When the Exceptions Overtake the Rules of Your Showroom
Many of us have been taught the rules of the road. But how many times have we taught the rules of our dealership, and our showroom? Why do they exist? What happens when they aren’t followed? When exceptions to the rules overtake the rules themselves, what do you do to get them back on track? Start back at identifying them, and the process it takes to make sure they’re being followed consistently.
While most of us won’t lose all credibility, our industry does suffer when missed details and distractions start adding up. It can ruin the customer experience and the profitability of a dealership, as well as contribute to the lackluster reputation of our industry.
My wife and I recently bought an SUV. As usual, it wasn’t from a salesperson I knew, although I’d purchased from the dealership 10 years before, and had actually hired several of their top brass in the 1990s. The salesperson was a “veteran,” having been there six years. It was a big-box store. I won’t publish the name, but it’s fair to say it’s the first big-box auto group that pops into your head.
Even though I’ve been in the business for close to 30 years, and can get a quick and easy fleet deal, I enjoy seeing how the retail sides of dealerships are progressing in the eyes of a retail customer. Specifically, I like to see if we’re improving our reputation or holding onto our long held “traditions.”
What struck me most about our visit was that it was way too impersonal for either of us to quickly “fall in love” with our new car. Sure, we liked the salesperson, and he did a great job building rapport, but we were in the showroom cubicle for at least an hour searching inventory on the computer—they had at least 100 in stock. Getting a proper walkaround and sitting in a car (let alone driving it), didn’t happen for well over an hour and a half. Six and a half hours later we took delivery. It was a snowy Thursday in Denver with no customers and I had a trade. I will give them an hour off since it took that long to get my fleet price and negotiate on the trade. They were all very nice and had a really nice delivery person. BUT OVER 5 HOURS IF YOU TAKE OUT THE TRADE/NEGOTIATIONS?
I had just helped a family friend, Patricia, buy from another dealership only two months earlier. They were a local dealership, with an awesome reputation, and the experience was incredible. They didn’t miss a beat. Every “I” was dotted and every “T” crossed, and she was in and out in just a couple of hours.
As complicated as some like to make it, showroom control isn’t rocket science. A deal is made up of a lot of little pieces, and if those pieces aren’t spelled out, time is lost and so are deals. With defined rules that everyone knows, business can flow through quickly.
In my friend’s case, her salesperson and dealership had every process done from start to finish with no room for mess ups. Her sales rep had only been in the business for six months. She worked through a sales manager but also had a “modified four square” as well. She didn’t have a finance person, but sold every aftermarket and finance product I’d ever seen, and did a great job of it, even though she was fairly inexperienced. My friend bought a warranty, even though it was a certified used car. It made sense, and her salesperson took the time to build the value. Pat is the happiest customer and is still talking up her great deal and how nice and respectful they all were. She still tells me how much she appreciates me walking her through the process and helping her get such a great deal. Coincidentally it was a one price store, and I didn’t get her a penny off. Her deal was quick, easy, and was profitable for the dealership.
My six-hour deal included recopied state documents, and a credit app that was virtually impossible for all of us to read. We kept taking pictures of the application, just so we could blow it up on our phones to see what they really needed. When we got to the finance manager, he didn’t even attempt to sell us anything (although I had just purchased a warranty on my vehicle less than a year ago), and immediately slashed his warranty price because, in his words “you’re from the business so I won’t try to sell you anything.” I’ll just give you the warranty at cost + $100. I didn’t buy it, although it might have been a good deal, but he never showed me what it included other than a “6- year, 100k” and an internal price sheet.
In our business, it’s all about the details. In key ways, it’s like football. When a team executes on its game plan consistently, touchdowns happen. When it doesn’t, interceptions leading to an opponent’s touchdown can result. That’s a 14-point swing.
In your market, the difference in the details can mean finishing at the top of the heap, or struggling to make payroll and keep your franchise or your lease. Don’t let the little things make or break your store. Stay on the details and finish strong.
My wife and I recently bought an SUV. As usual, it wasn’t from a salesperson I knew, although I’d purchased from the dealership 10 years before, and had actually hired several of their top brass in the 1990s. The salesperson was a “veteran,” having been there six years. It was a big-box store. I won’t publish the name, but it’s fair to say it’s the first big-box auto group that pops into your head.
Even though I’ve been in the business for close to 30 years, and can get a quick and easy fleet deal, I enjoy seeing how the retail sides of dealerships are progressing in the eyes of a retail customer. Specifically, I like to see if we’re improving our reputation or holding onto our long held “traditions.”
What struck me most about our visit was that it was way too impersonal for either of us to quickly “fall in love” with our new car. Sure, we liked the salesperson, and he did a great job building rapport, but we were in the showroom cubicle for at least an hour searching inventory on the computer—they had at least 100 in stock. Getting a proper walkaround and sitting in a car (let alone driving it), didn’t happen for well over an hour and a half. Six and a half hours later we took delivery. It was a snowy Thursday in Denver with no customers and I had a trade. I will give them an hour off since it took that long to get my fleet price and negotiate on the trade. They were all very nice and had a really nice delivery person. BUT OVER 5 HOURS IF YOU TAKE OUT THE TRADE/NEGOTIATIONS?
I had just helped a family friend, Patricia, buy from another dealership only two months earlier. They were a local dealership, with an awesome reputation, and the experience was incredible. They didn’t miss a beat. Every “I” was dotted and every “T” crossed, and she was in and out in just a couple of hours.
As complicated as some like to make it, showroom control isn’t rocket science. A deal is made up of a lot of little pieces, and if those pieces aren’t spelled out, time is lost and so are deals. With defined rules that everyone knows, business can flow through quickly.
In my friend’s case, her salesperson and dealership had every process done from start to finish with no room for mess ups. Her sales rep had only been in the business for six months. She worked through a sales manager but also had a “modified four square” as well. She didn’t have a finance person, but sold every aftermarket and finance product I’d ever seen, and did a great job of it, even though she was fairly inexperienced. My friend bought a warranty, even though it was a certified used car. It made sense, and her salesperson took the time to build the value. Pat is the happiest customer and is still talking up her great deal and how nice and respectful they all were. She still tells me how much she appreciates me walking her through the process and helping her get such a great deal. Coincidentally it was a one price store, and I didn’t get her a penny off. Her deal was quick, easy, and was profitable for the dealership.
My six-hour deal included recopied state documents, and a credit app that was virtually impossible for all of us to read. We kept taking pictures of the application, just so we could blow it up on our phones to see what they really needed. When we got to the finance manager, he didn’t even attempt to sell us anything (although I had just purchased a warranty on my vehicle less than a year ago), and immediately slashed his warranty price because, in his words “you’re from the business so I won’t try to sell you anything.” I’ll just give you the warranty at cost + $100. I didn’t buy it, although it might have been a good deal, but he never showed me what it included other than a “6- year, 100k” and an internal price sheet.
In our business, it’s all about the details. In key ways, it’s like football. When a team executes on its game plan consistently, touchdowns happen. When it doesn’t, interceptions leading to an opponent’s touchdown can result. That’s a 14-point swing.
In your market, the difference in the details can mean finishing at the top of the heap, or struggling to make payroll and keep your franchise or your lease. Don’t let the little things make or break your store. Stay on the details and finish strong.
###
Former dealer executive Scott Bergeron is the founder and principal at Daily Gameplan (www.dailygameplan.com), a sales team performance company. Daily Gameplan’s “Red Book“ and cloud-based CRM have been used in thousands of dealerships throughout the United States. Bergeron can be reached at 303.918.3169 or scott@dailygameplan.com.
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