We're closing the door on another year. I hope everyone had a great 2009 and wish everyone the best in 2010. May you all have a good New Year's Eve with family and friends, and be safe if you're out tonight.
Happy New Year,
Chris
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Merry Christmas
May everyone have a happy Holiday and Merry Christmas. Be safe traveling to see family and freinds this week and the next.
Best Wishes to All,
Chris
Best Wishes to All,
Chris
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Dinosaurs still roam the Earth
Since I have the pleasure of being an Internet director at a car dealership I get to spend a lot of time surfing the world wide web. Even though I may spend time on sites that are not totally related to the automobile industry, and by totally I mean not at all, I do look at many dealership websites.
The one thing I've noticed everywhere I've looked is that the car industry seems to be back in the stone age when it comes to the Internet. Not that dealers don't have nice sites or they don't have some other media on the Internet, I'm not talking about that at all, but have you noticed that you can't purchase anything from them on the Internet?
I've looked at tons of dealer websites and not once have I seen where I could buy even a part on the Internet. There may be a few dealers out there that have sites that you can buy things on but I haven't come across them yet. How many retail establishments out there can you not buy something online from? I can buy clothes, electronics, groceries, and, get this, car parts from other vendors, but I can buy nothing from a dealer website. Yes that is a short list of things you can buy because you can buy virtually anything.
So the question is, "How come I can't make any type of purchase on a dealer website?"
Here's a thought I had today as I pondered this. Scion, a brand put out by Toyota as a no haggle no hassle buying process, can't just be purchased online and picked up at the dealer. Even though the pricing is all set on menus by the Toyota dealership selling the Scion so everyone pays the same amount. It would seem that this would make the buying process so much easier for the customer as well as the dealership.
I know it's not as easy as it sounds. The car industry has made the buying process the way it currently is. I have to add that the customers have as well though. What if a dealer placed a shopping cart and checkout on there site and priced cars at the lowest amount to make some money and also get the customers a price they agreed with. Would people purchase a car that way, or is there so much mistrust that consumer would still want more off the car? Would the fast and easy process of buying be worth it to both sides?
People purchase vehicles off eBay all the time from people 100s of miles away. Why not be able to purchase a vehicle right down the street the same way.
My time is important to me and if I can keep from spending a ton of it in one place doing something that shouldn't take near as long as it does I'm all for it. What are some of your opinions on it?
The one thing I've noticed everywhere I've looked is that the car industry seems to be back in the stone age when it comes to the Internet. Not that dealers don't have nice sites or they don't have some other media on the Internet, I'm not talking about that at all, but have you noticed that you can't purchase anything from them on the Internet?
I've looked at tons of dealer websites and not once have I seen where I could buy even a part on the Internet. There may be a few dealers out there that have sites that you can buy things on but I haven't come across them yet. How many retail establishments out there can you not buy something online from? I can buy clothes, electronics, groceries, and, get this, car parts from other vendors, but I can buy nothing from a dealer website. Yes that is a short list of things you can buy because you can buy virtually anything.
So the question is, "How come I can't make any type of purchase on a dealer website?"
Here's a thought I had today as I pondered this. Scion, a brand put out by Toyota as a no haggle no hassle buying process, can't just be purchased online and picked up at the dealer. Even though the pricing is all set on menus by the Toyota dealership selling the Scion so everyone pays the same amount. It would seem that this would make the buying process so much easier for the customer as well as the dealership.
I know it's not as easy as it sounds. The car industry has made the buying process the way it currently is. I have to add that the customers have as well though. What if a dealer placed a shopping cart and checkout on there site and priced cars at the lowest amount to make some money and also get the customers a price they agreed with. Would people purchase a car that way, or is there so much mistrust that consumer would still want more off the car? Would the fast and easy process of buying be worth it to both sides?
People purchase vehicles off eBay all the time from people 100s of miles away. Why not be able to purchase a vehicle right down the street the same way.
My time is important to me and if I can keep from spending a ton of it in one place doing something that shouldn't take near as long as it does I'm all for it. What are some of your opinions on it?
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Christmas Sharing
If your in the Oklahoma City or Edmond, Oklahoma area please take the time to help these children have a good Christmas. Christmas time is an exciting time for children and everyone that can should try and keep it that way for them.
http://newsok.com/edmond-santa-program-seeks-help-granting-wishes/article/3424403?custom_click=rss
Even if your not in this area take the time to go to your local Salvation Army or a Toys for Tots drop off. Any little thing can make a difference to a child. May all your holiday seasons be wonderful.
