I have the highest respect for the many great individuals who contribute so much to our industry. It is challenging enough with eCommerce as we go through this transition in our industry, and events like Digital Dealer have been a tremendous asset to many of us. Aside from a lot of folks complaining about "pitching" during presentations, I think most attendees find the greatest benefit in the networking on the floor and interacting with the vendors in the exhibit hall.

With that said, I am a firm believer that competition is always good. I am a bit disappointed at the direction some of this back and forth took, much of which was "under the belt" and could be interpreted as slander. I have to give Kudos to Mike for responding publically here to some pretty strong statements made against him. Bottom line is that Mike got this thing going.

I am also a big fan of so many others who post here, including Gary May (who graciously supported me at DD9), Joe Webb, Brian Pasch, Jared, and countless others. I do hope that speakers are not forced to decide between one conference or another as so many dealers are working with tight budgets and might not be able to attend all conferences, but at least can hear from some of these great speakers regardless of which one they attend. There is room for more than one conference, just as there is room for more than one forum like DealerRefresh (and which we already see).

And my fav quote from Animal House... "Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life son..."

Dean,

Thank you for replying, and for offering your e-mail address and an invitation to discuss my experience, I appreciate it.

But, please re-read my post, as a) I never mentioned you, b) I wasn't 'complaining'

I just stated my point of view, which also included that there was room for both conferences, and that I learned from both. Perhaps if you researched the twitter stream that your conference generated, and that of DSES, you might gain some insight into a) How much I enjoyed and learnt and spread the positivity that came out of DD9, as well as b) my thoughts on DSES and what that conference did better.

I have absolutely no idea what the mythical e-mail is about, I am not looking to attack you personally or your conference, all I was doing was stating a point of view, an opinion. If you term that as 'complaining about it' maybe it is best that we should just leave it as it is and move on.

"We had almost 1,800 people at the conference. Some of them love me, some of them like me, most of them don’t know me…some of them don’t like me and apparently, some of them hate me. I can live with that. I would like to be everybody’s friend, but this is a business and as such, there are competing agendas. That’s business biz…"

Mike,

I was part of the 1800....and yeah, I don't know you, I did say hi & thanks in the hallway quick with Larry Bruce and we were out together with Todd Smith and crew a couple conferences ago at TAO....you complimented my shirt, thanks.

That being said, we consider ourselves and are considered by most to be OK at this internet car game and I learned enough to go back. We did have our eCommerce Manager, Justin at Driving Sales who was also happy with his trip.....where did we learn more? Remains to be seen with what strategies we implement....probable ends up fairly equal.

Nice job standing up for yourself.

Thanks to all you cats that provide these forums and conferences that progress our industry... there's plenty of room for the DealerRefresh conference and I vote Uncle Joe gives the keynote speech!

I'm with Layton on this one. Our industry is stronger by having both of these events and not by splitting folks amongst the conferences.

So thanks Layton for the sanity.

Thanks Mike for jumping in.

And thanks to Jeff and Alex for keeping Dealer Refresh going.

Dang it, can't post photos in replies.

Seriously? This is what the Internet is for?

I know this is a "rumor" section...and absolutely no effort was made to substantiate these rumors through me, and therefore, totally one-sided. And I hesitate to do anything more than laugh at these types of things when friends say "Did you read...?" But some relevant info I'd like to share if I may:

Automotive News sent a salesman. Not an editor. Not a reporter. Not a journalist. Not even a blogger. Or an anonymous Internet poster. A salesman.

Automotive News, the self-purported "Bible of the Industry"...search their website for "Digital Dealer" and see what comes up. I don't think they have ever even mentioned this important industry event. They sent a salesman to sell.

"You're a delivery boy, collecting a bill, for a bunch of grocery clerks."

~Marlon Brando as the insane Col. Kurtz in Apocalypse NOW.

That's exactly what I said to the A-news rep while I squeezed a rag full of water on my bald head. I knew what he was there for. Just kidding...registration explained to him that we don't allow competitors in our event. But I thought you'd get a kick out of the imagery...

