Shows
vAuto PodcastNext Gen Perspective: Why Clear Career Paths Matter MostIn this vAuto podcast, Katie Tonozzi, a general manager in training at Flow Automotive Group, and vAuto’s Patrick Janes discuss how Tonozzi realized her desire to work in retail automotive at Northwood University and turned it into a budding career at a top-performing dealer group. Hear Tonozzi’s perspective on why a series of internship experiences, including a “rotational” one at a New York dealership, cemented her retail career choice; “people like doing business with people they like” remains a personal mantra; shifting from “transactional to relational” selling will help dealers do more business with Gen Z buyers; and, dealers who offe...
2026-01-3019 minvAuto PodcastNADA 2026 Preview: A Quick Rundown What’s New in Las VegasIn this vAuto podcast, Derek Hansen and Patrick Janes provide a preview of the AI-enabled innovations vAuto will debut at the NADA Show in Las Vegas to help dealers achieve greater success. Hear how the combination of AI and integrations with other Cox Automotive solutions can help you build and scale a customer-focused service lane acquisition process to efficiently make offers and close more deals with customers; sharpen recon estimates and vehicle valuations to optimize each vehicle’s profit and ROI potential; ensure your vehicle prices match the market, no matter how it moves; and, mine missed trades more to re...
2026-01-1316 minvAuto PodcastPointers to Prime Your Service Lane Acquisition SuccessIn this vAuto podcast, Mike O’Toole, used vehicle director at Mohawk Honda, and vAuto’s Patrick Janes go in depth on the best practices and process steps that help Mohawk acquire and sell nearly 40 vehicles a month from their service drive. O’Toole shares how he and his team have evolved the service lane acquisition effort from a clipboard-based, one-off approach to a process where nearly every service customer gets an offer. Get guidance to help you shift from a hard-sell to “soft touch” approach to set the right tone with customers with vehicles you want to acquire; scale service la...
2025-12-1223 min
vAuto PodcastGoing Beyond Look to Book to Measure Appraiser PerformanceIn this vAuto podcast, vAuto’s Dan Winchester highlights how appraiser Look to Book rates at some dealerships aren’t as good as dealers think. Winchester details the limits of LTB as a primary measure of appraiser performance, and why two new KPIs—appraisal effectiveness and appraisal completeness—offer a better way for dealers to maximize appraisal opportunities. Hear how you can identify the inconsistencies in your appraiser performance/process your LTB doesn’t capture; increase your ratio of appraisals to sales to improve your ability to acquire vehicles directly from customers; and, assess how well appraisers do the steps of your ap...
2025-11-2632 minvAuto PodcastHow AI Powers Service Lane Appraisals, AcquisitionsIn this vAuto podcast, used vehicle buyer Josh Kor of Richfield Bloomington (MN) Honda shares how UVeye’s AI-powered vehicle inspections and a new vAuto appraisal integration have made acquiring vehicles from service customers more effective and efficient. Kor details the process he follows that yields 1500 completed service lane appraisals and 40-plus vehicle acquisitions each month. Hear how the dealership uses UVeye technology to supplement vehicle inspections and uncover additional RO opportunities; ensures nearly 90 percent of service lane customers receive appraisals for their vehicles; and follows a “soft touch” approach that gives customers 30 days to say “yes” to the initial offer.
2025-09-0523 min
vAuto PodcastvAuto Quarterly Quick-Takes: An “Up and Down” Retail Automotive Market in Q2 2025In this vAuto Quarterly Quick-Takes video, strategic planning director Bethany Johnson summarizes key take-aways from Q2, which saw a series of ups and downs across new and used vehicle departments for dealers. Get pointers to help you turn a new vehicle bright spot—improving trade-in equity—to your advantage to address slow-moving inventory; diversify your used vehicle acquisition strategy and mix to better serve affordability-minded buyers; and, help your car stand tall in merchandising to spur buyer interest/engagement online.
2025-08-0808 minvAuto Podcast5 Key Opportunities for Any Dealer GroupIn this vAuto podcast, vAuto’s Senior Director of Customer Program Management, Dan Winchester, addresses five performance improvement opportunities for groups. The opportunities flow from his work advising dealer groups on ways to improve their businesses. The specific opportunities include ways to bring more consistency to appraisals across group rooftops; how to ensure each vehicle retails at the rooftop that offers the best ROI opportunity; pointers to establish group-level targets to minimize vehicle price discounts; and, guidelines to understand if merchandising or pricing is problematic for a vehicle.
2025-06-0633 minvAuto PodcastA Better Way to Optimize Your Group PerformanceIn this vAuto podcast, general manager Bill Stanley of the North Dakota-based Ryan Family of Dealerships details his experience working with vAuto’s development team to create a better, faster way of assessing and addressing rooftop-level performance. Stanley also outlines why he expects his team will be “rocking and rolling” this summer, despite the risks of less favorable market conditions due to tariffs and other factors. Hear how Stanley uses a new enterprise-level dashboard to reduce discounting to an average of $150, zero in on pricing, people or process issues that need attention, shave hours of time he previously spent to compil...
2025-05-0527 minvAuto PodcastManaging Your New/Used Inventories as Tariffs Turn the MarketIn this vAuto podcast, vAuto and Cox Automotive associate vice president Patrick Janes shares perspective on how dealers can address the impact of tariffs as they manage new and used vehicle inventories. Janes offers pointers to help you acquire inventory from customers in a supply-constrained market; ensure your new/used vehicle pricing keeps pace as the market moves; adjust your inventory/sales momentum as market demand shifts.
2025-04-1426 minvAuto PodcastGoal-Minded: How McGrath’s is Meeting its 10 Percent Growth ObjectiveIn this vAuto podcast, Josh Orthel, director of sales for the Iowa-based McGrath Group and his vAuto Performance Manager Brian Kurtz discuss how the group is achieving its goal of 10 percent growth in new/used vehicle sales this year. Hear how Orthel and his team at the nine-store group right-size their used inventories and align pricing to balance gross/turn objectives. Also, Josh discusses how McGrath tightened their appraisal process to gain inventory acquisition efficiency. Finally, hear about their focus on key new vehicle metrics to drive turn and minimize holding expense.
