In this vAuto podcast episode, Adam Robinson, CEO of Hireology, highlights a growing disconnect between the way dealers are currently filling positions in sales and service, and the expectations of the people dealers are looking to hire. Adam shares best practices to help dealers address the disconnect—from rethinking what they expect of key sales and service team members to reinventing how they compensate new team members who aren’t solely motivated by money. Adam also outlines a multi-point ga...
Apr 29, 2022•30 min
Think your reconditioning process is good enough? Think again. Vehicle reconditioning is often considered a necessary evil of inventory management—a cost of doing business that’s less glamorous than selling cars. It historically hasn’t received the attention and oversight it should. As a result, dealers often don’t consider how much their reconditioning process affects their ability to effectively appraise and acquire cars, merchandise them in the most transparent way possible and provide a why-...
Mar 09, 2022•29 min
In this vAuto podcast episode, company founder and Cox Automotive executive vice president Dale Pollak shares an overview of new solutions and a book that will debut at the NADA 2022 convention in Las Vegas. Find out how the ProfitTime Global Acquisition system helps dealers manage multi-channel inventory sourcing efforts, enabling the application of key metrics to drive success in each channel. Dale outlines how Cox Automotive’s Upside solution will help dealers implement a new method to turn w...
Mar 05, 2022•21 min
It’s no doubt the way dealers source used vehicle inventory has changed in the past two years. In this podcast, Micah Tindor, Senior Director for Kelley Blue Book® Instant Cash Offer, discusses how dealers can improve their efforts to acquire more vehicles directly from consumers. Learn how you can more quickly engage customers with vehicles to sell or trade and ensure your first offer is your best offer to make the deal. This episode also provides a sneak peek of new solutions Kelley Blue Book ...
Feb 26, 2022•19 min
In this podcast, our lives are becoming more digital, and the car business is no exception. Consumers spend an average of 7 hours doing online research and shopping in their car buying journey. For most shoppers, the media carousel is the first place they click when on the VDP – over 60% of VDP visits on dealership websites include engagement with the photo carousel. However, most dealers do little to nothing beyond providing high-quality photos to “sell” the vehicle or their dealership within t...
Feb 19, 2022•19 min
In this vAuto podcast, Dominick Gagliano, Social Media Director and Sales Manager at Lexus of Las Vegas, joins host Micah Tindor, Senior Director for Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer, to discuss the playbook Dominick uses to execute a successful social media strategy for his dealership (@lexusoflasvegas on Facebook and Instagram). Dominick shares how he selects, pays and equips “social media ambassadors” to create sales- and service-oriented content that drives customer engagement and sales. ...
Jan 18, 2022•30 min
Hear from Brian Finklemeyer, Sr. Director of Business Development at vAuto, and Mike Stanton, CEO and President of NADA, as they discuss what’s ahead for franchise dealers in 2022. Find out why Stanton is betting on the future of the franchise system, as evidenced by record-setting buy/sell activity, and the resilience of dealers as they’ve adapted to inventory shortages, the rise of direct-to-consumer EV startups and the shift to digital retailing. Stanton also shares where NADA will focus its ...
Jan 07, 2022•23 min
In this vAuto podcast, vAuto founder and Cox Automotive executive vice president Dale Pollak shares five take-aways from 2021 that will drive success in the year ahead. As dealers continue to face constrained used vehicle supplies in 2021, they will need to continue selling more cars from smaller inventories and acquiring vehicles directly customers. Dale also discusses how customer-centric appraisal processes will help dealers compete for customers cars with larger, digital retailers, and why i...
Dec 23, 2021•27 min
In this vAuto podcast, Patrick Janes, Sr Director of Business Development for vAuto’s Stockwave solution, shares that used vehicle wholesale supply is down 22% from normal levels and how these current market conditions have spurred a shift in the way dealers source inventory. Patrick details how dealers should not only use local auctions for inventory but can benefit by sourcing from the service lane, dealer to dealer trades, private party listings, and more. Also, some used vehicle managers are...
Dec 10, 2021•27 min
In this vAuto podcast, Greg Palmer, inventory and marketing director at the Ron Marhofer Auto Family in Clinton, OH, shares how a firmer commitment to managing inventory as investments has helped the dealer group achieve even better gross profit and volume outcomes. Greg details how the commitment has helped the group resist the temptation to reduce prices on vehicles with high investment value to juice sales volume and hold out for gross on vehicles that started out with little or no investment...