Guys, a dealer wouldn't allow a competitor's salesperson on their lot to sell to their customers and potential customers. That's not why they invested and took risks and paid for the advertising that brought them in. We don't allow competitors onto our "lot"...the Digital Dealer Conferences. Not everybody will agree with or like this policy...but who amongst you wants to argue for letting competitor's salesman onto a dealer's lot? How about allowing competitor's ads on the dealer's website? Would you recommend that to your dealer clients...or to your dealer principal?

I have had salespeople and a publisher escorted out of competitor's events. Just as I expect would happen to a competitive salesperson was on a dealer's lot or in their showroom. Hey nothing wrong with tryin'...no hard feelings when we catch one or we get caught.

Look, Jared Hamilton's a great guy. He's spoken at DDs, has video-tapped at DDs, wanted to partner with me and now is a competitor. Competition is good. We will both make the other better. But it just doesn't make sense to let a competitor on your lot. I am sorry if people don't like that...or don't like me because of it. But it's a business decision...a sound business decision. And did you see what he's got under his button-front shirt? I can't afford freaking kryptonite! That $hit's EXPENSIVE.

As for the individuals directly involved in rumors on or in this thread...

One of you didn't mind spending time at my VIP tables at two clubs on two different nights during my conference. Didn't say "Hello", "Goodbye", "Thank you" or even "Kiss my ass" the first night. Not a word. Not even when I "grooved" with your wife while talking to her. Dynamite lady BTW, very cordial to me...did she not get the memo?

2nd night I finally came over and talked to you to ask what the problem is, because that vodka is $400 a bottle and when it became obvious you were not going to dance for me like the girls the doorman sent over, I made an effort to talk to you, you know...to get my money's worth. OK, that was embellished for comedic effect, but you get the point.

Two of you I spoke to on the phone directly. I clearly explained why these decisions are made and these policies are in place, and appealed to you to understand our position. One of you responded by openly misrepresenting facts and mis-characterizing the event after the conference and now by complaining about it openly and publicly and showing an email. The other responded by starting a rumor...and it got complained about openly and in a public forum.

One of you I invited up to my suite to discuss. I told you that it was suggested internally to me that we sell your booth to somebody else and find another speaker for your slot after you suggested in a public forum that if someone had been to Digital Dealer before, they should go to Driving Sales this October. I said, because of our unique relationship, I told them we leave it as is and I will talk to you in Las Vegas. Plus I was curious as to why someone who was speaking and had a booth would suggest people go to another event instead. I clearly explained why these decisions are made and these policies are in place, and appealed to you to understand our position. We discussed; I reiterated our position. I asked if you had any questions and you said "No". Now it shows up here. Oh, and you said, "Mike Roscoe's a crybaby" at Jared's event. That HURT!

One of you, whom I tried to help when you left a dealership, saw me at the conference face to face. Said nothing to me about any of this. Now you come here and bad-mouth me because of an email from two years ago? Why didn't you say something then? Or in Las Vegas, face -to-face? You were all smiles with me then.

Guys these were private conversations and private emails, not "The View". Is this how you do business? Is it?

I guess "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" is right out the window here. But if the "glass houses" thing has any meaning, I have a question for one of you: why would you be involved in starting rumors when you're boinking one of your older subordinates? You know who you are. Hey, I'm just askin'...

Ryan G, I would really like to discuss the situation re: how I "shit" on someone. I find that scenario disconcerting and would like to find out more, perhaps starting with what is your definition of "shitting" on someone. My email address is mroscoe@Dealer-Communications.com. Let's try to set a time to discuss please.

Len Critcher, if you are so inclined I would appreciate a chance to find out what the speaker and exhibitor issues were in 2008. I have always had the attitude that we will make up for mistakes in such a way that the person is GLAD the mistake happened. My email address is mroscoe@Dealer-Communications.com. I am available to discuss at your convenience.

