DealersEdge Professional Forums

As I state in the title, Todays! Dealers need to get a grip on the world around them, and stop tell the stories of years gone by. As Dealers go on tell these stores, the world around them is getting away. Dealers need to address the increasing problems facing them now! For example, Hiring, Training, E-Commerce, CSI, SSI, Leasing, just to name a few. This does not even touch issues of image, community perception, and growth. But, the problem is many of the topics I just list are left to the ill informed management that you all have set in place who have been revisiting their past instead of joining us in the future. Sucess is never a given, many of you second generation dealers have a much larger task of staying alive in a world of acquisitions from larger more educated competitors. For most of you it is as simple as reinvesting your time out front, for others it is instilling the vision in those who can carry the load with a open mind. Your comments are welcome.

Hello Scottbrender,

I must say, spoken like a true trainer!!!

Addressing this from a service dept standpoint, its true that a lot of people do tell some old stories, and in some cases this is just a waste of time, however if you fail to look at the past, you are condemned to repeat it. You must examine it carefully before moving forward. If you gave most of the old timers in this business $5 for every occasion that someone came along with a bigger, better, newer way of doing things that very soon flopped, most would have retired to the French Riviera by now.

Yes, I will admit that our industry as a whole, including manufacturers, needs to update our way of thinking in many areas It all begins with a sharing of vision from the top and then training and compensating individuals as they move toward accomplishing the vision/mission. (dont forget to install many short term goals along the way!!)

In your list of problems facing us now, all with the exception of e-commerce have been with us since the doors opened, and will always be there. We are always interested in new ways to approach these age old concerns.
For us, the jury is still out on e-commerce. While taking an active roll we are examining the success and failures of others before diving in headfirst. (we do have an internet sales team)

As for image and community perception, it is quite simply what we live and die by. As for growth, it is idiocy if you do not have a stable base in the other areas mentioned. Growth on a poor foundation is business suicide.

As for all of these ill informed managers telling all these old stories...
They are human, and one thing all humans like to do is tell stories. I'll bet if we were to eavesdrop on you in the bar of a hotel with your coworkers after a training session we would hear stories, albeit future based stories...

Yes a lot of dealers need to drag themselves into the 21st century in many ways. But never underestimate the value of these old story tellers.

gman

Bravo gman!

If consultants had all the answers...

Please try to remember the goal: make money.

This e-commerce isn't really new, technology advances all the time.

Telephones and radio were big in the 30's (grandfather's time) and TV came along in the 50's (dad's time).

Their recollection of technology's effects (or effectiveness) have provided me a clear vision of what works and what won't.

scott

Happy Holidays every one.

Are the real issues the dealers living in the past? Is it that they are second generation dealers? Is it old stories of yesterday?

Scott I understand your points because they are not only valid in second generation stores, but these same issues lie with in the majority of dealers.

There is only one way to eat an elephant - one bite at a time.

We (consultants) help do that because we are not fighting the same alligators everyday like the personal in the dealership has to. It allows us to focus on the issue at hand.

Take the latest craze - CRM! It's not new. The only true evolution that it is going through is the ease of compiling data and utilizing web-based data. CRM itself has been here since the first guy traded a club for a spear and asked his client enough contact information the allowed follow up. Dealerships of all makes and sizes, new and old are spending a great deal of money to capture this new craze.

Will it improve their operations, sales, service and everything else? Yes. For a time but like the many other ideas and programs it will dissipate. Why? Not because of the owner that has spent a great deal of money to activate it. It will fall a part because of the lack of follow up that is built into it.

The same thing happens to Hiring, Training, E-Commerce, CSI, SSI, Leasing,

I suggest taking one issue at a time.


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