Practical articles for dealership teams on the service drive, the sales floor and in the F&I office.
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Service Drive
Even though the fast food industry gets a bad rap, it hides some important customer service methods that can increase business at your dealership. Do you want fries with that burger? How about a tire…
Ted Ings3 min read
Customer Experience
The Handshake Isn’t Dead: Why Your Dealership Should Practice It With mile-long contracts and lawyers on the payroll, it may be hard to believe the handshake holds much relevance anymore. But it does…
Ted Ings3 min read
Technology
Electric vehicles are here, but there’s no one to fix them Consumers are desperate for electric vehicle repair but can’t find it. A recent study found only 3% of automotive technicians know how to…
Ted Ings4 min read
Sales
What’s your New Year’s Resolution? To work out more? To lose weight? While both are worthwhile goals, as a sales manager, there’s something else you should focus on: walking the dealership every day…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
At first glance, it appeared to be nothing more than a catchy title. A title that - in reading the article - later reminds us of how vital the walk-around is in the sales process. Given that the…
Ted Ings7 min read
Sales
Bear with me for a few moments and let me show you some simple steps to achieving your dreams and closing the deal of a lifetime. For the past 30 years or so, my life has been dedicated to helping…
Ted Ings6 min read
Service Drive
Fully autonomous cars that whiz passengers from destination to destination aren’t here, yet. But, already, there are advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) that take duties from the human behind…
Ted Ings4 min read
Sales
Are Your Sales Meetings a Snooze? Just like the power nap, a "power meeting" can have the same positive effects on your sales consultants. Knowing that the traditional Saturday morning meeting can be…
Ted Ings4 min read
BDC and Marketing
Just like any other vendor, your OEM is continuously asking you to sign up for marketing programs through their third-party firms. Before you do take the time to sign up for one of their many…
Ted Ings4 min read
Service Drive
Flat rate, the pay scale where technicians are paid by the job, has been the industry standard for many years. Most shops choose the system as opposed to compensating their technicians hourly. But are…
Ted Ings3 min read
BDC and Marketing
Purchasing a vehicle is often the second largest purchase a customer makes in their lifetime. Yet on the dealership level, we tend to become numb to it as if it were a simple, transactional purchase…
Ted Ings4 min read
BDC and Marketing
In any type of retail business, whether it be automotive or fast food, employees are told the customer is always right. Well, today, I’m here to tell you that simply isn’t true. There are many…
Ted Ings4 min read
Sales
You do not need to pull cars out of a vending machine to offer a world-class experience that is in alignment with today’s buyer. There are several other solutions within reach on the dealer level that…
CPI6 min read
BDC and Marketing
You've spent $600+ on average to acquire a new customer. Yet most of us overlook a key piece of information when reviewing the reports: "Where exactly did the customer come from?" The answer is…
Ted Ings5 min read
Service Drive
Sales of diesel vehicles are increasing along with the desire for greater fuel economy Oil burners are around 25% more efficient than their gasoline counterparts, which means you’ll be seeing more and…
Ted Ings3 min read
BDC and Marketing
For more information, contact Ted Ings, Executive Director and Customer Experience Expert, CX One of the common themes in our industry is to throw the new hire to the wolves. Also known as the "sink…
CPI8 min read
Service Drive
Mr Ings has been an automotive industry professional since 1981 and has personally delivered thousands of retailer initiatives internationally as well as successfully implemented dozens of OEM…
Ted Ings5 min read
Technology
We’ve brought you the idea of implementing technology clinics in your dealership, and we’ve explored how to put one on successfully. This time, the focus is on WHY putting on a technology clinic is…
Ted Ings1 min read
Leadership
You have to read to succeed. There are no if’s but’s or maybe’s about it. Reading is one of the key components to succeeding, and what better time to flex your brain muscles than during the long cold…
Ted Ings5 min read
People
If hiring were easy our industry would be able to retain its talent and we would all be on top of our game. However, the truth is that hiring is not easy in the auto industry, noting that our industry…
CPI6 min read
Service Drive
Large dealer groups and small dealerships alike require fixed operations training on a regular basis. But with many training companies out there, it isn’t always easy to choose the right one for your…
CPI2 min read
Technology
If you cringe every time a hybrid pulls onto the service drive, you’re not alone. Although these vehicles are everywhere nowadays, they’re still a mystery to most service advisors. The good news is…
Ted Ings4 min read