Off Topic & Everything Else

# Summary A BDC manager expresses concerns about his dealership's transition to a unified pay plan across multiple brands, worrying that standardized compensation will remove merit-based incentives and prevent his GM from rewarding individual performance. Responses suggest the dealership likely implemented the unified plan to level the playing field and track ROI more effectively, though forum members largely sympathize with the original poster's concern that equal pay removes motivation for high performers, with some drawing political analogies about the downsides of equalizing compensation structures.

A user reaching 200 likes on the forum prompts a discussion about H.L. Mencken quotes regarding public taste and intelligence, with participants debating the exact wording and context of Mencken's famous sayings. After clarifying that multiple similar Mencken quotes exist on this topic, the original poster expresses a somewhat cynical view that there isn't much else worthwhile on the platform beyond this academic tangent. The thread is a brief, lighthearted exchange about literary accuracy with an underlying note of skepticism about forum content quality.

# Summary A DealerRefresh member shared their new men's lifestyle magazine and shopping site (Next Luxury) for feedback, receiving constructive criticism on design and strategy. Key feedback included suggestions to improve navigation, make the site less commerce-focused, and—most importantly—narrow the target audience to a specific niche rather than attempting to appeal to all men. The consensus from experienced members was that defining a clear market segment (such as "cool dads" aged 25-40) would be more effective than the current broad "everything to everybody" approach.

# Summary Dealers discuss whether fall automotive conferences have become "pitch-fests" where vendors prioritize product promotion over educational content, questioning the effectiveness of existing safeguards. The consensus suggests the problem is overstated—speakers who provide genuine value and real-world examples earn credibility to mention their products, and attendees can mitigate pitching by selecting dealer-led panels and sessions. A secondary concern emerges around conference consolidation: GM eSummit reduced from 20 to 5 locations nationwide for speaker sustainability, but this change limits accessibility and attendance for dealers in less-served regions.

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# Summary Dealers debate whether TrueCar, a third-party lead provider that faced industry backlash, deserves another chance after becoming an AutoCon 2012 sponsor. Critics highlight predatory practices like threatening dealers for pricing above quotes and adding uninstalled add-ons to vehicles, while others argue it could work if the financial equation favors dealers and TrueCar can deliver quality leads. The consensus leans skeptical, with experienced dealers warning that TrueCar's growth could create unhealthy dealer dependence and a "cut throat" market, suggesting the industry should starve it out rather than embrace it.

# Summary Dealer professionals debate whether modern internet-empowered consumers are truly more educated than their predecessors, with most concluding that access to information doesn't equate to genuine education or better negotiating ability. The thread emphasizes that customers often have scattered misinformation rather than rational understanding, and that weak salespeople use "consumer education" as an excuse for poor closing rates. Key insight: the real difference isn't consumer knowledge but rather that dealerships must adapt their sales approach—blaming educated customers masks inadequate salesmanship.

# Summary A user celebrates reaching 700 posts on DealerRefresh and encourages lurkers to start actively participating, arguing that posting despite imperfection is better than remaining silent. While some members agree they should post more, others note they're already active on multiple forums and experiencing burnout from over-participation elsewhere. The thread highlights the tension between building community engagement and the reality that active online participants are often stretched across numerous platforms.

# Summary A forum user shares a YouTube video of a Jeep Grand Cherokee failing a moose test maneuver, nearly rolling over and experiencing tire failures at 43 mph. A responder draws a parallel to the Audi 5000 sudden acceleration scandal of the late 1980s, noting that negative safety perceptions can devastate a vehicle's resale value and dealer demand, suggesting this kind of public safety concern could have serious market consequences for the brand.

A salesman with a difficult Eastern European last name seeks advice on whether to legally change it, noting that while it creates memorable icebreaker moments, it causes awkwardness during phone calls. Respondents share similar naming challenges in sales and offer mixed perspectives, with some suggesting that simpler, more American-sounding names help customer recall, while others emphasize that what matters most is personal comfort and giving customers alternative ways to remember you beyond just your name.

Jeff Kershner promotes a survey from researcher April Rain targeting successful automotive dealers, offering free workshop access in exchange for participation on topics like sales, market penetration, and business growth. A respondent's brief comment suggests the survey felt lengthy or intensive. The thread appears to be a straightforward promotional post with minimal discussion or engagement beyond the initial offer.

# Summary The DealerRefresh community discusses their preferred web browsers, with Chrome emerging as the clear favorite due to its speed, Google Apps integration, and cross-device synchronization of bookmarks and passwords, though Firefox and Safari retain loyal users. A critical insight emphasized by multiple members is that personal browser preferences shouldn't dictate website design decisions—dealership websites must account for the diverse browser usage patterns of actual customers, not just developers. The thread includes industry data showing Chrome's rising market share and cautionary notes about browser statistics, highlighting the importance of cross-browser testing for optimal user experience.

