Skip to main content

The Next 18 Months

Change is constant and right now this wholesale market needs to change to re-identify itself. The issue is that auctioning in-the-lane is not changing and a gruesome pattern exists. The imbalance between what you own a vehicle for and whats its ACV is at the block continues to widen and [the] most significant factor are escalating auction fees. This one pervasive objection as the reason NOT the buy and sell at auction is as strong as I can recall. A correction in the big economy (the "Trump" effect/the Dow at 19,535 and futures today at +18.00) is one fix. Over the next 12-18 months a growing optimism index, reductions in regulations, and lower tax burdens will strengthen both the new and used car markets... and at that point, fees are not as objectionable. But it is not just fees themselves that will siphon cars off the block. On-line transactions are growing as are the number of system and software capabilities available to large dealer groups to conduct their own wholesale auctions. In this blog a few years back... I foretold of the "from above" factor. Car buyers have become more comfortable stepping away from sole dependency of in-the-lane buying and again, in the next 12-18 months, I can see as many as 25% of all "auction" cars not crossing an auctioneers block! Both on the calendar and in the lanes, this market is over. Trucks are not effected, LUXURY SUV's are insulated... but after that until we see a big tic up in the overall economy, educate yourself and your managers on how to look at the change in your wholesale process needed going through 2017. W/

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What's Hotter than the Temperature

If prices are measured by book value on average, than you could say the market is about average . If you single out trucks, it quickly becomes a soft market. If you gauge small cars... try to guess what a Focus or Elantra will do! It may be mid-summer, and it has been hot... but not as hot as cars at auction! The auction business itself, as a whole, is in a rapid state of change and that has had more effect on prices than we give credit to. The shortage of cars crossing the blocks are still out there, but are selling through different channels . Finance companies sell direct. Rental companies have mature wholesale channels outside the auctions. OVE, AutoTrader, Cars.com... all outside channels that have syphoned vehicles out of auction lanes as well. I believe that these are major reasons as to why the "remaining" cars at auction have jumped to the levels they have. It has been the push away from the physical auction from the major consignments sources that has increased val...

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

A Resignation That Opens The Door

Just one year ago this week marked a point that I had never been before over a 30+ year career and it was a professional decison that had to be made. I was not healthy and I was not at the lofted level of dedication I'd held myself to. The decision was easy! I resigned. I committed to my team to a seamless transition and told them there would be no disingenous goodbye followed by an announcement on the competitor I was going to join. Resignation became dedicating more time to my family, friends, my health, and to the larger community that surrounds us all. Unencumbered by a business culture stalled in its own way, I relished "taking the high road" journeying thousands upon thousands of miles with eyes and ears wide open and no timetable. And there it was in front of my wife and I every trip we took: The door of opportunity swung wide open with one clear-cut decision. A year on now spiritually and bodily rejuvenated, I re-engage to be purposelful in mentoring ...