2025-04-0234 minvAuto PodcastMaking Sense of a Market That’s on the MoveIn this vAuto podcast, Cox Automotive executive analyst Erin Keating and vAuto strategic planning director Bethany Johnson discuss how a rise in market uncertainty and volatility could dampen what’s turned out to be better-than-expected new and used vehicle sales in the first quarter of 2025. Hear why and how economic trends have spurred a two-sided market where luxury and lower-end vehicles rank as the hottest segments. Also, learn about how affordability will remain a challenge for some time, putting pressure on dealers to focus on market-efficient inventory allocations and sourcing. Finally, they discuss how as-yet unchanged federal tax incentives and be...
2025-03-2120 min
vAuto PodcastA Preview of vAuto Innovations Debuting at NADA 2025In this vAuto podcast, vAuto’s Derek Hansen, Patrick Janes and Micah Tindor discuss the innovations vAuto will debut at NADA 2025 in New Orleans. They discuss how the new solutions help dealers and dealer groups implement a more consistent appraisal process with customers looking to sell or trade a vehicle, and centralize inventory management decision-making to improve rooftop-level performance.
2025-01-0918 minvAuto PodcastA Sneak Preview of Dale Pollak’s New Book, InvestedIn this vAuto podcast, vAuto founder and Cox Automotive Executive Vice President, Dale Pollak shares a sneak peek of his new book, Invested: The New Science, Strategy and System of Used Vehicle Investment Management. Pollak shares:
Why he believes market conditions now require dealers to adopt investment management principles to contend with higher vehicle costs and declining front-end grosses.
How the book gives dealers a way to establish strategic, investment-minded objectives for vehicle acquisition, appraising and pricing.
Where he thinks the market will head in 2025 (hint: mostly favorable, with some uncertainty).
2024-12-1322 min
vAuto PodcastvAuto Live Market View | Q3 2024It’s a head-scratcher: Despite ample inventory and relatively strong demand, new vehicle sales aren’t living up to expectations. What gives? vAuto’s Derek Hansen and Chris Hanna provide answers and practical next steps in the Q3 edition of vAuto’s Live Market View. Get a quick view of how affordability, risk-averse lenders and more-difficult-to-manage incentives put the onus on dealers to move metal. Hear best practices to more effectively manage your new vehicle investments—all with an eye to help you capture a greater share of your market despite the headwinds.
2024-10-1106 minvAuto PodcastAvoiding 5 Common Online Merchandising MisstepsIn this vAuto podcast, vAuto Performance Managers Jim Tourigney and Patrick Wright detail best practices to help dealers avoid the five most-common merchandising missteps that result in used vehicles not moving when they should. From rethinking the role merchandising plays in your sales process to an over-emphasis on re-pricing rather than re-merchandising vehicles, Tourigney and Wright offer practical pointers to help dealers gain efficiency as they get more from their merchandising and related promotion efforts.
Bonus: The pair also distill key distinctions between merchandising new and used vehicles to better engage their respective buyers.
2024-09-1928 minvAuto PodcastKeeping Stores “Between the Lines” to Drive Dealer Group PerformanceIn this vAuto podcast, Scott Crompton, Marketing Manager for Victory Automotive Group and Dustin Corder, vAuto Performance Manager, share how they work together to help Victory drive success across its nearly 45 stores in 10 states.
Crompton details how Victory establishes operational guidelines and key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure individual rooftops serve the broader group’s interests as they make vehicle acquisition, appraising and pricing decisions.
Crompton also outlines how he manages and measures the group’s marketing spend in traditional and digital channels to support individual rooftops and the Victory brand.
2024-09-1221 minvAuto PodcastNew Vehicle Incentives: Finding Advantage in a VIN-Specific EnvironmentIn this vAuto podcast, Alicia Rudowyj and Bethany Johnson, who work with vAuto’s new vehicle incentives and solutions teams, discuss how the new vehicle landscape has shifted to include a larger share of Vehicle Information Number (VIN)-specific incentives to help dealers move aged inventory.
Rudowyj and Johnson detail how the shift away from a one-size-fits-all approach to incentives by some OEMs creates pricing and inventory management challenges for dealers. Hear their recommendations on how dealers should assess each new vehicle’s risk profile—and the vehicle’s likelihood to receive an incentive—to ensure their pricing, merchandising and inventory...
2024-08-0922 min
vAuto PodcastPerspectives from a Fundamentals-Minded DealerIn this vAuto podcast, dealer Mark McKie of McKie Ford Lincoln and Greg Plank, Senior Team Leader of dealership operations for vAuto’s Performance Management team, discuss some of the playbook principles McKie and his team enable to drive new and used vehicle success at the dealership.
McKie discusses his strategies for maintaining a tight turn on used vehicles that drives his dealership’s 1.5:1 used/new sales ratio. McKie also shares how he keeps his team focused on strategic objectives through daily management meetings and collective walks of fresh trades to finalize plans to get them retail-ready. On the new vehi...
2024-07-1835 minvAuto PodcastvAuto Live Market View | Q2 2024Dealers are feeling a profitability pinch in new and used vehicles as new vehicle supplies grow and potential buyers face their own pocketbook pressure. In the Q2 edition of Live Market View, Derek Hansen, Vice President of Operations for Cox Automotive and vAuto, and Erin Keating, Executive Analyst of Economic and Industry Insights for Cox Automotive, share practical pointers to help dealers manage new vehicle profitability through more efficient allocation, incentive and merchandising management. They also share tips to help dealers stock, price and sell used vehicles to optimize each unit’s ROI potential in a market where depreciation has re...
