Off Topic & Everything Else

A lender seeks dealer feedback on what differentiates non-prime auto lenders beyond basic metrics like rates and approval rates. The thread explores the practical factors that drive dealer preference and loyalty when choosing between competing non-prime lenders. Key insights center on operational efficiency, funding speed, customer service quality, and ease of dealer integration rather than headline loan terms alone.

# Summary Ryan introduces the Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) and its applications to auto retail, posing that a small percentage of causes drive most results in any business. Joe Pistell builds on this by connecting it to Geoffrey Moore's technology adoption lifecycle, suggesting DealerRefresh members predominantly represent innovators and early adopters in the industry. The discussion implies that understanding where your audience falls on the adoption curve is valuable for marketing strategy and competitive positioning.

A dealer employee shares his excitement about purchasing a 2016 Cadillac ATS-V manual transmission in vector blue, marking a major upgrade from his 11-year-old Ford Focus, and discusses initial impressions of modern features like Hill Assist and active rev matching. Fellow industry professionals congratulate him on the rare find, with some debating whether driver-assistance features enhance or diminish the manual driving experience. The thread highlights appreciation for Cadillac's decision to offer a performance variant with manual transmission while touching on the general modernization shock of upgrading from an older vehicle.

A user questions whether Google Auto's dormant Twitter account (inactive since May 2015) signals the project's demise. A respondent dismisses this concern, arguing that Google's simultaneous construction of an R&D facility in Detroit—to recruit talent while benefiting from tax incentives and positive local PR—indicates the project remains active despite the social media silence.

A retired automotive industry veteran named ddavis checks in with the DealerRefresh community after two years away, sharing that leaving the high-stress car business has dramatically improved his health and allowed him to focus on leisure activities like boat restoration and fishing. The thread evolves into a broader discussion about stress management techniques, with community members sharing their own coping strategies—including gaming, motorcycling, massage, and exercise—reflecting on how the intense pressure of the car business takes a toll. The underlying insight is that while the fast-paced, decision-heavy nature of automotive sales can be exhilarating and addictive for some, stepping away reveals just how damaging chronic stress is, making simpler pleasures and hobbies valuable alternatives.

A dealer seeking salary guidance for an Internet Marketing Manager position receives varied compensation recommendations ranging from $40-50K for pure marketing roles to $60-85K when managing BDC personnel and handling lead management/ROI responsibilities, with several posters emphasizing that combining all the required skills in one person is rare and valuable. The thread consensus suggests compensation should reflect the full scope of duties, with one Internet Director example noting he negotiated a floor salary guarantee and has since proven his value by doubling sales numbers, while another respondent reveals burnout at $12/hour plus commission despite handling extensive multitasking responsibilities.

# Summary Automotive sales professionals share their favorite motivational one-liners to inspire sales teams, with contributions ranging from general success quotes like "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" to sales-specific wisdom such as "A sale is made on every call you make—either you sell the client or he sells you a reason he can't." The thread reveals that the most effective motivational quotes for dealership environments are those that reframe sales challenges philosophically, with Steve Stauning critiquing generic motivational posters in favor of practical, sales-focused messaging that addresses the salesperson's actual role.

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# Summary A dealer named Alex Snyder asks whether full moons negatively affect customer behavior and dealership profitability, sparking a discussion that ranges from scientific evidence (a sleep study suggesting lunar cycles may impact rest quality) to joking speculation about werewolves and absurd variables like Leonardo DiCaprio movie releases. The thread concludes with skepticism from most participants, who argue that car sales ultimately depend on consistent human interaction skills regardless of lunar phase, though a few anecdotal claims of full moon effects persist.

# Summary Automotive professionals discuss Carvana, an online used car retailer backed by DriveTime that sells vehicles sight-unseen with free delivery, positioning itself as an alternative to traditional dealerships. While members acknowledge the company's innovative virtual vehicle tours and competitive pricing claims, skeptics question whether it can sustain profitability, dispute its claims of $1,500 savings per vehicle, and view its advertising as misleading negative marketing against dealerships. A Carvana representative responds to clarify that the company operates as a legitimate multi-market business addressing known pain points in traditional car buying rather than making empty promises.

# Summary A digital marketing vendor frustrated with ineffective outreach to dealership decision-makers seeks advice on how to pitch services without resorting to questionable lead-generation tactics. Respondents overwhelmingly agree that the solution is not a better product but rather a shift in communication strategy: vendors must speak dealers' language (focused on cars and customers rather than data and metrics), lead with proven success stories, and recognize that dealers are sold rather than sold to—meaning vendors must actively sell rather than expect dealers to recognize superior offerings.