Nov 11, 2021•29 min
In this vAuto podcast episode, Brian Finkelmeyer, Senior Director of Business Operations at vAuto, and Colton Ray, Chief Marketing Officer of Walser Automotive Group (MN), discuss sales and marketing strategies to get ahead on the new car business. Colton shares how Walser has navigated through the inventory shortage by moving to a more progressive sales model that includes preselling incoming inventory, a “price-the-product” strategy, and rethinking the customer sales experience.
Nov 09, 2021•18 min
In this vAuto podcast, Mike Boyd, director of business development for vAuto iRecon and Micah Tindor, senior director at Kelley Blue Book® Instant Cash Offer, discuss take-aways from their recent Digital Dealer workshops. The conversation covers how customer emotions and expectations should shape the processes dealers use to acquire more inventory from customers across different sourcing channels. Mike and Micah share the reasons they believe dealers should use sales associates rather than manag...
Nov 04, 2021•48 min
In our third "Straight from the Source" podcast episode, Micah Tindor, Sr. Director, Kelley Blue Book® Instant Cash Offer has a conversation with Glenn Carroll Dealer Principal, Custom Cars West. Glenn shares how he and his team about their acquisition anywhere strategy and their successes.
Oct 31, 2021•19 min
In our second “Straight from the Source” podcast episode, Micah Tindor, Sr. Director, Kelley Blue Book® Instant Cash Offer has a conversation with Jonathan Hakes, Used Vehicle Director at Bob Johnson Auto Group. Jonathan shares how he and his team use tools and data and a consistent processes to build customer confidence and to win the right vehicles.
Oct 16, 2021•27 min
In our first “Straight from the Source” podcast episode, Micah Tindor, Sr. Director, Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer has a conversation with Bill Brauer, Pre-Owned Director and Wholesale Manager at Morristown Motors Inc. Bill shares how his dealership has been using a more cost-effective way to acquire vehicles despite ongoing market challenges. Brauer also shares the successes his dealership has been having when it comes to their appraisal process and why transparency is key when meeting wi...
Oct 11, 2021•17 min
In this vAuto podcast episode, Mike Boyd, director of business development for vAuto, and Brian Kramer, general manager of Germain Toyota of Naples (FL), discuss how today’s customer-minded appraisals have evolved considerably in recent years. Brian shares how he’s refined his appraisal process to focus on the customer’s experience and satisfaction as much as the car’s condition and value. Brian details how the journey has enabled sales associates to handle appraisals and paved the way for acqui...
Sep 29, 2021•1 hr 2 min
In this vAuto podcast episode, Randy Kobat, vice president of operations for vAuto, and Dale Pollak, founder of vAuto, offer a sneak preview of dealer-focused sessions offered by vAuto at the upcoming Cox Automotive Fall Expo User Summit. Hear how the sessions will help you diversify your used vehicle sourcing and manage used vehicle inventory as investments, as well as perspectives from Dale on recent market changes and how they’ll shape the closing months of 2021.
Sep 09, 2021•21 min
In this vAuto podcast episode, Brian Finkelmeyer, Senior Director of Business Operations at vAuto, reveals why he believes the current, reduced dealer days supply of new vehicles is here to stay. Brian explains how this new normal is changing when dealers retail new cars to optimize sales despite smaller inventories. Next, Brian outlines how dealers should manage and mine their new vehicle sales efficiency rates to get the most from their OEM allocations.
Aug 27, 2021•15 min
In this vAuto Podcast Dealer Voices episode, host Randy Kobat and Gary Wexler, general manager of Honda of Downtown Chicago, discuss the dealership’s decision to move to an investment value-based strategy for managing used vehicles and the positive changes that resulted. Wexler also shares how he and his team have put a greater emphasis on acquiring customer vehicles to feed their used vehicle inventories and the steps they’ve taken to bring more accountability, collaboration and efficiency to t...
Aug 20, 2021•31 min
In this vAuto podcast episode, Nathan Fox, Senior Director of Business Development at vAuto, discusses changing car shopper preferences and their impact on the ways dealers merchandise vehicles. Nathan shares how more immersive, transparent content helps dealers capture shopper interest and drive the vehicle buying decisions that increasingly occur online. Nathan also details how new technology helps dealers efficiently reshape their online merchandising strategies to provide the confidence that...