2024-06-1708 minvAuto PodcastAn Evolutionary View of vAuto Performance ManagementIn this vAuto podcast, Christian Hanna, Associate Vice President of Performance Management for vAuto, offers an overview of the coaching role that Performance Managers provide vAuto dealers to help them achieve greater success. Hanna details his own Performance Management career, including high points and low points, and shares how the Performance Management team has begun to deliver a “One Cox” experience in its dealer engagements. Hanna also taps his new vehicle inventory management experience, offering pointers to help dealers adjust to today’s higher inventory, higher cost and lower margin environment.
2024-05-0328 minvAuto PodcastYour Merchandising Is Your Sales ProcessIn this vAuto podcast, Chris Williams, general manager at Southern Pines (N.C.) Chevrolet and vAuto Performance Manager Ted Welpott share how they teamed to connect the dealership’s sales process to new/used vehicle merchandising. Hear how this effort has tripled SRP/VDP conversions by reinventing each vehicle’s VDP carousel to provide a value-minded gateway to the cars and experience customers can expect. Find out how Williams uses new merchandising tools to cut the time required to merchandise each vehicle and quickly pivot to update merchandising as OEM incentives for new and CPO vehicles change.
2024-04-1128 min
vAuto PodcastNext Gen Perspectives: Northwood University Students Share Views of NADA and MoreIn this vAuto podcast, Northwood University seniors Skylar Burless and Dominic Nowling share their perspectives on why they picked the car business to launch their professional careers, and their take-aways from spending time with the vAuto team at the recent NADA convention. Both outlined the challenges and opportunities they expect to encounter in their respective roads ahead and offer pointers for dealers looking to work better with the incoming generation of automotive leaders.
2024-03-0714 minvAuto PodcastUnpacking 3 Used Vehicle Lifecycle Opportunities for DealersIn this vAuto podcast, a trio of the company’s thought leaders—Alison Spangler, Patrick Janes and Nathan Fox—outline opportunities for dealers in three distinct areas of used vehicle operations: Acquisition, your retail/wholesale exit decisions and merchandising. Get a clear understanding of how you can optimize your opportunity in each area and understand how new solutions vAuto will be featuring at the upcoming NADA 2024 convention in Las Vegas can help.
2024-01-1224 min
vAuto PodcastHow to Grow Inventory When Supply is Down | vAuto | Used Car Week 2023While supply remains low, consumer demand is still high. That means you need to source creatively to stock the cars your customers want. Listen to vAuto's Derek Hanson and Patrick Janes discuss how multi-channel sourcing is the key to finding inventory. They also cover how the end of the UAW strike will ignite the new car market, creating an uptick in trade opportunities.
2023-11-2005 minvAuto PodcastFinding Success Amid Uncertain Used Vehicle Market ConditionsIn this vAuto podcast, Dale Pollak, vAuto founder and Cox Automotive executive vice president, discusses how used vehicle market conditions may evolve in the face of the United Auto Workers strike and affordability issues that can weaken retail demand. Dale shares how dealers can strengthen the performance of used vehicle operations with a more strategy-minded approach to pricing, appraising and acquisition. He also details why some dealers are finding opportunities with used EVs other dealers currently avoid.
2023-10-1328 minvAuto PodcastAn Exit-Minded Method to Secure More Inventory and Profit at WholesaleIn this vAuto podcast, hear from Micah Tindor of Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer and Matt Talbert of vAuto discuss how dealers build an exit-minded strategy for acquiring and disposing of consumer vehicles. Hear their market predictions for the rest of the year and how dealers can get ahead of the game by using new tools to know their profitable exit at the point of acquisition.
2023-08-2530 minvAuto PodcastBest Practices for Sourcing Inventory on the Money in Any ChannelIn this vAuto podcast, Patrick Janes of vAuto and Micah Tindor of Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer share best practices to help dealers source inventory more effectively and profitably in non-traditional acquisition channels. Get pointers to establish a standard (and measurable) appraisal process you can deploy in your service drive, private party and other sourcing channels. Find out how new tools provide metrics to manage appraiser performance and manage the money-making potential of vehicles sourced in specific channels to meet your stocking strategy and used vehicle department objectives.
2023-08-0425 minvAuto PodcastWhat happens when a 100 year old dealership must reinvent itself in a volatile market?In this episode of the vAuto podcast Mark Thompson, Used Car Operations Director at Bergey Automotive, joins Mike Boyd, Senior Director of Business Development and Founder of vAuto’s iRecon, to discuss how Bergey’s has reinvented itself in an unpredictable market. They’ll discuss how Bergey’s changed their merchandising approach, tightened up reconditioning and got creative with acquiring inventory – all while keeping the customer experience at the forefront.
2023-04-2819 minvAuto PodcastElevate Your Vehicle Merchandising to Meet Shopper ExpectationsPhotos alone don't tell the story today's vehicle shoppers want to understand about your vehicles. That's a take-away from recent research into consumers' vehicle purchase processes. In this episode of the vAuto podcast, Nathan Fox, AVP Operations, Merchandising at Cox Automotive and vAuto, distills key research findings and insights to help dealers give shoppers a better and more influential experience. The research insights are part of the 2023 Consumer Merchandising Insights eBook. Download your copy here: https://www.vauto.com/learning-center/vauto-content/vat-2023-consumer-merchandising-insights-ebook-feb23-v4
2023-04-0715 minvAuto PodcastA Dealer Discovers a Better Way to WholesaleIn this vAuto podcast, Mike Maheras, vice president and general manager of Phillips Chevrolet, and Jack Gronner, vAuto Performance Manager, discuss how Mike's adopted a new way to wholesale vehicles that reduces risk and results in consistently profitable outcomes.
Mike details why he describes Cox Automotive’s Upside solution as "legalized gambling with used cars and no downside." Hear how Mike's team now appraises every potential acquisition with greater confidence, knowing each vehicle's optimal exit strategy, and why the elimination of "no sales" when they wholesale cars through Upside makes a big, profitable difference.
