Practical articles for dealership teams on the service drive, the sales floor and in the F&I office.
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Service Drive
You won’t find this question on a Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) survey. The results would probably tell a story very much in line with the overall CSI score. If the customer responded that the…
CPI2 min read
Service Drive
Vehicle owners often assume the check engine light is unimportant and ignore it. Educating customers can make you money. Plus, it can help protect them from additional repairs. On the Internet…
CPI4 min read
Service Drive
It’s hard to pin down an exact number from any source, but an estimated 30 percent of every dealer’s parts inventory is comprised of idle parts. Those are pieces in inventory that are obsolete…
CPI2 min read
Service Drive
Someone needs to introduce new car buyers to the service department. For sales professionals and financial service advisors alike, it seems like a job that’s not in their description. They’re in the…
CPI2 min read
Service Drive
It wasn't that long ago that the Automotive Industry underwent and survived a crisis. I believe we will be facing similar challenges if we don't re-wire the way we think and how we approach the…
CPI5 min read
Service Drive
A record number of travelers are about to hit the road with their families as Memorial Day comes closer…and it happens without fail. As a long weekend approaches, the prices at the pumps creep higher…
CPI2 min read
Service Drive
The new car smell. A clean washed and waxed vehicle. Sun gleaming of freshly shone rims. Everyone loves a clean car. It makes the car owner more relaxed and feeling satisfied. It’s the perfect end to…
CPI2 min read
Service Drive
It’s a scenario that happens many times a day in every service department. The service advisor completes a walkaround with the customer, explains the maintenance requirements, asks for the sale…and…
CPI2 min read
Service Drive
In 2017, more than 28 million recall notices went out to car owners. But that pales in comparison to 2016 where nearly 53 million recalls were issued. It’s something that instills fear into drivers…
CPI1 min read
Service Drive
‘Free’ happens when mistakes are made, pure and simple. Online draws reward applicants for submitting a response, charity drives give away freebies, and sports teams throw t-shirts and cheap giveaways…
CPI2 min read
Service Drive
One Chevrolet dealer in Wells, Minnesota has created quite the stir recently. A brand new Silverado, customized to look like a 70s-retro Chevrolet Cheyenne C10 pickup, has drawn attention across North…
CPI2 min read
Service Drive
These practical ideas aren’t new - they’re just effective. Time and Money! How you ask me to spend or invest both will determine my willingness to continue shopping at your facility. So here are some…
CPI3 min read
Service Drive
Automotive trainers aren’t always the most engaging bunch, are they? It’s usually session after session sitting in rows of chairs, sipping hotel coffee and eating day-old pastries. Their purpose is to…
CPI2 min read
Service Drive
Many of today’s car buyers want a different dealership experience. The hard-nosed sales tactics, tough negotiations, and a disjointed in-store experience creates an unfriendly environment. Customers…
CPI3 min read
Service Drive
Autotrader published a study, the Maintenance & Repair Study, in 2016. For the automotive service industry, some very telling facts come to light in its pages. Less than one in three car buyers visits…
CPI2 min read
Service Drive
Service advisors are like athletes, there’s an expected performance level to stay a professional. Also, a service advisor has hot streaks and slow periods, just like most athletes do. When a service…
CPI2 min read
Service Drive
For a process to be successful, you’ll need to make commitments and consistently meet them. This is true throughout the dealership. Getting your service department process to that point takes a lot of…
CPI2 min read
Service Drive
The service walk-around is complete. The customer has joined the service advisor as they’ve peeked and prodded around their car in the service drive. It’s been interactive with the advisor involving…
CPI2 min read
Service Drive
Advertising campaigns focus on new models released and special limited-time offers. Car manufacturers target new vehicle sales heavily, and that’s what most people expect. Every carmaker wants to grab…
CPI1 min read
Service Drive
An elderly lady drives her 10-year-old car into the service drive. The corners of the bumpers are lightly scuffed, the rims have curb rash, and the odometer has a third of the average miles for a car…
CPI1 min read
Service Drive
"You will be satisfied." This is the credo that governs the Tasca family dealerships in New England, that achieve success by consistently satisfying customers. Early in his career, founder Bob Tasca…
CPI3 min read
Service Drive
“I’ve been doing it this way for 25 years! I know how to sell and there’s nothing new you can tell or show me!” I’m sure you’ve heard this or something like it. There will always be those who don’t…
CPI1 min read
Service Drive
Motivational speakers would have you believe that simply putting your head down and working hard is the best way to become your best self. While there’s something to be said for work ethic as a…
CPI2 min read
Service Drive
It isn’t a statistic that gets tracked, but service managers spend more time at their desk each day than among their staff and customers. Look in the service department at any dealership, you’ll find…
CPI1 min read