Jeff Kershner initiates a discussion about scent marketing—the psychological impact of smells on consumer behavior and emotions—and asks whether dealership professionals use or would consider implementing scent marketing strategies at their businesses, referencing research on the topic. The replies are light-hearted, with participants sharing personal anecdotes about signature scents they appreciate (like the Westin's signature scent) and joking about wearing cologne to promote their service departments. The thread remains largely informal and anecdotal rather than developing concrete strategic insights about scent marketing implementation.

Jeff Kershner, the forum founder, posted a Thanksgiving message expressing gratitude to DealerRefresh members for their active participation and support in building the community as a resource for automotive professionals to share knowledge and network. The post emphasizes appreciation for the community's growth and role in fostering industry relationships, while keeping the tone light with a reference to post-Thanksgiving food comas. This is a brief, positive community acknowledgment rather than a substantive discussion thread.

JessicaRuth publicly celebrates Chris Leslie's birthday and upcoming arrival of his first child, prompting warm congratulations from the DealerRefresh community. The thread culminates with Chris sharing that his baby boy was born on the same day as his wedding anniversary, followed by photos of the newborn that receive enthusiastic responses. The thread showcases the supportive culture of the forum community and Chris's popularity among members who value his insights and humor.

# Summary Candice Crane, Organizational Development Director at Walser Automotive Group, introduces her human capital strategy focused on recruiting recent college graduates into hourly customer specialist roles to improve customer experience through better team management. A community member responds by referencing a related article on long-term hiring practices and indicates he has a relevant anecdote to share. The thread appears to be an introductory post seeking community engagement around workforce innovation in automotive retail.

Scott, a public safety worker with 20 years of personal vehicle trading experience, introduces himself and asks the community for advice on starting an internet-based used car dealership as a potential retirement venture. Experienced community members caution him that personal car flipping provides limited insight into professional dealership operations and recommend he work hands-on at an established independent lot before launching his own business. The thread offers welcoming guidance and directs Scott to existing DealerRefresh resources, with one member referencing a successful peer who recently launched a similar online dealership venture.

# Summary Dealers and industry analysts debate whether Asbury's decision to rebrand Q Auto stores with regional names is an effective strategy, with skeptics arguing the real problem lies in Q Auto's underlying business model and value proposition rather than brand recognition. The thread contrasts Q Auto's incremental approach with Carvana's comprehensive disruption strategy, ultimately concluding that relying on surveys and cosmetic rebranding is shortsighted compared to deeply understanding customer needs and committing to genuine innovation. The consensus is that building a national brand requires consistent long-term investment in the core value proposition, not regional band-aids.

A new member asks about the process for submitting blogs and posting webinar invites on DealerRefresh. JessicaRuth provides clear guidance: webinars can be posted directly to the Industry News & Resources section, while blog submissions require contacting her and Jeff Kershner via private message with topic ideas. Ajay follows up indicating interest in writing about lead generation and marketing & sales automation topics.

# Summary The thread playfully teases Joe Pistell about his love of rainbows and unicorns before pivoting to a serious discussion about social media implementation in automotive dealerships. Joe argues that dealers should master basic operational fundamentals (CRM, customer response times, lead management) before aggressively pursuing social media, contending that poor execution of SM without solid foundations is wasteful—a sentiment Jeff Kershner validates by sharing how focusing on CRM and training fundamentals helped his Nissan dealership achieve record months.

# Summary JessicaRuth questions GM's new employee discount program that extends special pricing to families of dealership staff members, citing an AutoNews article showing significant savings (e.g., a GMC Acadia dropping from $41,745 to $35,602.84 with discounts applied). The post expresses skepticism about the policy's fairness or reasoning, noting that such discounts were traditionally reserved only for direct employees. No clear resolution or consensus is evident from the excerpt provided.

A new used car dealership owner in Ohio introduces himself and seeks advice on social media and online advertising strategies while juggling the business part-time with his accounting career. Existing forum members welcome him warmly and encourage participation, with at least one fellow used dealership owner who also has an accounting background offering support. The thread demonstrates the community's welcoming culture for new dealer members seeking guidance.

BDegraf introduces himself as a new member with over 10 years of sales experience and 5+ years in auto sales, recently working in the internet department at a dealership in Southwest Missouri before joining VPA. The community welcomes him warmly and informs him of upcoming industry events like NADA 2016 and the Driving Sales Executive Summit, with Jeff Kershner offering to help offset registration costs. While BDegraf expresses interest in attending future events, he declines the October DSES invitation due to scheduling conflicts but indicates openness to attending similar events in the future.