March 2016 – DealerRefresh | DealerRefresh Automotive Dealer Forums

Best Practices Dealership Operations & Processes

5 Reasons Why Your Sales Department Shouldn’t Take that Phone Call

With today’s connected customer, there really are only a few types of phone calls your team will find themselves involved with. Gone are the days of a customer phoning and saying, “I need something good on gas for under $8,000; what do you have on the lot?” Today’s customer, whether a millennial or a baby …

Other Stuff

Don’t Worry, No One Clicked on The Sidebar Ads Anyway

How will the recent changes to Google Adwords affect my dealer’s Paid Search Adwords Campaigns? The simple answer is “Not Much.” I’ll rephrase that.. Not much for SEM-Master Level Dealers and Agencies. Yes, the right sidebar ads are gone (smell ya later) meaning there are far fewer spots for Dealers’ ads to fill. So the …

Best Practices Dealership Operations & Processes

Your Bracket May Be Busted

March Madness should be a holiday. No one is working anyway, so why not go ahead and just make it official Just Sayin’. While I was watching my Syracuse Orange completely pull away from Middle Tennessee, I started thinking about how they were able to pull it together. What was giving them the kick in …

Long Term or Last Time Dealership BDC Retention

Best Practices Dealership Operations & Processes

Long Term or Last Time – Which Do You Focus On?

Service does not always get the respect it deserves in the dealership. At its worst, it’s “Us vs. Them” mentality with the sales department, and at best there is a co-existence that barely crosses paths. Which is crazy, since Fixed Ops has become the bread and butter for the dealership. In times where new car …

shoppers decline appointment-request 12 percent of the time

Best Practices Dealership Operations & Processes

Only 12 Percent say NO. But you need to ASK!

The recent passing of former First Lady Nancy Reagan was a sad occasion. Many heartwarming stories unfolded, but I found myself particularly fascinated by her personal war on drugs. In 1980, then soon to be First Lady Nancy Reagan found her calling on the campaign trail. It started at a New York City substance abuse …

Best Practices Dealership Communication Tools Dealership Marketing

Are Your New Car Specials, Really Special?

Nearly every dealer website provider offers a New Car Specials feature, so why is it NOT a big part of your marketing strategy? Maybe because it’s like pulling teeth. Whether you call them “New Car Specials”, “Offers”, “Deals”, “Incentives”, or just simply “Specials” chances are good you have a page dedicated to your best new …

Retail Automotive Learn College Sports Recruiting

Best Practices Dealership Operations & Processes

What Retail Automotive Can Learn from College Sports Recruiting

T: What your dealership can learn from College Sports Recruiting! http://xxxx Another must read article from @CraneAutoHR T: Dealers stop settling for what’s available and start working to attract the best players for your team. Here's how - http://xxxx w/ @CraneAutoHR F: In retail automotive we tend to go after whoever performs the best in the interview, or in desperate times whoever shows up to the interview. Dealers, stop settling for what’s available and start working hard to attract the best and most talented players. Consider this... http://dlrfr.sh/recruitingvshiring Another great article on Human Capital Strategies from Candice Crane / @CraneAutoHR

Best Practices Dealership Operations & Processes

How Ricky Bobby Will Fix Your Service Retention Problem

You may be wondering what the movie Talladega Nights has to do with running an excellent Service BDC. The connection goes a little deeper than NASCAR. I am about to make some of your heads spin. I am not a HUGE fan of NASCAR. I feel like that is slightly sacrilegious in this industry, …

Best Practices Dealership Operations & Processes

RepairPal Certified Service and Cars.com

Cars.com and RepairPal have had a partnership of some degree dating back to 2008. Here’s a snippet from the 2008 announcement… RepairPal will join forces with Cars.com to deliver a unique experience for consumers needing automobile repair and ownership information. The two companies will work together to deliver a co-branded site, free to consumers. Key …

Dealership Communication Tools Dealership Marketing Dealership Operations & Processes

Your Service Department Isn’t Prepared for What’s Going to Happen

Let’s face it. Our Dealership Service departments don’t always have the best reputation. Too often, they’re perceived as being overpriced and pushy when compared to the trustworthy shadetree mechanic next door, the independent auto repair center down the street or even the Midas shop across from your office. On top of the ever-growing competition, most …