What the Fixed Ops?! (WTF?!)

2025 is nearly over, and that means the WTF?! Christmas Special is here! We want to say thank you to our community, our loyal audience, and everyone who has shared this journey with us throughout the year. In this episode, we look back at the major events that shaped the automotive industry in 2025. We talk about what we learned, the obstacles the industry faced, and some of the most impactful con...

Scott Armstrong doesn’t earn a dollar unless he saves you money or brings new revenue into your dealership. His approach is simple: real partnership over transactional vendor relationships. When you win, he wins and that’s the foundation of every engagement he takes on. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to d...

Loyalty reward programs in automotive are overdue for modernization. Drawing from his experience in the fuel industry, a space that perfected customer loyalty, Scott Armstrong explains how dealerships can build reward programs that truly drive retention and repeat business. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools...

The volatility of cryptocurrency can make dealers hesitant to accept it as payment. Scott Armstrong breaks down how to remove the fear, reduce the risk, and safely integrate crypto into your dealership’s payment options. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adv...

Surcharges, upsells, debit card fees - processors love them, but they rarely benefit the dealership or the customer. Scott Armstrong breaks down why these fees are pushed so hard and what you can do to protect your profitability and your customers. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big diff...

Nickel-and-dime upsells are costing you trust and revenue. Scott Armstrong breaks down how to NOT rub your customers the wrong way! Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://calendly.com/do...

Carvana and Amazon mastered one-click buying and the auto industry is next. Scott Armstrong explains what this shift means for dealers. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://calendly.co...

High surcharges can push customers away fast. Scott Armstrong explains why today’s choices might come back to haunt dealerships in five years. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://cale...

Scott Armstrong explains the actual mechanisms processors use to "lower your costs" and why it's ultimately terrible for building lasting relationships with clients. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule your complimentary consultat...

Think you understand payment processing? Think again. In this episode, Russell and Charity get a full education from Scott Armstrong - Co-Founder of DealerCharge - who’s on a mission to revolutionize dealership payments. For 20+ years, the financial tech world has evolved at lightning speed... but dealerships? Still stuck using outdated systems, paying unnecessary fees, and giving up control of th...

Tony Thorstad shares a bit about the cars he drives, including his bZ4X electric - and he loves it! Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://calendly.com/don-278.  BE THE 1ST TO KNOW. LIKE...

Tony Thorstad puts politics aside to break down whether EVs will actually hurt the car business or open new opportunities for dealers who adapt. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://ca...

Tony Thorstad shares one of his biggest failures: supporting 60+ nonprofits at once and losing the depth of connection that truly mattered. His lesson? Fewer relationships, deeper impact. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule your c...

Tony Thorstad explains why email marketing and direct mail are far from dead and why his customers still expect them alongside newer digital tactics. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https...

Tony Thorstad went from one full-time job to two, until he cut the waste and focused only on the work he loves. Here’s the mindset shift that changed everything. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule your complimentary consultation...

Tony Thorstad cut $20K per month in ad spend by shifting away from Google Ads and doubling down on SEO. Here’s how he did it. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://calendly.com/don-278....

Tony Thorstad reveals how simple word-of-mouth momentum and the Dare to Compare strategy helped make it happen. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule your complimentary consultation today. https://calendly.com/don-278.  BE THE 1ST T...

Tony Thorstad breaks down how a properly documented merchandising process allows anyone on the team to step in and execute it. When the steps are clear, the work becomes consistent, efficient, and easy to replicate. No bottlenecks, no guessing.  Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big differe...

Tony Thorstad is the marketing guru at Smart Motors Toyota, and in this episode of What the Fixed Ops?!, he shares how he navigates the unique challenges of automotive marketing today. We dive into: * The complexity of marketing Toyota vehicles with shifting incentives * How merchandising before inventory hits the lot can create challenges * Smart Motors' digital strategy for both variable and fix...

Adam Marburger shares the story of when he was robbed of $100K and how it transformed the way he does business. Sometimes the hardest lessons lead to the biggest growth. Learn from his mistake, so you don’t have to make it. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted...

Adam Marburger shares what it really takes to build grit. Something bad is always going to happen, with your kids, your career, or your health. To truly build grit, you need belief in yourself, a strong tribe behind you, and a list of non-negotiables that guide your actions when things get hard. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic...

Adam Marburger shares why the best salespeople aren't afraid to hear "NO." Learn how mastering rejection, staying patient, and thinking on your feet can take your sales game to the next level. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule y...

Playing the victim keeps you stuck. Adam Marburger shares why forgiveness, of others and of yourself, is the key to breaking free from the victim mindset. You can’t grow if you’re still blaming. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule...

Adam Marburger shares how a single unpaid social media post brought in more applicants than Indeed. With a 74% recruiting return rate, social recruiting is changing the game. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule your complimentary...

F&I professionals are missing a ton of opportunity in the service department. Learn how to unlock retention and revenue post-sale with Adam Marburger. Global Dealer Solutions offers a network of high-performance providers while remaining product agnostic. Knowing which tools to deploy makes a big difference. Having a trusted adviser; priceless.  Schedule your complimentary consultation today....