I'm sorry I don't visit here much but when I do, I sense a common vibe: us vs. them.
Parts vs. Service
Fixed ops vs. sales
new vs. used
I read thru the forums and many threads are about the internal war in your dealerships.
Honestly, how much time do your people spend figuring out a service discount and what department pays? And then there is used car reconditioning or the cost to send a salesperson to program a garage door opener. Why is this stuff difficult?
My stores enjoy the same battles but we have a resolution process: what is best for the dealership?
Sometimes the answer is not what a particular department manager wants, especially if it effects his/her pay. Ultimately, if the decision/process/policy/discount... is good for the dealership it will be good for all those working at the dealership.
Maybe it is an education process and I'm not speaking of "culture change" or "diversity training". The real nuts-and-bolts of running a automobile dealership lies in having the right people with the right training doing the right thing day in and day out.
And honestly, do any of your stores operate with constant harmony? HA! My job, every day, is to referee the team to focus them on what is good for the customer with an eye on the overall business impact. Some decisions are easy, some are not but fighting amongst your people is not helping.
Dealerships run on people and capital. It's a relationship business and from some of the things I read in these forums, dysfunctional comes to mind.
What are your observations?
scott allen, out west