vAuto Podcast

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How Dealers Handle Reconditioning in the Current Crisis May 18, 2020

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In 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.

A Call to Return to Retail-Back Acquisitions May 12, 2020

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In 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 inventory acquisition levels, given uncertainty about sustained retail demand through the summer and fall.

Dealer Voices: “How Do You Want to Buy the Car?” May 11, 2020

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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.

How Dealers Are Merchandising Vehicles to Promote Safe, Socially Distant Sales May 11, 2020

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In 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.

Dealer Voices: “We’re Actually Up in April” May 04, 2020

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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.

ProfitTime’s Role in the Current Pandemic May 04, 2020

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In 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.

Should You Step Up or Back in New Cars? May 04, 2020

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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.

Dealer Voices: “It’s an Entryway into the Future of Retail Automotive” Apr 29, 2020

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In this special Dealer Voices podcast, host Randy Kobat joins David J. Long, a leader at Hansel Auto Group, Santa Rosa, CA, to discuss how David is helping his team and customers stay fit, healthy and safe in the current COVID-19 crisis. From hosting the daily “3 o’clock eddy” meeting on Zoom to a flexible needs-based work schedule, David shares how Hansel dealerships continue to retail and service vehicles while their showrooms are closed. David also details how he’s taking an agile, entrepreneur’s view of dealership operations to be prepared to take advantage of the retail automotive return.

Why Inventory Liquidation is Right for Right Now Apr 28, 2020

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In 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.

Social Distance and Digital Deals: Today and In The Future Apr 27, 2020

Show notes

In 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.

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