2023-03-1019 minvAuto Podcast5 Reasons the Time is Right for Variable ManagementIn this episode of the vAuto podcast, Patrick Janes details five reasons dealers are going beyond Velocity and adopting vAuto’s new Variable Management strategy for managing used vehicles. More market variability. More margin compression. More distressed cars in dealer inventories. Janes shares how Variable Management helps dealers overcome these and symptoms of today’s more uncertain used vehicle market. The key: Knowing each vehicle’s investment value, while appraising and pricing every car, to consistently make the right decisions. Find out how dealers who have fully adopted Variable Management now outperform their peers in used vehicle gross profits and sales...
2023-02-1721 minvAuto PodcastHow Recon Performance Helped a Dealer Group Reshape Used Vehicle ReconditioningIn this episode of the vAuto podcast, Brian Langley, director of service operations for the Sam Leman Automotive Group in Central Illinois, and Mike Boyd, founder of vAuto iRecon, discuss how Langley has brought more accountability and efficiency to the group’s used vehicle reconditioning. Langley outlines two things he tracks daily to avoid a backlog of vehicles waiting for reconditioning and reduce approval times on ROs from hours to minutes. Hear Langley’s tips other dealers can use to achieve team buy-in and diligently use technology-driven solutions to get used vehicles through service, detailing and online faster with more sale...
2023-01-0531 minvAuto PodcastNADA 2023: A Sneak Peek & Promise from vAutoIn this vAuto podcast episode, three vAuto leaders, Dale Pollak, Derek Hansen and Nathan Fox, offer a preview of the new solutions and thought leadership the company will bring to the 2023 NADA convention in Dallas. Hear about current used vehicle challenges and how they’ll shape the year ahead, followed by a rundown of the NADA presentations that aim to help dealers improve their used vehicle retailing, wholesaling and merchandising. Plus, you get a sneak peek at the new innovations vAuto will debut in Dallas.
2022-12-1627 minvAuto PodcastRethinking Vehicle Merchandising and It’s MeasurementIn this episode of the vAuto podcast, Nathan Fox, vAuto AVP Operations, Merchandising Software, outlines an opportunity gap for dealers with the VDPs on their online vehicle listings. Fox explains that while dealers have successfully optimized listings for SRPs, their VDPs have not kept pace with consumer expectations. Fox shares how dealers should think differently about the VDP experiences they offer consumers and the steps they can take to improve VDP engagement and relevance. Fox also describes a new metric that can help dealers measuring their merchandising success beyond the SRP/VDP counts they use today.
2022-12-1015 minvAuto PodcastWhy Variable Management is Better than VelocityIn this vAuto podcast episode, vAuto founder Dale Pollak explains why Variable Management, a new way to manage used vehicles based on each unit’s unique investment value, drives better outcomes for dealers than Velocity Management. Dale details how the data science behind Variable Management helps dealers avoid cheap selling their best cars for the sake of volume and holding out for gross on their worst cars to avoid losses—a common problem in the current market. Dale also shares how Variable Management can help dealers become smarter and more successful as they tap non-traditional channels to source used vehicle inve...
2022-11-1832 minvAuto PodcastHow Dealers Are Going Digital in Service to Build Customer Loyalty and ValueIn this vAuto podcast episode, Mike Boyd, founder of vAuto’s iRecon, and Jade Terreberry, Senior Director, Strategic Planning & Business Development (Autotrader, KBB, & Dealer.com) discuss the ever-growing importance of fixed ops in increasing customer lifetime value (CLV)—and how a consumer-focused, digitally driven strategy in service helps them achieve the goal. Hear how consumer expectations have shifted during the pandemic and how dealers must proactively engage their customers throughout their ownership experiences, providing greater convenience, relevance and transparency to capture their vehicle service business.
2022-09-2325 minvAuto PodcastHow Dealers Should Adapt to Less Favorable Market ConditionsIn this vAuto podcast episode, Brian Benstock, vice president of Paragon Honda and Paragon Acura, Queens, NY, and vAuto founder Dale Pollak discuss how they believe dealers should respond to less-favorable market conditions in the months ahead—and get out of what Benstock dubs a “profit coma.” The pair also discuss why service lane acquisition will need to become an even higher priority for dealers to ensure they maintain retail sales volumes in light of ongoing inventory constraints. Benstock details the process he developed and refined over the past decade to make service lane acquisitions a primary source of used vehicl...
2022-06-2526 minvAuto PodcastvAuto Founder Dale Pollak Previews What’s New for NADA 2022In 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 wholesale vehicle sales into a profit center. Dale also discusses key take-aways from his latest book, Whole Truth: A Fresh Money-Making Method to...
2022-03-0520 min
vAuto PodcastTransform Your Media Carousel Into A Storytelling Experience To Win Consumers Online | vAutoIn 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 the carousel. Dealers are wasting a prime opportunity with a captured audience. vAuto Intelligent Promotion helps achieve this by making it eff...
2022-02-1918 minvAuto Podcast2021 in Review: 5 Take-Aways to Shape Your 2022 SuccessIn 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 investment value-based used vehicle pricing helped some dealers out-perform competitors in sales volume and profit. Dale also believes the wholesale market will offer opportunity for dealers who follow...
2021-12-2327 minvAuto PodcastWhy Used Vehicle Managers Are Stealing a Page From the New Vehicle PlaybookIn 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 stealing a page from new vehicle sales by “taking orders” to proactively find vehicles for customers in the wholesale market. Patrick also d...
2021-12-1027 minvAuto PodcastProgressing the Sales Experience during the Inventory ShortageIn 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.
2021-11-0917 minvAuto PodcastDigital Dealer Wrap-Up: Pointers for Customer Car Acquisitions, Comp PlansIn 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 managers to lead engagements with customers interested in selling their vehicles, and why a “hit low and walk down” strategy for appraisal offers no longer works. In addition, they...
