AIN Media

Webinar: Best Practices for a Successful BDC

Connie Shedron — Sat, 26 May 2012 17:39:25 +0000

DMEautomotive, announces the second in a series of free webinars - all dedicated to increasing service customer loyalty, service revenue, and vehicle sales. The second webinar in the series focuses on 5 critical best practices for successful business development centers (BDC) and takes place June 5th at 2pm EDT. Click here to register.

Lower Your Fuel Costs

Connie Shedron — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:43:00 +0000

Rising fuel prices coupled with declining numbers of pre-owned cars are affecting both auto dealers and consumers. For both groups, it is about finding the right car, at the right price, at the right time, no matter where it is located. Auto transport by rail is an easy alternative that can help auto shippers lower their costs for long distance moves. Shipping a car by rail can provide savings up to 30% over direct truck. ShipCarsNow is a Union Pacific company. For more information, visit ShipCarsNow or call 866-207-3360.

What’s Keeping You up at night?

Connie Shedron — Sat, 26 May 2012 16:29:54 +0000

How much inventory? What kind of vehicles? Where to buy what I need? Who are my service providers? How much can I afford to spend or discount, at any given time? Where do I go to find more prospects and customers? And the list goes on. Used car dealers have a lot to think about, when it comes to running a successful operation. With the right auto transport partner, dealers can eliminate their concerns about auto transportation and spend more time managing their core business of auto sales.

The DOL and Partial FLSA Exemptions

Phyllis Lublin — Sat, 26 May 2012 15:36:27 +0000

It is important to be of the mindset that everybody in your dealership organization has to be in compliance – has to follow and be in compliance with the Fair Labor Standards Act – meaning that everybody has to receive overtime, everybody has to be paid at least a minimum wage, and everybody has to [...]

VW To Help Dealers Recruit Service Techs

Jim Thompson — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:24:06 +0000

As the market for new cars and trucks improves monthly, dealers who downsized the number of employees during the recession are faced with the daunting task of staffing up. This is a particular problem in the service department. Volkswagen is experiencing particularly strong in the U.S. with a number of new models that are selling [...]

ClearMechanic Offers Repair Customers Instant Appointments

Jim Thompson — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:14:17 +0000

In this fast paced, tech dominated world connected people want to make appointments and reservations instantaneously. Drivers will gravitate to auto repair shops that allow online service appointments. Many auto dealers still rely on phone calls to make appointments and customers who just drive in when they need vehicle service. ClearMechanic has a solution that [...]

Concierge Wars Heat Up

Jim Thompson — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:58:55 +0000

The Cadillac User Experience (CUE) will feature free concierge service for U.S. customers when they buy the new 2013 Cadillac XTS luxury sedan. To help buyers learn how the CUEs works Cadillac will provide iPads loaded with helpful videos. Cadillac is responding to competition from German automakers and crosstown rival, Lincoln. An Audi advertising campaign [...]

Consumers v. Automakers v. Government

Jim Thompson — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:45:14 +0000

Automakers are being torn between two very powerful forces. On the one hand customers want to be connected to the outside world from their cars. They want Wi-Fi and to be able to receive cell phone calls and plug in their iPods. Automakers have responded with a host of new features, most packed into the [...]

Protecting Vehicle Delivery

Phyllis Lublin — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:26:09 +0000

Tornadoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, hurricanes, blizzards, labor strikes, highway congestion, and new car production: these forces can impact the nation’s automobile delivery network. When your business depends on having the right inventory at the right time, even small fluctuations in the transportation industry can affect your bottom line. While some may argue that these forces [...]

Toyota Just Dipping Its Toe in EV Market

Jim Thompson — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:13:04 +0000

Sales of electric vehicles remains painfully slow in the U.S. March sales were trending in a positive direction as gasoline prices peaked only to slide back in April. Even though the plug-in Prius model is doing well when compared to the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt, out selling the competition in April, sales volume was [...]

Automakers Take Charging Seriously

Jim Thompson — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:01:04 +0000

Governments around the world are forcing automakers through mandates and regulations to produce electric vehicles. Automakers are slowly increasing production and there are more players entering the EV game. Each automaker has developed its own system for recharging the battery. This has resulted in a variety of charging options. Companies producing charging stations generally have [...]

The Stakes are High

Phyllis Lublin — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:47:00 +0000

If you make a mistake and fail to comply with the Fair Labor Standards Act, what happens? Well, when the Department of Labor comes in, they are trying to determine whether or not your dealership is in compliance with the law; and if you’re not, the first thing they’re going to insist upon is that you pay back pay – which is the amount that they believe you should have paid in the first place. It’s very helpful to do an onsite audit (or a desk audit) and go through all listed exemptions -- starting from the premise that everybody is non-exempt unless we can establish a specific exemption that covers them.

Establishing Pay Plan Best Practices

Phyllis Lublin — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:38:41 +0000

"Pay Plans" are Wage & Hour documents that must comply with state and federal law and are a common liability among dealerships. Now is a great time to re-evaluate your dealership personnel Pay Plans to ensure that they follow the Best Practices. Does your Pay Plan spell out "in detail" exactly how each employee will be paid and each component will be calculated? Does it include all aspects of compensation: hourly, salary, commission, bonuses, spiffs, etc? Visit Compli today and review our webinar on Pay Plans Best Practices rules and misconceptions.

