran with strong connection to dealership communities

CHICAGO, April 13, 2021 – Cars.com Inc. (NYSE: CARS) (“CARS” or the “Company”), a leading digital automotive marketplace and solutions provider, today announced the appointment of Jenell Ross as a member of its Board of Directors.

Ross is an auto industry veteran, with 28 years of experience, and was recently named one of…

Marketing and lead generating activities take tons of time and money. Unless you automate them. Marketing automation can increase sales as much as 33 percent, according to an article in the Harvard Business Review. 

Chalk those results up to the fact that automation allows BDC agents to make more calls in less time, send targeted campaigns to thousands of recipients in seconds, easily access…

Is one of your goals to make your website traffic count?

Aggressive distribution and promotion of your inventory to many in market auto shoppers is paramount to increasing your sales. 

Boosting your website traffic alone will not garner the results which you desire.

Visitors that look at Vehicle Description Pages (VDPs) are in market shoppers. The better experience they have - the more cars you will definitely sell.

Spending…

More Manufacturers Are Launching Used Lease Pilot Programs   

Swapalease.com, the nation’s largest car lease marketplace, announced today it has launched a Used Lease Swap program that makes it easier for drivers of used leases to exit their lease contract by finding someone else to take over the remaining portion…

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.

 …

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…