2021-11-0448 minvAuto PodcastHow A Changed Appraisal Process Increases Acquisition OpportunitiesIn 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 acquiring all used vehicle inventory through trade-ins, the service lane and directly from customers. The episode wraps up with Brian sharing...
2021-09-291h 02vAuto PodcastSneak Preview of Fall Expo 2021 User Summit Sessions from vAutoIn 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.
2021-09-0921 minvAuto PodcastA New World Order for Your New Car BusinessIn 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.
2021-08-2714 minvAuto PodcastEnsure Your Vehicle Merchandising Meets Customer ExpectationsIn 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 customers require to earn their business.
2021-08-0622 minvAuto PodcastKeeping Pace As The Wholesale Market TurnsIn 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 risk in the retail market. Patrick also outlines an approach for dealers to right-size their acquisitions to ensure their used vehicle inventories complement incoming ne...
2021-07-3020 minvAuto PodcastUnder the Microscope: How Bush Auto Place Fared in a Northwood University StudyIn 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 sales coordinator position helps his team meet a five-day goal for getting vehicles front- and online-ready.
2021-06-2329 minvAuto PodcastvAuto Podcast: "Invest right now…so we can pay it forward for ourselves in the future"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.
2021-06-0818 minvAuto PodcastSigns of Change in the Used Vehicle MarketIn 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.
2021-05-0417 min
vAuto PodcastHow ProfitTime 2.0 and Strong Retail Demand Will Benefit DealersIn 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, will yield strong retail demand for used vehicles in the front-half of 2021.
2021-02-0326 minvAuto PodcastFinding Opportunity in a High-Cost Wholesale MarketIn this vAuto podcast episode, Patrick Janes, director of business development for vAuto’s Stockwave, highlights how dealers can find advantage in a wholesale market despite the higher cost of auction-purchased inventory. Patrick shares how dealers can mine market data to identify wholesale vehicles that offer a profit-positive retail opportunity, and spot emerging opportunities less data-minded buyers might miss. Patrick also outlines reasons why he believes the retail market will remain robust in early 2021, even as dealers may face ongoing volatility in the wholesale market.
2020-11-2324 min
vAuto PodcastDialogue Series Wrap-Up: vAuto’s Dale Pollak Highlights Key Market Conditions as 2020 ClosesIn this vAuto Podcast episode, vAuto founder Dale Pollak responds to dealers who asked for guidance and insight on used market conditions in the final quarter of 2020. Dale discusses how a slight softening of retail sales and wholesale values should guide dealers’ decisions to acquire more inventory, and shape their retailing strategies for higher-cost auction vehicles. Dale outlines how dealers might rethink their appraisal process to bring in vehicles that offer opportunity in both the retail and wholesale markets. Dale also points to a potential bright spot in 2021—how a second round of federal stimulus funds will likely buoy new and...
2020-11-1620 minvAuto PodcastDigital, Virtual, Remote: What the Consumer WantsIn this vAuto podcast episode, Brian Finkelmeyer, senior director of new car solutions for vAuto, and guest David Barash, finance director at Glassman Automotive Group in Metro Detroit discuss how dealers are taking advantage of digital interfaces and virtual tools to complete a deal. David shares that customers know exactly what they want due to the accessibility of information available to them. With digital tools, customers can take a virtual walk-around and test drive a vehicle from the comfort of their living room! Despite the pandemic eliminating inventory across the country, David notes that it gives his team more time...
2020-11-1015 minvAuto PodcastAdapting to New Rules in the New Car MarketIn this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and Brian Finkelmeyer, senior director of new car solutions for vAuto, discuss how dealers can thrive in a new car market where retail demand currently outpaces inventory supply, and the race to the bottom is now a race to inventory. Brian offers best practices for dealers to ensure they understand their best-selling models, colors, equipment and trim combinations, and to proactively address slower-moving inventory that can restrict a dealer’s ability to order and stock the best-selling vehicles. Brian also shares a look ahead at how the lessons dealers and factories learned du...
2020-10-2721 minvAuto PodcastDealer Voices: “I’m Literally Running Out of Cars to Sell”In this episode of the vAuto Podcast Retail Revival series, host Randy Kobat and Nick Anderson, general manager at Chuck Anderson Ford, Excelsior Springs, MO, discuss how market conditions have pushed Nick to rely on alternative strategies to acquire used vehicle inventory. Nick shares how Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer helps him acquire 20 vehicles a month with lower Cost to Market percentages than auction purchases. Nick outlines his strategy for working with customers, whether they purchase a vehicle or not, to ensure a satisfying, transparent process. Nick also offers the three strategies he’ll follow to ensure a strong cl...
2020-10-2026 min
vAuto PodcastAn Independent Dealer’s View of Inventory Acquisition and the Road AheadIn this vAuto podcast episode, Eric Nelson of Nelson Auto, Mt. Prospect, IL, and Patrick Janes, director of business development for Stockwave discuss how Eric uses technology to efficiently find and acquire the right inventory for his dealership. Eric shares how he blends online and proxy bidding to acquire the vehicles he knows will sell in his market, and how Google helps him track retail trends that inform the amount and type of inventory he needs. Eric also details why he believes, despite 2020’s raft of disruptions, his store will end the year ahead of its retail performance in 2019.
2020-10-0120 minvAuto PodcastDealer Voices: “We Love the Science of the Automotive Business”In this episode of the vAuto Podcast Retail Revival series, host Randy Kobat and Dan Garwatoski, sales manager at Nissan North, Columbus, OH, discuss how Dan and his team have found success despite ongoing volatility in the retail automotive market. Dan shares how Provision ProfitTime helped the dealership raise prices to meet retail demand and acquire the right cars for the right money, despite a hot wholesale market. Dan also discusses the digital retailing lessons his team has taken to heart, and how the right people and processes feed the dealership’s ongoing success.