Jerry Evans, do we know each other? I don't recognize the name. My bad if we have met and I've forgotten...like I stated previously, I am lousy at remembering names. Taken courses to improve...no help at all. I don't recall personally being asked or tweeted anything by you, positive or negative. If you were treated poorly by a member of the DD team, let's discuss and see if we can resolve it, nothing will change by complaining about it here. mroscoe@Dealer-Communications.com

Jeff Collins...have we met? Forgive me if we have and I've forgotten, I'm great with remembering faces, names...not so much. Is there anything specific you wanted to discuss or just posting some...uhhh..."constructive" critcism?

Marc McGurren, why would you get "banned"? Thanks for sharing your thoughts re: DSES...we will discuss what you've written as we discuss continually improving the Digital Dealer Conferences & Expositions.

Funny that one anonymous poster chose the handle "Chili Palmer" who I believe was a tough guy in a movie, right? Calls me a "bastard"...anonymously, so he can still speak at DDs...CLASSIC! He then applauded another poster for showing "some backbone" for posting up "like a man". That is so deliciously RICH with irony!

Tell you what Chili...why don't you prove to us that you are real...that what you wrote is legit. Be a man and state who you are. If you have in fact spoken before, I promise in front of God and everybody you will speak at the next Digital Dealer Conference. I will let you pick your own time slot. Hell, I'll even make you an affiliated sponsor (a $1,995 value!)

I've dealt with a lot of people in the 16+ years since I started this business. You can't please all the people all the time. As much as they try, dealers will have some people who don't like them, feel they were treated poorly, yada, yada, yada. I believe I have been honest, direct, and up-front with the people who are slamming me here...except for the ones I don't know and/or have not directly interacted with. I never claimed that I could please everyone all the time as it is impossible. If you don't like any of our policies, feel free to contact me to discuss. Doesn't mean we will change how we do business...but you never know. Or you can just comment and slam in forums like this "The View"-style. Your choice.

We had almost 1,800 people at the conference. Some of them love me, some of them like me, most of them don't know me...some of them don't like me and apparently, some of them hate me. I can live with that. I would like to be everybody's friend, but this is a business and as such, there are competing agendas. That's business biz...

On a lighter note, Animal House is my favorite movie and John Vernon was AWESOME as Dean Vernon Werner, appreciate the image. He died in 2005. I suppose some of you guys consider yourselves the rascally, rebellious Deltas? Well, then...in the spirit of Faber College's best dean ever..."You're all now on double-secret probation...NO MORE FUN OF ANY KIND!!!"

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go yell or scream or cuss or make threatening phone calls or whatever the heck it was somebody thought would be happening because of this silly little rumor thread. After all, I have an image to live up to...

Way to go, glad you posted it...

I've never been to DD. Why? Everyone told me it was a big pitch-fest a few years ago. People I just met at DSES this year told me the same thing; I didn't miss anything.

Yes, I understand these events have their place within the industry. Even more so, these events need leaders to help guide the direction and change needed for the business.

I saw Roscoe's email to Gary. If that's the type of leadership being offered up, feel free to add me to the DD banned list as well...probably one of the most unprofessional emails I've seen in a long time.

Mike and Jared actually worked together at the earlier DD conferences. Jared offered to work with Mike when he wanted to to do what he is doing now. Mike told him, "No." Mike is his own worst enemy. He has done some great things and then he turns around and screws people or threatens people, etc..... his ego and mouth kill a guy who is really not that bad...until he's bad. He's a guy you love to hate and hate to love. Unfortunately, he has pissed off several people after his most successful conference ever.

How interesting. I got heat for daring to suggest that DSES was a better event than DD9 and it was suggested I would not be welcome at DD10.

As Layton mentioned, it is a huge industry that has room for many conferences, and I'm sure they all offer something useful to all who attend.

I will say this.

We as an industry know the importance of relationship building, follow up and staying connected with previous buyers, the 'repeat' segment of our customers is one of the easier sales.

If my budget meant I could only attend one event next year, I would choose DSES over DD9, simply because Jared responded to everything I asked, or tweeted, the positive and the negative.

The actions of the people connected with DD9 and their attitude to any negativity suggests to me if I did attend and had an issue, it would not be resolved professionally. It's a shame as I certainly learnt from both events. Just goes to show customer service affects future buying decisions.