Thanks,
Chris
http://newsok.com/edmond-santa-program-seeks-help-granting-wishes/article/3424403?custom_click=rss
Even if your not in this area take the time to go to your local Salvation Army or a Toys for Tots drop off. Any little thing can make a difference to a child. May all your holiday seasons be wonderful.
Thanks,
Chris
http://newsok.com/edmond-santa-program-seeks-help-granting-wishes/article/3424403?custom_click=rss
http://newsok.com/edmond-santa-program-seeks-help-granting-wishes/article/3424403?custom_click=rss
Anyone in the Oklahoma City area that can help provide some children with gifts for the holidays please check out the article above. Christmas is most important to chidren and it breaks my heart to think of any kids not enjoying this time of year.
Even if your not in this area take the time to make a difference in your community this holiday season. Help bring some joy to others.
Anyone in the Oklahoma City area that can help provide some children with gifts for the holidays please check out the article above. Christmas is most important to chidren and it breaks my heart to think of any kids not enjoying this time of year.
Even if your not in this area take the time to make a difference in your community this holiday season. Help bring some joy to others.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Car Lingo 101
I think a lot of confusion arises from terminology that is used often at a dealership. There's words, phrases, and acronyms that are said or written that people working in dealerships use all the time but everyone else doesn't. Some of the time, and that may be putting in mild, dealers use these to there advantage or disadvantage as it often turns out. Here's a short run down of a few and what they mean when you see or hear them.
Difference (often written DIFF) - this is the difference between what you are paying for the vehicle you are purchasing and the vehicle you are trading in. This number does not include your payoff on your current vehicle.
Amount to Finance (ATF) - the total amount your financing on the vehicle. generally includes all fees, but sometimes you may need to verify that it does.
Trade values are some of the biggest areas where misunderstandings occur. Mainly all the dealers fault when they do.
Actual Trade Value (ACV) - this is what your trade is actually worth, hence actual trade value. A lot of dealers like to use trade allowance as wording instead though. This of course means something totally different.
Trade Allowance - an over allowance includes part (or all) of the mark up that is on the vehicle you are purchasing. This will make your trade figure look inflated. So if someone is saying they're allowing you a certain amount it is generally over the ACV of the vehicle your trading in.
Upside down (which everyone pretty much knows that one), hooked, tanked, buried - are all terms meaning someone owes more on their vehicle than it is actually worth. That is actually a very common occurrence now a days. Usually resulting from finance terms or someone trading in a vehicle and having to carry a remaining balance over to the new vehicle they are purchasing. Can also be caused by not putting any money down with the purchase of a new vehicle since vehicle begin depreciating when you drive away in them.
Discount - seems pretty simple but many get it confused with rebate. A discount comes from the dealer discounting the vehicle. Rebates are given by the vehicle manufacturer. Not the same thing.
WAC - with approved credit. You see that mainly in advertising. Usually having to do with an available interest rate that is tied to your credit score.
Did you know that different businesses view different versions of your credit. Two separate businesses (in different industries) could both pull your Equifax and see two totally different numbers and some different information. Lenders look for different information depending on what you are applying for a loan for. I've never seen any drastic difference but they do occur.
Even though this is a small list it should help with communicating better at a dealership. Many times we don't take the time to fully understand what the other person is saying, and that's with everything. We either don't ask what is exactly meant, or if we're the ones doing the talking, we don't make ourselves clear. All aspects of life would benefit from everyone better communicating with each other.
Difference (often written DIFF) - this is the difference between what you are paying for the vehicle you are purchasing and the vehicle you are trading in. This number does not include your payoff on your current vehicle.
Amount to Finance (ATF) - the total amount your financing on the vehicle. generally includes all fees, but sometimes you may need to verify that it does.
Trade values are some of the biggest areas where misunderstandings occur. Mainly all the dealers fault when they do.
Actual Trade Value (ACV) - this is what your trade is actually worth, hence actual trade value. A lot of dealers like to use trade allowance as wording instead though. This of course means something totally different.