Aug 06, 2021•22 min
In this vAuto Podcast episode, Patrick Janes, director of business development for vAuto’s Stockwave solution, shares strategies dealers and used vehicle managers can use to find acquisition opportunities as the wholesale values adjust to more normal conditions. Patrick shares how dealers can use technology and tools to identify sellers with high no-sale rates are selling their cars and lean on local market data to fine-tune their acquisition strategies to source higher-cost cars that offer less...
Jul 30, 2021•21 min
In this vAuto podcast episode, Brian Wieland, Used Car Director for Van Horn Automotive Group, Plymouth, WI, shares how the group has adopted a “source from anywhere” strategy to acquire more inventory directly from customers. Brian details how the group has standardized its appraisal process and uses car-buying events to feed inventory to the group’s 18 stores, resulting in more profit-favorable acquisitions and less reliance on auctions for inventory. Brian also shares how the group’s mission ...
Jul 21, 2021•35 min
In this vAuto podcast episode, dealer Mark Bush of Bush Auto Place, Wilmington, OH, discusses results of a recent Northwood University student project that examined his store’s processes for preparing and promoting used vehicles online. Joined by Northwood University instructor Jennifer Patten and vAuto’s senior director of business development, Patrick Janes, Bush outlines how he’s adopted study recommendations to improve online reviews and visibility of inventory listings. He also shares how a...
Jun 23, 2021•29 min
Join a discussion between host Brian Finkelmeyer, Sr. Director of New Car Solutions at vAuto, and Michael Brown, Owner/Operator of Empire Auto Group, about how his business weathered the past year within the COVID-19 epicenter. Michael shares what his group has done to sustain itself during COVID-19 and the inventory shortfalls, how it has thrived during the recovery, and what they’re doing to prepare for the future of automotive retailing.
Jun 08, 2021•19 min
In this vAuto podcast episode, Patrick Janes, director of business development for Stockwave, joins Northwood University instructor Jennifer Patton, dealer Mark Bush of Bush Auto Place, Wilmington, OH, and three students to discuss an experiential learning project that assessed the health and strength of Bush’s inventory marketing and merchandising. The students share how they approached the project and outline early learnings that will shape final recommendations for Bush to consider in his inv...
Jun 04, 2021•32 min
In this episode of the vAuto Podcast Retail Revival series, host Randy Kobat and Mike O’Toole of Mohawk Honda, Scotia, NY, discuss how O’Toole and his team have overcome used vehicle inventory acquisition challenges by focusing on purchasing cars from customers. O’Toole details how the store uses in-person and virtual appraisals that rely on third-party validated offers and a human touch to provide a more personal and satisfying experience for customers. O’Toole also shares how his team uses con...
May 20, 2021•28 min
In this vAuto podcast episode, vAuto founder Dale Pollak shares perspective on recent shifts in the wholesale and retail markets, and how dealers should consider stocking and pricing vehicles in a transitioning market. Dale outlines how the appreciation of wholesale values and retail demand have peaked. Moving forward, Dale recommends moderation in both stocking and pricing used vehicles to ensure optimal investment outcomes for each vehicle in the weeks ahead.
May 04, 2021•18 min
In this vAuto podcast episode, Patrick Janes, director of business development for Stockwave, shares strategies to help dealers acquire inventory in a wholesale market where values are high and supplies are relatively low. Patrick offers a perspective on how dealers can use market data to know the higher-cost wholesale vehicles they acquire are right for their inventories and local markets. Patrick also shares how dealers can more efficiently mine vehicle acquisition opportunities from private s...
Apr 23, 2021•21 min
In this episode of the vAuto Podcast, Mike Boyd, director of business development for iRecon, shares the three top priorities dealers and managers should address as they look to improve reconditioning efficiency to help them increase used vehicle sales throughput and volume. From defining goals to mapping who does what, and by when, Boyd details a best practice plan to help dealers eliminate pinch points in their reconditioning process and ensure every stakeholder—in sales and service—has a holi...
Feb 23, 2021•27 min
In this vAuto podcast episode, vAuto founder Dale Pollak provides a detailed look at the all-new ProfitTime 2.0, and shares why he believes this system will become a new standard for pricing and managing used vehicles. Dale details how ProfitTime 2.0’s pricing recommendations help dealers price their used vehicles to deliver more investment return while reducing the time required to make pricing decisions. Dale also outlines factors, such as increased federal stimulus and infrastructure spending...
Feb 03, 2021•26 min