# Summary A user shared humorous images and a link to novelty unicorn meat products from ThinkGeek, sparking lighthearted jokes among forum members about "killing unicorns" and consuming unicorn meat. The thread includes playful references to a character named Uncle Joe and contains no substantive discussion—it's purely off-topic banter with users riffing on the joke.

A luxury car salesman asks whether to wear ties and suits at his new dealership with a more casual dress code, prompting experienced professionals to weigh in on dress code standards. The consensus that emerges is that dress code should be tailored to the specific context—including geographic location, brand positioning, clientele expectations, and store image—rather than following a universal rule. The key insight is that professional presentation matters less through what you wear and more through how well you wear it: fit, grooming, and polish matter far more than the specific garment.

At the DigitalEdgeSummit Baltimore after-hours reception, a vendor rep didn't recognize Jeff Kershner (DealerRefresh founder) and asked if he used to work there—prompting a witty self-deprecating response that the attendees found hilarious. The thread is mostly a light-hearted exchange where bzweifel references a Dave Chappelle bit while recalling a humorous conversation from the event. No substantive business discussion emerges; it's purely casual banter among community members enjoying an industry event.

Blake Arbogast solicits recommendations for joining an innovative 20 group that emphasizes substantive work over social activities. Stan Sher responds by promoting an "Internet Sales 20 Group" event in Chicago (October 23-25) designed to facilitate networking among 50-60 dealers and internet directors through collaborative benchmarking and data analysis, with early-bird incentives for the first 20 registrants by September 15, 2012.

# Summary A dealer named DanH requests recommendations for motivational videos to use in weekly Friday morning meetings, and community members share several options including general inspiration clips and videos about mindset and work ethic. The most substantive contribution comes from a video emphasizing that financial success correlates with the value one provides to others, rather than positive thinking alone, with one commenter noting this principle applies broadly across neighborhoods and professions.

A salesman contemplates whether becoming an auto broker could be a better path than grinding at a dealership to increase monthly sales volume from 28 to 40-45 cars, weighing the appeal of building a personal brand that transcends any single brand or geography. The thread's key insight is that broking was more viable in the pre-internet era, but today's informed consumers and better pricing transparency make it a tougher business model—with one respondent suggesting that cross-selling opportunities within a large dealer group might be a more realistic way to scale without becoming independent.

# Summary The thread critiques TrueCar's practice of publishing new car sales predictions just 5 days before month-end, questioning the practical business value of such late-stage "guesses" that missed by 3.4%. The discussion concludes that these predictions are primarily a media relations tactic designed to generate press coverage rather than provide genuinely useful business intelligence, exploiting news outlets' need for content without requiring actual reporting resources.

# Summary Automotive industry speakers accepted to present at Autocon 2012 are objecting to unusual contract requirements: bringing a dealer principal to sit in on their session and recruiting 10 dealership employees to attend by end of July. While some speakers consider complying or skipping the conference entirely, others raise ethical concerns that these mandates essentially force product pitches into educational sessions, compromising the attendee experience and violating typical conference standards against vendor promotion.

# Summary Mark Winters seeks recommendations for an annual conference that prioritizes genuine learning and networking over vendor sales pitches, expressing frustration that Dealer Days (DD) has become increasingly commercialized. He asks whether alternatives like AutoCon or DSES would be better options for someone with a serious educational agenda for improving their dealership. A respondent directs him to another thread discussing DealerRefresh's decision to stop sponsoring fall conferences, suggesting that conversation may provide relevant context for evaluating conference options.

# Summary Members of the DealerRefresh community celebrated Jerry Thibeau's birthday, with colleagues praising his PhoneNinja business services and long-standing contributions to the forum. Jerry revealed he received his NC driver's license as a birthday gift and is now eligible to qualify for the US Senior Open golf tournament next year. The thread reflects strong professional relationships and mutual respect among automotive industry professionals, with Joe Pistell notably crediting himself as Jerry's first customer and attributing business growth to their collaboration.

# Summary A DealerRefresh member shared a news story about a carjacker in St. Louis who couldn't drive a manual transmission and ended up getting a ride from his victim instead. The replies humorously highlight a broader problem: the declining ability of young drivers and service workers to operate stick shift vehicles, with one commenter recounting a similar experience where valet attendants couldn't move his manual transmission car. The thread underscores how manual transmissions have become uncommon enough that basic automotive competency—whether for criminal endeavors or legitimate jobs—can no longer be assumed.