Trade Allowance - an over allowance includes part (or all) of the mark up that is on the vehicle you are purchasing. This will make your trade figure look inflated. So if someone is saying they're allowing you a certain amount it is generally over the ACV of the vehicle your trading in.
Upside down (which everyone pretty much knows that one), hooked, tanked, buried - are all terms meaning someone owes more on their vehicle than it is actually worth. That is actually a very common occurrence now a days. Usually resulting from finance terms or someone trading in a vehicle and having to carry a remaining balance over to the new vehicle they are purchasing. Can also be caused by not putting any money down with the purchase of a new vehicle since vehicle begin depreciating when you drive away in them.
Discount - seems pretty simple but many get it confused with rebate. A discount comes from the dealer discounting the vehicle. Rebates are given by the vehicle manufacturer. Not the same thing.
WAC - with approved credit. You see that mainly in advertising. Usually having to do with an available interest rate that is tied to your credit score.
Did you know that different businesses view different versions of your credit. Two separate businesses (in different industries) could both pull your Equifax and see two totally different numbers and some different information. Lenders look for different information depending on what you are applying for a loan for. I've never seen any drastic difference but they do occur.
Even though this is a small list it should help with communicating better at a dealership. Many times we don't take the time to fully understand what the other person is saying, and that's with everything. We either don't ask what is exactly meant, or if we're the ones doing the talking, we don't make ourselves clear. All aspects of life would benefit from everyone better communicating with each other.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
What I've learned in 10 years...
I've worked in automotive industry for ten years now and I'm still surprised everyday when I come to work. I've washed cars, stocked parts, delivered parts, sold cars, set up events, worked for a marketing company specializing in automotive dealerships, and now am a director of an Internet department. I've come to decide that people are just funny in how they interact and do things.
You have customers that go to dealerships and say that dealers are misleading them, but the majority of the time are way more misleading than the dealership. Of course there are dealerships with horrible business ethics that deserve all the criticism they get. The part that is so amusing about the whole process is this: a customer most of the time doesn't come to a dealership because they have no intention of purchasing a vehicles sometime in the near future, and salesmen don't go to work hundreds of hours a week to hang out with friends and chat it up. Although it takes both of them together to accomplish both of their goals they make it as difficult on each other as they can sometimes and are upset at the end regardless of the outcome of the transaction.
Purchasing a vehicle should feel like a 5 year old at Christmas. Or for everyone that has never seen it, like salespeople when a new load of cars gets delivered to a dealership. A truck pulls in with however many cars on it and salespeople run to the back and oooooh and ahhhh like they've never seen the car before. It looks like a bunch of kids chasing after the ice cream man. Just to be fair though I still do the same thing. I skip past 10 cars that are the same model as the one I'm going to look at and quite possibly one being the exact car I'm going to look at, and still think the one on the back of the truck that just got here is the greatest thing ever.
Everyone should feel that way when they're buying a new vehicle. They should get it, start it up, turn on they're favorite song, and drive away blasting it in a the beautiful shiny new car. There has to be a better way of accomplishing this as opposed to the way that it happens now.
You have customers that go to dealerships and say that dealers are misleading them, but the majority of the time are way more misleading than the dealership. Of course there are dealerships with horrible business ethics that deserve all the criticism they get. The part that is so amusing about the whole process is this: a customer most of the time doesn't come to a dealership because they have no intention of purchasing a vehicles sometime in the near future, and salesmen don't go to work hundreds of hours a week to hang out with friends and chat it up. Although it takes both of them together to accomplish both of their goals they make it as difficult on each other as they can sometimes and are upset at the end regardless of the outcome of the transaction.
Purchasing a vehicle should feel like a 5 year old at Christmas. Or for everyone that has never seen it, like salespeople when a new load of cars gets delivered to a dealership. A truck pulls in with however many cars on it and salespeople run to the back and oooooh and ahhhh like they've never seen the car before. It looks like a bunch of kids chasing after the ice cream man. Just to be fair though I still do the same thing. I skip past 10 cars that are the same model as the one I'm going to look at and quite possibly one being the exact car I'm going to look at, and still think the one on the back of the truck that just got here is the greatest thing ever.
Everyone should feel that way when they're buying a new vehicle. They should get it, start it up, turn on they're favorite song, and drive away blasting it in a the beautiful shiny new car. There has to be a better way of accomplishing this as opposed to the way that it happens now.
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