Off Topic & Everything Else

# Summary Automotive industry professionals discuss the implications of Volkswagen's intentional emissions scandal, which caused the company's stock to plummet 40% and raised questions about regulatory compliance and consumer trust. While one participant suggests the impact depends on whether the EPA mandates a buyback or just fines, the key insight emerges that this scandal is uniquely damaging because it was deliberate rather than an oversight—distinguishing it from typical manufacturer errors and likely causing significant long-term consumer trust issues for VW.

# Summary The thread discusses appropriate salary ranges for an internet manager at a car dealership, with responses varying widely based on job scope and experience. Opinions range from $45K-$55K for a web marketing-focused role to $85K+ for positions involving sales closing, team management, and lead generation, with several experienced dealers arguing that skilled internet managers are typically underpaid relative to their impact on dealership revenue. The key insight is that compensation should be performance-based and heavily dependent on the specific dealership's size, location, staffing structure, and whether the role emphasizes marketing or direct sales management.

A new member introduces themselves to the DealerRefresh community with a simple greeting. The thread receives minimal engagement with a single brief reply. No substantive discussion or key insights emerge from this exchange.

Jordan introduces himself to the DealerRefresh community as a new member with a marketing background and 10+ years of experience across multiple industries, including automotive, and is currently working as a Sales Specialist for an engagement technology company serving dealerships in Indianapolis. The thread consists largely of welcoming responses from established community members. No significant discussion or insights emerge beyond the introductions.

JessicaRuth shares her belief that retail work builds valuable work ethics and customer service skills that benefit people long-term, noting how her attitude directly affected her earnings during college. She references an article about lessons learned from retail and asks the community how they apply such skills in their daily lives. The thread appears to have generated minimal engagement, with JessicaRuth noting the community's lack of response in a follow-up post.

# Summary Ed Brooks calls out vendors for using DealerRefresh to bash competitors rather than genuinely help dealers, sparking lighthearted agreement and discussion about maintaining professionalism in the community. The thread includes a notable example of a vendor creating a disparaging report about competitors, which participants criticize as classless behavior. The consensus that emerges is that vendors should focus on their own success rather than attacking others—a philosophy that apparently resonates enough that participants reference it years later.

# Summary An Internet Sales/BDC employee seeks advice on appropriate compensation for their role after being asked to manage the internet department while remaining in a lower pay bracket. Experienced forum members like Jay Juliano emphasize that Internet Directors should earn $65k-$100k+ with structured bonuses tied to department performance, and advise that pay negotiations must happen upfront—raises rarely come from goodwill in automotive, only when dealerships fear losing productive employees. The consensus is clear: if a GM won't properly compensate you for a manager-level position, use that leverage to either secure a competitive pay plan or pursue opportunities elsewhere.

Automotive dealership professionals share their worst end-of-month disasters, which primarily involve technology failures like DMS outages, internet disconnections, broken key machines, and power outages that force staff to resort to manual workarounds during critical sales periods. The thread includes memorable stories such as a 2002 internet outage requiring paper-based processes, a 2008 situation where a dealership punched a vehicle to hit a sales record only to have it sit unsold for months, and a gas line rupture evacuation. The overarching takeaway is that modern dealerships are entirely dependent on technology infrastructure, and when it fails during peak sales periods, it creates chaos despite staff resourcefulness—highlighting the need for backup systems like generators.

Jeff Kershner shares news that Roland, the electronic musical instrument manufacturer, has partnered with a Japanese electric automaker to develop an electric sports car whose engine sound will be synthetically generated using Roland's SuperNATURAL synthesizer technology rather than a traditional exhaust. The synthesized sound system will dynamically adjust based on real-time driving conditions like acceleration, deceleration, and motor load. The post highlights an intriguing trend of replacing authentic mechanical engine sounds with electronically designed audio experiences in electric vehicles.

# Summary eddyshaf shares an article about tips for buying cars cheaper and expresses frustration with a "financial advisor" author, questioning whether he's overreacting to engage with the content and asking fellow dealers if similar advice from non-industry experts bothers them as well. The thread appears to be driven by eddyshaf's skepticism about an outsider's car-buying guidance and his anticipation that critical comments might be removed from the original article.

# Summary Alex Snyder shared a humorous YouTube video imagining what car advertisements would look like if they were brutally honest, framed as entertainment rather than serious commentary. The thread received positive feedback from at least one community member who found it funny. The post appears to be a lighthearted break from typical dealer shop talk, with the original poster preemptively joking about potential pushback from those taking it too seriously.