To those (who shall, for now remain anonymous) who suggested I would not be welcome, fair enough. Why would I pay $1,600 to feel unwanted. Be very careful, though, in this world of new media, bad news spreads far and wide my friends, and you never know, someone with influence and reach might decide to bite back.

Thanks once again for a great post, and to all who commented too, excellent discussion!

My take on this situation for what is worth - DSES is a far superior conference for where we are at as a store than the DD8 conference I attended. DD is more 101 as IM@CS stated - call it like it is. Own it.

Did I get a ton a benefit from DD8? Yup. I met a ton of vendors, got exposed to industry leaders, and was challenged to raise the bar. All great things but the majority of the breakouts were sales pitches (I didn't know any better). Hey - if that is what DD8 is about - showing a wide dealer base about emerging technologies that vendors offer - that isn't necessarily a bad thing. Will I most likely go back another time - probably so.

Why did I like DSES more - it was virtually vendor neutral except for a few plugs - but hey - you can't blame them. Matt Murray did a phenomenal job talking about PPC yet never pitched their product. Yes - the name of his product was on some of the screen shots - but the talk was more about educating the dealer body about the importance of PPC in todays market - not how his product can take you there.

Also - less car people - more outside influences. We get in a bubble and like to pat ourselves on our back about how "innovative" we are yet - we are so far behind the curve as a industry it is sometimes scary. My head was spinning listening to some of the speakers we had as DSES.

Lastly - I truly believe there is room for everyone in this conference arena. I have learned relationships sell cars - not the car itself. If the rumors are true about how DD folks are handling all this - it will eventually bit them in the rear by burning those relationships...especially given the great alternatives being presented to us #DSES.

Hopefully this post won't get me banned from DD myself. I heart DealerRefresh.

Ryan- If you knew me then you would know that peachy fuzzy is not what I am about. I will tell you that as a vendor in this space for a long time; we need to have more conferences! To put down Mike or Jared is the wrong approach support both and move on.

@Layton that's all peachy fuzzy but it's clearly not how Roscoe sees it.

2 Years ago 2 friends of mine and I were doing a series of small speaking events around Texas, Oklahoma, and the Southeast called Auto Training Events. The group still exists on Linked In. I started it, and have not even logged on in over a year. During those events I had the AAISP links up on the site. I figured since 3 of us had opened the Digital Dealer booth at NADA (nobody was there) I would post the links that went to the Conference. I still have the rotten ass e-mail saved from our friend Mr. Roscoe and have been tempted to post it. I did not return to 3 conferences after that until this year. I thought it was a great conference but if these rumors are true I will not be surprised. The words in these posts are true, the people that made Digital Dealer can un-make Digital Dealer.

Wake up!!!!!!!

Sad to see people putting down any conference in the automotive space. There should be more and more information shared. Mike Roscoe stepped to the plate when no one else was willing and created a niche conference that has benefitted both the vendors and dealers. Jared has created another format that will allow dealers and vendors share ideas. Both conferences are excellent and with the size of our industry we should be glad that both Mike and Jared are planning on continuing to move forward.

Ah...so that cat is out of the bag on Roscoe. I will politely take this opportunity to share why I have completely avoided Digital Dealer for the past 4 years - because I stopped supporting Mike Roscoe after he shit on one of the best friends the auto industry has, whom I will leave unnamed for his own sake. There are a lot of good people doing great things in the auto industry and I get the feeling that this post will end up drawing a line in the sand between them and him.

I will also share that it was really cool to see the DSES via live stream. Hats off to Jared and his team for such a job well done all around. Feedback on the event has been great and I imagine that DSES will become (if it hasn't already) the premier event for cutting edge auto professionals.

I know you guys don't appreciate anonymous post but I'm doing it because I need to keep speaking at Digital Dealer events. And Chili Palmer is the man telling you how it is (Get Shorty). When (not if) DrivingSales gets to over 500 attendees I will gladly give Roscoe the middle finger he deserves and hedge my bets with Jared.

