This isn’t my first year in the car business, and I’ve seen this before.

Sales slow down. Traffic drops. The floor gets quiet. And everyone starts asking, “What’s going on?”

Here’s the truth: It’s not a matter of if a sales slump will happen again. It’s a matter of when. The dealers who survive are the ones who are prepared and are willing to make difficult changes that result in growth.

In this episode, we’re breaking down what I’m seeing right now from the customer’s perspective, where trust is breaking down, where follow-up is failing, where AI is replacing relationships, and where opportunity is quietly being missed.

More importantly, we’re talking about solutions.
What to fix. What to tighten up.
And how to sell more cars, even when the market feels slow.

Because slow sales aren’t just a market problem. They’re a process problem. Let’s get into it.

We know that everyone struggles with collecting, especially when setting up a promise to pay. In this episode, you’ll hear a real recorded call from one of our trained collectors as they handle a tough promise to pay situation. Listen in as they apply proven techniques to guide the customer from hesitation to commitment, and walk away with a payment plan in hand.

Everyone at NIADA was buzzing about AI, and many AI companies stopped by my booth to see how their product could "solve all my problems". In this episode, I will dive into my opinion on AI, how you SHOULD be using it in your dealership and why it needs to be set up correctly. Settle in, it's worth it!

WE ARE BACK WITH AN EPISODE PACKED WITH PRICELESS ADVICE!

Do you struggle to keep staff? How is your company culture? Are your pay plans negatively shifting your sales teams focus? Bob Marquardt from Red White & Blue Auto in PA joins us for this incredible chat on employee retention, pay plans, structure and company culture. His techniques have helped RWB retain the same sales staff for years, and he is here to share his secrets with us!

In every industry we experience situations where we need to deescalate a situation or handle an objection. Doing this over the phone can be challenging. This is why I created this podcast to provide you with some quick tips you can use in these situations. I know they can be difficult, but remember to take a deep breath and not take it personal!

I know we all LOVE to text, it is easier, and contact rates are often much higher - but you should be using texts to start the engagement, not to sell the car! In this episode, we'll review exactly what happened to a customer over 24 hours, with every communication being text.

When a customer calls the dealership, yes they’re seeking information, but more importantly, they want reassurance and expertise! All too often when we "wing it" we answer too many questions, demotivate the customer and fail to steer the conversation in the right direction. Following a simple word track such as one of C&M Coaching's word tracks, can help you control the call, be prepared, simplify your calls and overcome objections. In this podcast, let's talk about why we see struggles with following a word track, why we NEED a word track and how to overcome your hang-ups with using one.

Are you struggling to get your team to call your internet leads? Yes, I can't believe I just typed that question (and you may hear some frustration in my tone: sorry, not sorry), but I keep hearing that sales are exclaiming "no one answers their phones. Calling is pointless". I bet they just aren't doing it right, in fact, our own independent research proves they aren't doing it right. So in this podcast, let's address the contact rates you should expect based on response time, and I will provide some tips to help you manage your team effectively. Whether it be following a script or a new process in general, there are ways to increase your success when rolling out a new process or training program.

Internet, inbound, and walk-in are all leads. How do we put together a good follow-up process and schedule? As promised, here are my tips for success in these areas.

Most of the time we say things without even thinking about the impact our word choice has on the goals we are looking to accomplish. However, phrasing things weakly to a customer can have several negative psychological effects, often resulting in a less favorable outcome for both the customer and the business. This podcast will explore how weak verbiage can impact Collections, Sales & Service. I will also review how you can turn it around to positively impact each respective department.

Settle in, this is my longest solo podcast, packed with details.