2020-09-2922 minvAuto PodcastHow Recon Estimates Hurt Your Appraisal SuccessIn this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and iRecon founder Mike Boyd discuss how inaccurate reconditioning estimates in appraisals can undermine a dealership’s ability to acquire and retail used vehicles. Mike shares findings that suggest an average $600 variance between reconditioning estimates and the cost of the actual work—a gap that often translates to lower look-to-book ratios and less-productive inventory acquisition efforts. Mike also details how dealers can measure appraiser performance to achieve a higher level of recon estimate accuracy and consistency, and how such “measure to manage” efforts yield more positive outcomes for the dealership.
2020-09-1829 min
vAuto PodcastDealer Voices: “Find Out What it is That Makes You Different”In this episode of the vAuto Podcast Retail Revival series, host Randy Kobat and Cary Donovan, dealer principal at Rolling Stock Specialty Auto Sales, Louisville, KY, discuss the unique retailing strategy Donovan has developed at his warehouse operation. Donovan shares how he manages his customers through appointment-only and details his reasons for choosing not to offer F&I options as part of his customer-centric sales process. Donovan outlines how he determines if a vehicle is right for his customers and his effort to become a trusted advisor to win a customer’s business and satisfaction.
2020-09-0231 minvAuto PodcastA Stocking Prescription for the Current MarketIn this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and vAuto founder and Cox Automotive executive vice president, Dale Pollak, discuss current market conditions that suggest dealers take a more cautious approach to acquiring used vehicle inventory. Dale shares his recommendation that dealers should stock a 30-day supply of inventory, based on a rolling 14-day total of retail sales, rather than a full 30-day snapshot. Dale also suggests dealers should rethink cars that “cost too much” at auction and offers a benchmark to help dealers capture a higher percentage of lower-cost, trade-in opportunities to ease their reliance on auction purchases.
2020-08-1315 minvAuto PodcastDealer Voices: “You Have to Adapt to Your Market”In this episode of the vAuto Podcast Retail Revival series, host Randy Kobat and Bobby Sight, operations director at Rob Sight Ford, Kansas City, discuss how Bobby has spent the past year revamping the dealership’s marketing strategy as part of an effort to increase the store’s new vehicle business. A fourth-generation dealer, Sight shares how he studied competitor inventories and sales to find his own opportunities to grow market share. Sight details how his more aggressive approach to new vehicles created positive momentum that has helped him grow retail sales by 27 percent despite the disruption and low inventory leve...
2020-08-0624 minvAuto PodcastReckoning with Today’s New Vehicle RealitiesIn this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and Brian Finkelmeyer, director of new vehicle business development for vAuto, discuss the current environment for franchised dealers in new vehicles. Brian shares an update on new vehicle sales and inventory supplies, and how these factors create an environment where the margin of error in pricing or vehicle ordering can make a difficult situation even worse. Brian offers three ways dealers can optimize their new vehicle inventory to capture the right cars and customers amid the current market volatility.
2020-07-2119 minvAuto PodcastA View of Online Inventory Acquisition in the Current MarketIn this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson, Rob Berman, used vehicle manager at Nate Wade Subaru, Salt Lake City and Patrick Janes, director of business development for Stockwave, discuss how Berman has adjusted his inventory acquisition efforts to fit current wholesale and retail conditions. A self-proclaimed “dinosaur,” Berman shares how he’s casting a wider net using technology to find the cars that match his buying parameters, regardless of where they are. Berman also details how and why more targeted, profit-focused auction acquisitions helped drive record-setting used vehicle sales volume and gross profits in June for his dealership.
2020-07-1426 minvAuto PodcastDealer Voices: “Building the case for what the vehicle’s worth today”In this episode of the vAuto Podcast Retail Revival series, host Randy Kobat and Jonathan Hakes, used vehicle inventory director at Dorschel Auto Group, Rochester, NY, discuss how the group is putting a greater emphasis on capturing more trade-ins and off-street vehicles to feed its used vehicle inventory. Jonathan shares how the group is refining its “sight unseen” appraisal process and using Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer to get more accurate, consumer-led assessments of a vehicle’s condition. view of a vehicle’s condition. Jonathan also details the group’s goals to achieve a Look to Book ratio of 60 percent in...
2020-07-1422 minvAuto PodcastWhy Retail Demand Remains Strong Despite Economic ConditionsIn this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and vAuto founder and Cox Automotive Executive Vice President Dale Pollak discuss two questions on most everyone’s minds—why is retail demand so strong and how long might it last? Dale shares a perspective shaped by conversations with top thinkers at Cox Automotive that suggests 4 “Cs” are driving retail demand, which are cash, credit, confidence and cheap money. Dale also encourages dealers to right-size their used vehicle inventories to current retail demand to avoid carrying too much inventory if retail demand loses steam as summer turns to fall across the country.
2020-06-3021 minvAuto PodcastDealer Voices: “We’re on the Right Path.”In this episode of the vAuto Podcast Retail Revival series, host Randy Kobat and Phillip Gill, general sales manager of Tom Gill Chevrolet, Florence, KY, discuss how business has changed at the dealership since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Phillip outlines how the pandemic disrupted his transition to Provision ProfitTime, and then proved to be a useful way to position the store for a record-setting pace of sales in May. Phillip also shares some of the ways he’s changing his sales process to retain and grow the share of customers who now prefer digital retailing, and the opportunities for greater ef...
2020-06-2323 min
vAuto PodcastDealer Voices: “Treat Other People Like We Want to be Treated”In this episode of the vAuto Podcast Retail Revival series, host Randy Kobat and Jeff VanderWal, founder and president of Clear Shift, a Littleton, CO-based independent dealership, discuss the factors that have helped the operation double its retail sales despite the pandemic. Jeff shares why Clear Shift adopted digital retailing strategies years ago, and how his sales process has offered an advantage in the current market. Jeff also shares pointers for other dealers to help them reengineer the way they sell cars by putting an earnest and honest focus on serving customers in the manner they want to be served.
