Off Topic & Everything Else

# Summary Automotive professionals discuss whether Facebook and Instagram are displaying more ads in user feeds, with mixed observations about frequency and implications for advertisers. While there's no confirmed platform-wide change, participants note higher CPL costs and general frustration with ad saturation, which some attribute to Facebook reducing organic content availability. The thread reveals a tension between Facebook's value as an advertising channel for dealers and its declining user experience, with skepticism about whether increased ad inventory can compensate for engagement-killing practices.

Automotive professionals discuss their March sales performance, with most reporting improvement after slow January and February, though one dealer notes client struggles due to record-high vehicle prices and insurance costs. The conversation shifts to industry concerns about automakers inflating sales numbers through fleet sales to rental companies rather than organic retail demand, with participants debating the credibility of reports highlighting this trend. The key takeaway is that while some dealerships are performing well, underlying market weakness in retail sales is being masked by strategic fleet sales.

A new used car dealer in Northern California seeks guidance on enrolling in the California DMV's Business Partner Automation (BPA) program, citing unclear instructions on the DMV website. The post is a straightforward request for resources and firsthand experience from other dealers who have completed the application process. The thread appears to be seeking practical advice from industry peers rather than presenting a resolved issue or clear conclusion.

Jeff Kershner highlights Kevin Frye's review of Digital Dealer Conference #DD26, positioning it as a valuable resource for industry professionals who cannot attend in person. The post encourages forum members to read Kevin's detailed review and engage with him in the comments section about the latest conference happenings, news, and technology announcements.

A building in Durham housing part of the Ingram Porsche Collection was damaged in a fatal gas explosion. The original poster expresses concern that the incident may have destroyed some highly valuable and desirable vehicles from what was reportedly an exceptional collection, while also acknowledging the human tragedy of the fatality. The thread is brief with minimal discussion, as the story was still developing at the time of posting.

# Summary Dealers debate whether the 2009 Cash for Clunkers program was an economic failure or success, with Alexander Lau citing research showing it reduced overall vehicle spending and hurt low-income buyers, while Alex Snyder and Ralph Ebersole counter that their dealerships thrived during the program and argue that dealers who failed to benefit simply didn't adapt their strategy. The discussion reveals a stark divide between dealers who successfully capitalized on the program through smart marketing and those who struggled with logistics, reimbursement delays, or unfavorable market positioning.

A car salesman shares a memorable anecdote from early in his career (circa 1998) about transitioning from a high-volume Honda dealership to a low-volume Acura showroom, where he discovered customers were far less price-sensitive and willing to spend significantly more per month on vehicle features. The story illustrates the stark difference in sales dynamics and customer mentality between mass-market and luxury automotive segments. The post appears to be part of a series of sales floor stories the author is sharing with the DealerRefresh community.

• Poll