The Real Car Business

I am making a change... and for me, that says a lot because my professional career really spans just two "jobs": 16 years at Southern AA and 9 years at Sudden Services LLC. I've spent more time on LinkedIn recently and see "professionals" that are 5-7 years into a career and have been at three different companies in two different industries and that brings me to the realization that the "change" that I am referring to is really no change at all. What's changing is the enhancement I am making to my company and how I will be modifying [its] template to successfully build upon my stability and reputation. If you don't say enough good about yourself, either there isn't anything there or, your modest. For me, it is the latter and that is changing as well! I have a vast and expansive wealth of auction experience and a unique perspective on what makes auction utilization for dealers work (and not work). Over the next 11 to 15 months, I am g...

It has been there to see for nearly 8 months... the incredible strength in used car prices at the auction block. Right there along with that has been, "...when is this madness going to stop". Yesterday [SOUTHERN AA CT] we saw a decline in prices, but the more indicative trend is the decrease in %'s sold. As the conversion rate decreases (sellers not hitting reserve or floor prices) and %'s sold decrease, buyers feel a nervousness and change bidding habits. You watch others abruptly stop at $13,900 and not chase a car into the 14's . You watch the post gavel negotiation between buyer/seller/auctioneer in a fruitless attempt to have that vehicle escalate another $1000. Then there are the duplicates that I so often refer to such as Altima, Sonata, Accord, Escape etc. Combine a nervousness with the awareness that you already have 6 of those in inventory and this decline we see now was in fact quit predictable. If you are struggling at auction, feel free to ...

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...