# Summary Joe Johnson, an F&I Manager relocating to Dallas, asks the community which automotive vendors are best to work for as he considers transitioning from dealership retail to vendor side. Respondents advise him to clarify what role and skill set he's targeting (sales vs. support, digital marketing vs. product), with several offering personal guidance based on their own vendor experience. The consensus is that "best" is highly dependent on individual career goals and work environment preferences, but the thread provides concrete networking advice—connecting with recruiters like DAC and Drive180, leveraging LinkedIn, and tapping into the DealerRefresh community's direct vendor experience.

Billfred, a seven-year veteran of the automotive industry who joined DealerRefresh as a digital professional, announces his departure to pursue e-commerce work and thanks the community for its support and insights. Community members and moderators (including Alex Snyder and Jeff Kershner) express their appreciation for his contributions and encourage him to stay in touch, while praising a FIRST program he apparently shared with the forum. The thread reflects the close-knit nature of DealerRefresh as a professional community where members genuinely value departing colleagues.

# Summary A DealerRefresh community member organized a fundraiser for Caleb Leslie, a child battling cancer, urging forum members to donate $20+ to a YouCaring medical fund and then recruit two other members to do the same. The campaign gained momentum with multiple community members and sponsors contributing generously, though Caleb was unfortunately not selected for a clinical trial at St. Louis Children's Hospital, making the fundraising effort critical as the family faces potential separation and significant medical expenses for ongoing treatment.

A dealer shares a Wired article about security researchers who remotely hacked a Jeep's connected systems while it was driving on a highway, prompting Chrysler to release a patch. In a follow-up post, the original poster argues the incident may be misleading, claiming the vehicle's mechanical transmission and brakes couldn't actually be compromised remotely, and speculates the story could be a hit piece against Chrysler. The thread raises questions about the feasibility and real-world danger of the vulnerability as originally reported.

# Summary Dealer jimbell asks about current internet lead closing ratios across the industry, noting that his dealership has seen closing rates increase as lead volume decreases. Replier John S provides concrete benchmarking data, sharing that BDC (appointment setter) operations typically achieve ~15% overall close rates while cradle-to-grave models achieve ~12.5%, while emphasizing that lead source type (OEM vs. third-party), time window measured (30/60/90/180 days), and appointment show rates significantly impact these metrics.

• Poll

# Summary Dealers face a fundamental conflict: they want to bring customers into showrooms, while buyers want to research online and avoid dealerships. The thread debates whether consumers are ready for fully digital car buying, with consensus emerging that the future lies in an "evolution, not a revolution"—dealers should pre-complete parts of the buying process online (pricing, financing, paperwork) while preserving the in-person test drive and final transaction, rather than forcing customers through traditional sales processes or expecting them to buy sight-unseen like Carvana.

# Summary A General Sales Manager at a small 20-car-per-month lot (now doing 30 cars/month) seeks compensation advice for a unique solo role where he handles web design, marketing, inventory, finance, and sales. The original post was cut off mid-question, but a respondent affirmed his compensation expectations were reasonable, suggesting the thread likely discusses fair pay structure for someone doing multiple departments' worth of work at a growing dealership.

A user posts an idealistic 4th of July message emphasizing universal freedom beyond national borders, while another member simply offers holiday greetings. The thread is a brief, lighthearted holiday exchange with no substantive discussion or conflict.

# Summary Chip Dorman asks whether background music impacts dealership sales and requests supporting research. Responses reveal mixed perspectives: while some cite studies suggesting slow music relaxes customers and fast music creates urgency, the consensus leans toward music being a minor factor compared to salesperson quality and customer service in driving sales decisions. The thread concludes that music preference is largely subjective and generational, with the general agreement that skilled salespeople matter far more than soundtrack selection.

# Summary JessicaRuth references Aaron Wirtz's argument that TV advertising isn't obsolete—rather, dealer success depends on creative execution and willingness to invest in traditional channels despite industry skepticism about their relevance. The key insight is that dealers shouldn't abandon proven marketing channels like TV and radio simply because digital is trendy; instead, they should focus on imagination and strategy to make traditional media work effectively for their business.

# Summary JessicaRuth highlights FCA's partnership with Strayer University to offer free college education as a turnover reduction strategy, citing NADA data showing a 66% average turnover rate among sales consultants in 2013. The thread explores whether high dealership turnover stems from lack of educational opportunities, poor management, or other underlying factors. The discussion examines education benefits as a potential retention tool within the automotive retail industry.