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Getting paid for more OEM Parts in the body shop today has become easier than it ever was. But the pressure from Insurance carriers to control costs by using cheaper aftermarket (A/M) and used (LKQ) parts is greater than ever. The simple fact of the matter is that there is not a single aftermarket part […]

Service advisors can make the difference of hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in revenue to the dealership. They see your customers more than anyone else, yet receive little support from the dealership. Many dealerships consider advisor staffing a cost that must be limited, which is very shortsighted. They throw people into the position without […]

There is an interesting statistic that is use when measuring customer pay sales called technician hours sold per repair order. This takes the average technician hour sold in the dealership and is used to see how good there advisors are performing. I admit to monitoring this result very closely looking for opportunities for improvement. I’ve […]

All progress starts with an idea. Industry titans such as Henry Ford or Thomas Edison both started with an idea. The idea centers on an individual observing a need and thinking through a solution that would solve it. Although there is never guarantee in every idea being successful. It is essential to understand without processing […]

Today’s dealerships spend tens of thousands of dollars every month to reach new customers and get them inside the dealership doors. A large amount of these funds are spent on newspapers that end up as a floor mat the next day for a birdcage. I’ve seen thousands of dollars spent on service ads, that promote […]

​​This morning at breakfast I noticed a group of three individuals at the table next to me were speaking French. I naturally wondered what brought them to the United States and the town I was staying in however, that didn’t matter. It did intrigue me however, after a little thought I couldn’t understand a word […]

So many of us are focused on the numbers the team generates as a measurement of performance. We review them daily, weekly or monthly and likely let the team know in some form or fashion how we are doing. Many dealership managers feel it’s productive to beat the team member up that’s not performing well […]

I have visited new car dealerships throughout the United States and consider it a privilege to see the different ways that they operate. It is interesting to observe opportunities for improvement financially and with customer care. The most successful car dealerships understand the value of integrity in building their local brand. Other dealerships might look […]

When I was a child growing up I used to challenge every order issued by Mom or Dad with a simple question why. I’m not certain I ever received a detailed description of why I should perform a task that they asked me to do, however the response was always the same. Because I said […]