Skip to main content

Starting the 2011 Auction Year

As you look forward to 2011, recognize that it really takes the first three weeks of January to "start" because buyers have to re-gauge values and are in a recovery mode from the relative inactivity of Christmas and New Years. The key to recognize (as a seller) is that by the end of January values will be as high as they have been since October; this is an optimal time to sell your 90-day units.

Foremost, contact your auction coordinator NOW to talk about a plan to pre-register your aged units in advance for the later part of January. Also, think a day or two ahead of your usual auction schedule to allow for weather delays transporters will incur and the additional reconditioning you will need as a result of the winter weather. Finally, broadcast to your sales managers that by January 30th, 90% of your oldest inventory MUST BE SOLD.

Having the knowledge and the tools in place needed to make early decisions in the auction business in January is critical. By putting your current 60-day aged vehicles under review now means your sales and management teams have a definite target and the plan of action ready to go starting the 2nd week of the new year!

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Late Winter Market

It's not the northeast weather that is keeping the wholesale market in check, it is the overall blanket of slow retail sales at both new and used car retailers! * Subaru product is the most in demand at auction now, Hyundai another sought after product line. * Toyota shows increased prices on non-recall units, but not as strong as you might assume... more trouble ahead for the giant retailer? * The availability (or pure #'s of units) crossing the block is down at auctions overall; and the old economics 101... supply v. demand... is not at work right now. * As stated last post, large trucks are softening, luxury SUV's firm. * Honda Civic strong, Buick (yes, Buick) in demand: 2004 LeSabre LIMITED with 44K sells at an astonishing $9900. Compare that to a 58K 2004 Toyota Camry selling at $8900! Go Buick, go. * It is the economy, stupid. When it is all said, people are not grabbing out for another or new car. We are in a replacement mode at auction- that's it. Chat soon

Friday afternoon

No auction today... a break in what has been a very busy 2 months with so much movement recently that a day away from the block is like a 2 week vacation! There is so much talk about where the cars are and what will happen next that taking this time to type away helps me balance out what I've seen since the snow melted. Most noticeable to me is the overwhelming demand for trucks... pick ups. Dodge/Ram pound for pound is the monster at market currently and if it is Cummins equipped, you cant guess high enough. Next are the half-ton Lariat and LTZ type Ford and GM trucks with gas motors, leather, NAV... chrome. Miles here aren't as important as equipment... the more the higher they go. The next segment of Dakota, Tacoma, Ranger, Colorado are equally sought after and because of lessor quantities, an 01 Ranger XLT 4X4 6-cylinder 4-door beauty with 54K miles still commands over $6000. The bottom line is that people are still working and need to move dirt and sheet rock and to...

It's really much easier to understand!

In response to National Automobile Dealers Association’s chief economist Paul Taylor's comments, "Used Market Helping to Spur New-Car Growth" (Auto Remarketing Today, 12-3-10), I thought I would offer a bit of my own analysis. The increase in new vehicle sales is much easier to understand because the public buying decision has been so dumbed-down: $0 down $0 interest for as many months as you want! This alternative to fleet sales and endlessly evolving lease deals on the car makers part is very practical because "borrowing" sales now actually builds future availability of used product (Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata, and Honda Accord for example). And when these $179/mo models begin to come back to market, the very same marketers will already have in place a slightly different segment of new models at attractive discounted rates, there by repeating the cycle! Mr Taylor's analysis as a "shortage" in used vehicles should really have been branded as a...