2020-06-0332 minvAuto PodcastPandemic Helps Dealer Increase Reconditioning EfficiencyIn this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson, Jim Farkas, general manager of Germain Honda of Ann Arbor, MI, and Mike Boyd, director of business enablement for vAuto’s iRecon, discuss how Farkas used the COVID-19 pandemic to rethink the store’s approach to reconditioning. Farkas details how he’s defined specific performance standards and timelines to shave nearly three days off the time it typically takes to get vehicles frontline-ready faster. Farkas shares how he has changed pay plans and tied shop rates to specific time targets to ensure vehicles are out of the shop and detailed/online within 72 hours.
2020-06-0322 minvAuto PodcastHow the Car Business Will/Won’t Change with COVID-19In this vAuto Podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and vAuto Founder Dale Pollak discuss key operational take-aways from the automotive industry’s response to COVID-19. Dale shares how a collective focus on customers is helping dealers redefine the way they do business to increase operational efficiency and profitability. Dale shares how some long-held beliefs, like a need for big facilities and control-based showroom experiences to make deals, are changing fast. The conversation also underscores what won’t change about the role of the dealer in retail automotive, with a specific focus on need for well-executed inventory investment fundamentals and a well...
2020-05-2618 minvAuto PodcastA Business Plan-Focused Return to Auction BuyingIn this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson, Jonathan Self, used car director for independent dealer Texas Auto and Patrick Janes, director of business development for vAuto’s Stockwave, discuss how Self has moved from a stand-still to serving a growing number of retail customers. Self details how he’s picked up curbside buying and finding front-end gross friendly auction cars by adjusting his stocking business plan to fit current market conditions. Self also shares pointers for used vehicle buyers and managers who have not yet mastered the art/science of appraising and acquiring wholesale inventory online, sight-unseen.
2020-05-2622 minvAuto PodcastDealer Voices: “We Are Excited About Where We’re Going”In this episode of the vAuto Podcast Retail Revival series, host Randy Kobat and Trent Waybright, vice president of pre-owned operations for Kelley Auto Group, Fort Wayne, IN, discuss how the group stores are selling more used vehicles today than they did a year ago. Trent shares how he’s remained aggressive in his pricing and acquisition strategy, while innovating in the way his team gets vehicles front-line ready and handles customers in a way that makes them most comfortable and safe. Trent also shares insights on how today’s appointment-only selling may become a more permanent part of the road...
2020-05-1921 minvAuto PodcastHow Dealers Handle Reconditioning in the Current CrisisIn this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and Mike Boyd, director of business development and founder of iRecon, discuss how dealers are adjusting staffing levels and processes during the COVID-19 crisis. Boyd shares his perspective that now is not the time for dealers to trim back on necessary reconditioning to reduce costs. Rather, Boyd believes proper reconditioning is necessary to avoid situations where cutting corners costs used vehicle sales.
2020-05-1815 minvAuto PodcastA Call to Return to Retail-Back AcquisitionsIn this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and vAuto founder and executive vice president Dale Pollak discuss Dale’s prescription for dealer’s to return to retail-back acquisitions. Dale shares an overview of improving retail and wholesale market conditions, and how these changes make a reliance on wholesale valuations less necessary and useful given the increasing relevance and reliability of retail supply/demand insights. Dale describes why the current moment provides what may be a short-term opportunity for dealers to acquire vehicles with front-end margins dealers have not seen in some time. Dale also shares a cautionary perspective on inve...
2020-05-1217 minvAuto PodcastDealer Voices: “How Do You Want to Buy the Car?”In this episode of the vAuto Podcast Retail Revival series, host Randy Kobat and John Malishenko of Germain Auto Group, Columbus, OH, discuss how the Germain organization has quickly adapted their retailing operations in the COVID-19 crisis. John shares how a simple question has led to some profound insights about the way consumers want to purchase cars in the current environment, and the individuals, skills and performance indicators that drive the best outcomes. John also discusses how the Germain group is changing the way it acquires used vehicles and manages cash flow to prepare the business for the future.
2020-05-1122 minvAuto PodcastHow Dealers Are Merchandising Vehicles to Promote Safe, Socially Distant SalesIn this episode, vAuto podcast host Lance Helgeson and Russ Daniels, director of product marketing for HomeNet, Stockwave, and iRecon, discuss how dealers are using overlays and other tools to merchandise their vehicles in a manner that promotes their safe, socially distant sales processes. The episode also highlights several steps dealers can take to use existing, often under-utilized tools to ensure their merchandising stands out and engages buyers in a meaningful way to drive new/used vehicle sales.
2020-05-1111 minvAuto PodcastDealer Voices: “We’re Actually Up in April”In this episode of the vAuto Podcast Retail Revival series, host Randy Kobat and independent dealer Bradley Berndt of Autohaus on Velp, Green Bay, WI, discuss how Bradley has reduced his inventory size and trimmed prices to move vehicles in the current COVID-19 crisis. The dealership’s sales are up in April, year over year. Bradley shares how his team has shifted to an appointment-only, digitally driven sales process to sell cars and put even more faith in market data to make informed decisions in uncertain market conditions.
2020-05-0421 minvAuto PodcastProfitTime’s Role in the Current PandemicIn this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and vAuto founder Dale Pollak discuss the value ProfitTime can bring to dealers as they work to liquidate inventory in the current COVID-19 crisis. Dale cautions that the urgency dealers apply to retailing vehicles to improve their cash position should not neglect a vehicle’s investment value. Dale also shares his best practice suggestions for right-sizing inventory and setting investment value-based pricing strategies in today’s more volatile market conditions.
2020-05-0418 minvAuto PodcastShould You Step Up or Back in New Cars?In this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and Brian Finkelmeyer, senior director of new car solutions for vAuto, discuss the question of whether dealers should say “no” to more inventory from the factory or say “yes” in anticipation of a time when retail demand will resume. The conversation highlights the market factors dealers should consider as they manage new vehicle inventories through the current crisis and best position them for business tomorrow.