Oh, Oh – We’re Going to be Audited?

Phyllis Lublin — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:29:30 +0000

The time to concern yourself is now – ahead of an audit. The most essential focus should be on establishing “best practices” throughout your dealership so that a DOL audit becomes nothing more than routine. Here at Compli, our goal is to arm you with the kind of compliance information that will keep your dealership in sync with compliance regulations. Your job is to let us doing the worrying – and get it right! Visit us at Compli today! And sign up for a free ComplianceCast Newsletter!

There is Always the Possibility of a DOL Audit

Phyllis Lublin — Fri, 25 May 2012 12:22:22 +0000

Typically when the Department of Labor handles the investigation, they will find something – and they will issue, and they will collect, some money. A few years ago, the Department hired hundreds of additional wage-and-hour investigators. So, with more investigators out there, there’s a higher likelihood that your dealership organization is going to be targeted [...]

Honda Holds 3 of Top 4 Kbb.com Most-Visited

Phyllis Lublin — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:00:34 +0000

Kelley Blue Book reveals that Honda had three out of the four most-visited new cars during the first quarter of 2012. The Honda CR-V was the most-shopped new vehicle on kbb.com, followed by the Honda Civic, and the Accord came in fourth. Also among the top 50 most-visited were the redesigned Toyota Camry (reaching into No. 2 with the Civic), and Hyundai's popular Sonata (No. 5).

BMW M Performance Brand Set to Expand

Phyllis Lublin — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:00:30 +0000

Automaker BMW says there could be an M version – high-performance brand-within-a-brand – of the new BMW Gran Coupe. Once limited to a handful of limited-production offerings, BMW now offers M versions of more than half of its line-up. BMW also hopes to see extensive use of fuel-saving carbon fiber technology in its lineup, primarily for the bodies of the i3 and i8 models which will ride on aluminum-intensive chassis.

Memorial Weekend Could be Memorable for Dealers

Phyllis Lublin — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:00:08 +0000

The good news is that Memorial Day weekend has been particularly strong for automotive sales in the last two years, and that's a trend that dealers hope will continue this weekend, says Edmunds.com. Not-so-good: consumers will be looking for the best deals possible – and that will undoubtedly lead them to check out incentives before shopping. Ford, Toyota and Honda have boosted incentives since April.

DealerRater’s Powerful New 360Certified™ Program Launches Nationwide

Mary Terraszas — Fri, 25 May 2012 07:00:04 +0000

Average Age of Vehicles on Road – 1982 to 2012

Jon LeSage — Thu, 24 May 2012 23:49:23 +0000

CNW Research chart shows average age of light-duty fleet on American roads Light trucks getting closer to passenger cars Had recently been wide gap, indicating truck owners want newer trucks, which helps the sales figures

Build Customer Loyalty Through Social Media

Phyllis Lublin — Thu, 24 May 2012 23:02:11 +0000

With the viral advent of social media into the business and marketing worlds, many companies are asking, “Is social media marketing something my business needs to use?” Says on retail business owner: “…regardless of the size of business you have, if you’re not actively participating in social media then you’re not hanging out with your [...]

The Right Way to Test Drive

Connie Shedron — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:56:39 +0000

During the summer months, more Americans will shop for new and used cars than at any other time during the year. So that car shoppers don't skimp on one of the most vital pieces of the car-shopping process, the editors at Cars.com have compiled important tips for taking a test drive. Cars.com advises shoppers to take test driving seriously and consider the following tips when testing new and used vehicles:

‘NAFA is the Standard for Industry Associations’

Janice — Thu, 24 May 2012 15:07:39 +0000

“From my days of managing the leasing divisions of Avis and National Car Rental and then Rollins Auto Leasing — I was always connected, supporting, attending, and sending key people to NAFA,. Through the years, I have had the pleasure, and sometimes amazement, of watching NAFA grow and evolve its mission and its services. There [...]

Welcome to Summer!

Janice — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:32:47 +0000

Where Are You Most Likely to Get a Speeding Ticket This Holiday Weekend?

Nothing says "welcome to summer" like an undeserved traffic ticket--especially when you're traveling in another state. But how do you know which states and cities are most likely to ruin your Memorial Day vacation by issuing you that ticket? States don't track traffic ticket data for all of their jurisdictions. And most municipalities don't want to publicize their ticket-happy ways for fear of being labeled speed traps. Learn more

Cost Savings Top Fleet Focus, Maxsimic Leads WEX International, Telogis Global Partnership, Difficult Coworkers

Janice — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:18:15 +0000

Cost Savings Is Top 2012 Focus for U.S. Commercial Fleets, According to GE Capital Fleet Services Survey Forty-six percent of fleet managers cite cost savings as the primary focus of executive management as it relates to their company’s fleet operations, according to a recent survey conducted by GE Capital Fleet Services. This was followed by [...]