I am so glad you guys finally put something out in the open about Roscoe. I see that it is all rumors and hearsay but I have seen and heard this stuff too many times going back to third Digital Dealer. It is time someone exposes that bastard for what he is.

I can only imagine the cussing and screaming going on at the Dealer Magazine office today. Mike is throwing a fit while the rest of the team is secretly agreeing with what is being said here. Cliff - get out while you can. Have you heard the saying "When you lie down with dogs you get up with fleas."

Len -I'm glad to see you show some backbone and post up like a man. I'm sorry I couldn't do it myself. But I couldn't resist leaving this completely alone.

ADP's CRM tool is the single worst in the industry followed by a close second with Reynolds Contact Management. Anything they can do to get rid of that POS is good. AutoTrader is a cancer. First vAuto, now KBB. We all know they suck. It is only a matter of time before they destroy both those brands.

We had a serious issue with the Digital Dealer organization as both exhibitor and speaker back in 2008. Our experience has kept us away from the conference since. The purpose of such a conference should be to bring people together - to share in ideas, products, and best practices. The person in-charge should be a politician, not a dictator.

We thoroughly enjoyed the goodnatured and positive content/sessions we saw at the 2nd Annual Driving Sales Summit which we highly recommend as an alternative.

Mike Roscoe is a narccist. DD is a great venue for the dealer body but sadly Mike Roscoe now has developed a "GOD" complex. I expect to receive a email notifying me that I too have been banished! Mike pull your head out of your butt and open your eyes. Try building relationships rather than tearing them down. The same people that made DD successful, can and will bury you. I think this would be a good time to start our own conference. The "DealerRefresh Summit" You heard it here first.

I also heard that Dealer HD bought Ford. True story.

Leslie,

Really now, “like Hitler took Europe”? I don’t know what axe you have to grind with AutoTrader or Chip Perry, but very respectfully the acquisition by AutoTrader of vAuto and KBB is a very positive thing for dealers.

One of the most common frustrations of dealers is the lack of integration between systems and tools. Lack of such integration requires dealers to perform duplicative tasks and importantly prevents them from recognizing the true synergy of critical applications. For example, the union between AutoTrader and vAuto will allow dealers to make pricing and stocking decisions knowing what consumers are searching for in their market in real-time at precise price points.

Further, the Kelley acquisition will enable dealers to have classified advertising exposure in a high traffic trusted medium, where it was otherwise unavailable. Giving dealers exposure, in a medium and manner otherwise not available, is a big win for dealers.

There is one further insight that I would like to share with you and others. Although I have know Chip and some of his executives for several years, over the past 6 months I have come to know much more about him and his broader organization. Without hesitation I can tell you that the executive management of AutoTrader is comprised of many individuals who are intelligent and passionate about building a great company to serve dealers. They are serious about their mission and understand that their success is based on the success of their dealer clients. If there is something in particular that is bothering you, I would be very eager to discuss it, and try to resolve the source of your dissatisfaction. My contact information is as follows: 630-343-9016 and dpollak@vauto.com. It is important to constructively communicate and work together.

Respectfully,

Dale

Leslie,

Unfortunate and malicious analogy in your October 27th comment on KBB and vAuto.

AutoTrader's acquisition of vAuto and now KBB is not a good thing. It will be only a matter of time before both brands will be destroyed by Chip and his buddy's. Most informed dealers have woken up to the false promise of Auto Trader. Sad to see that the AutoTrader is taking company's like Hitler took Europe.

What does this do to Cars.com ? It is clear these are not the best of times for the media based Cars and their parents they are fighting for their own lives and now AT is just building a fortress of a company.One thing is clear it is all about the data and Cox is getting data from every angle. Things just got a little worse at the newspapers. Who else will be hurt by this?

To me this acquisition makes perfect sense although I'm surprised that the Cox entity making the purchase is Autotrader and not Manheim although I guess it doesn't really matter. Now you have the marquee name in wholesale vehicle valuations (Manheim) partnering with the marquee customer vehicle valuation source (KBB). Again, I guess that is a good thing.