2020-05-0412 minvAuto PodcastWhy Inventory Liquidation is Right for Right NowIn this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and vAuto founder Dale Pollak discuss why Dale believes dealers must adopt a liquidation strategy in their used vehicle inventories to help them reset their inventory investments in today’s volatile market. Dale shares pointers on how dealers should proceed with reducing vehicle prices, and how this strategy is leading some dealers to a retail revival in their used vehicle departments.
2020-04-2816 minvAuto PodcastSocial Distance and Digital Deals: Today and In The FutureIn this episode, vAuto podcast host Lance Helgeson joins Mike Gibel, general manager of Ira Jack Chevrolet Cadillac (Saco, ME), and Matt Kondik, implementation manager for Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer, for a candid conversation about the ways Gibel’s team engages customers, and sells cars, in the current COVID-19 crisis. Gibel details how his team appraises cars, desks deals, and delivers vehicles to customers in a safe, socially distant manner. Gibel and Kondik also share how today’s digitally driven customer experiences will define how dealers make deals in the future.
2020-04-2724 minvAuto PodcastDealer Voices: Moving the Market to My StoreIn this vAuto podcast Retail Revival series installment, host Randy Kobat and Jake Sodikoff, dealer principal at Steven Nissan, Harrisonburg, VA, discuss how Sodikoff liquidated his used vehicle inventory, reset his inventory Cost to Market position through careful acquisitions, and began to capture retail sales despite the current COVID-19 crisis. Sodikoff shares how he/his team value used vehicles amid uncertainty about the accuracy of valuation benchmarks and provide at-home services for their sales and service customers.
2020-04-2224 minvAuto PodcastMaking Sense of Wholesale Valuations and Vehicle SalesIn this episode, vAuto podcast host Lance Helgeson and Patrick Janes, director of business development for Stockwave, discuss how the current crisis has caused uncertainty in wholesale valuations and created an opportunity for dealers to use MMR Retention to gauge wholesale valuations. The episode also examines recent wholesale sales that provide a ray of hope that the market is moving and offering an outlet for liquidity as dealers grapple with fewer retail sales, incoming trade-ins and aged inventory.
2020-04-1621 min
vAuto PodcastWhy Stocking More to Sell More is Risky BusinessIn this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and vAuto founder Dale Pollak discuss the dangers dealers face when they stock more used vehicle inventory than they sell, and how dealers can strike a better balance between their current stock and 30-day sales rate to improve used vehicle sales and profitability.
2020-03-0617 minvAuto PodcastNADA 2020: New Vehicle Trends with Brian FinkelmeyerNADA 2020: New Vehicle Trends with Brian Finkelmeyer by vAuto Podcast
2020-02-1706 minvAuto PodcastNADA 2020: Inventory Acquisition Observations with Patrick JanesNADA 2020: Inventory Acquisition Observations with Patrick Janes by vAuto Podcast
2020-02-1710 min
vAuto PodcastChallenging Your Thinking: The Research Behind the Car Buying ProcessIn this episode of the vAuto Podcast, Brent Adamson, a Distinguished Vice President at Gartner joins Randy Kobat, Senior Vice President of vAuto, HomeNet and Rebates & Incentives for an engaging conversation that focuses on sensemaking and research. With dealerships being focused on selling, we get Brent's perspective on the car buying process, how thinking is challenged and what dealerships can do to give their consumer confidence.
2020-01-3129 min
vAuto Podcast2020 New Car TrendsIn this episode of the vAuto podcast, we say goodbye to the 2019 trends and look ahead to 2020 and NADA. Hear Brian Finkelmeyer and Lance Helgeson discuss what trends they expect to see this year.
2020-01-2722 minvAuto PodcastA Sneak Peek at Dale Pollak's Newest BookA Sneak Peek at Dale Pollak's Newest Book by vAuto Podcast
2020-01-1018 min2019-12-0912 min
vAuto PodcastYou Can't Advertise a Payment You Can't FundIn this episode of the vAuto Podcast, President/CEO of OfferLogix, Jerry Thompson and Cox Automotive Rates & Incentives Practice Leader, Todd Somerville share their insights on payment calculators, the evolution of digital retailing and what dealers can do to make and keep their customers happy.
2019-11-1528 min
vAuto PodcastElements of a Used Vehicle Department TurnaroundElements of a Used Vehicle Department Turnaround by vAuto Podcast
2019-10-2532 min
2019-10-1531 minvAuto PodcastUnlock Profit Potential With the ProfitTime TrifectaUnlock Profit Potential With the ProfitTime Trifecta by vAuto Podcast
2019-09-2011 min
vAuto PodcastAttracting and Maintaining CustomersAttracting and Maintaining Customers by vAuto Podcast
2019-09-0418 min
vAuto PodcastInternal or External Reconditioning: What is best for you and your dealership?On this episode of the vAuto Podcast, Mike Boyd, founder of iRecon, returns to the show to discuss whether or not dealers should outsource the reconditioning process or keep it in-house. Mike also provides insight into how you can determine which route is best for you.
2019-07-1523 min
vAuto PodcastEvolution of Auction Purchase MetricsOn this episode of the vAuto Podcast, Patrick Janes, director of Stockwave business development, discusses three important metrics dealers should use when they go to the auctions.
2019-06-0421 min
vAuto PodcastWhy It's Time for ProfitTimeOn this episode of the vAuto Podcast, Dale Pollak, Founder of vAuto, discusses the origins behind Provision ProfitTime, the game-changing method that measures a vehicle’s value on its profit potential, not how long it’s been on the lot. Dale also explains how ProfitTime can help you optimize your business and price every car competitively.
2019-05-2027 minvAuto PodcastRethinking Your Used Vehicle ReconditioningOn Episode 2 of the vAuto Podcast, Mike Boyd, founder of iRecon, joins the show to discuss the state of reconditioning across the industry. While the reconditioning process typically takes 12–14 days, Mike explains how a strong software solution can help dealers increase speed, efficiency and — most importantly — profitability.
2019-05-0519 min