vAuto Podcast

In this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson, Jonathan Self, used car director for independent dealer Texas Auto and Patrick Janes, director of business development for vAuto’s Stockwave, discuss how Self has moved from a stand-still to serving a growing number of retail customers. Self details how he’s picked up curbside buying and finding front-end gross friendly auction cars by adjusting...

In this episode of the vAuto Podcast Retail Revival series, host Randy Kobat and Trent Waybright, vice president of pre-owned operations for Kelley Auto Group, Fort Wayne, IN, discuss how the group stores are selling more used vehicles today than they did a year ago. Trent shares how he’s remained aggressive in his pricing and acquisition strategy, while innovating in the way his team gets vehicle...

In this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and Mike Boyd, director of business development and founder of iRecon, discuss how dealers are adjusting staffing levels and processes during the COVID-19 crisis. Boyd shares his perspective that now is not the time for dealers to trim back on necessary reconditioning to reduce costs. Rather, Boyd believes proper reconditioning is necessary to avo...

In this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and vAuto founder and executive vice president Dale Pollak discuss Dale’s prescription for dealer’s to return to retail-back acquisitions. Dale shares an overview of improving retail and wholesale market conditions, and how these changes make a reliance on wholesale valuations less necessary and useful given the increasing relevance and reliabilit...

In this episode of the vAuto Podcast Retail Revival series, host Randy Kobat and John Malishenko of Germain Auto Group, Columbus, OH, discuss how the Germain organization has quickly adapted their retailing operations in the COVID-19 crisis. John shares how a simple question has led to some profound insights about the way consumers want to purchase cars in the current environment, and the individu...

In this episode, vAuto podcast host Lance Helgeson and Russ Daniels, director of product marketing for HomeNet, Stockwave, and iRecon, discuss how dealers are using overlays and other tools to merchandise their vehicles in a manner that promotes their safe, socially distant sales processes. The episode also highlights several steps dealers can take to use existing, often under-utilized tools to en...

In this episode of the vAuto Podcast Retail Revival series, host Randy Kobat and independent dealer Bradley Berndt of Autohaus on Velp, Green Bay, WI, discuss how Bradley has reduced his inventory size and trimmed prices to move vehicles in the current COVID-19 crisis. The dealership’s sales are up in April, year over year. Bradley shares how his team has shifted to an appointment-only, digitally...

In this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and vAuto founder Dale Pollak discuss the value ProfitTime can bring to dealers as they work to liquidate inventory in the current COVID-19 crisis. Dale cautions that the urgency dealers apply to retailing vehicles to improve their cash position should not neglect a vehicle’s investment value. Dale also shares his best practice suggestions for rig...

In this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and Brian Finkelmeyer, senior director of new car solutions for vAuto, discuss the question of whether dealers should say “no” to more inventory from the factory or say “yes” in anticipation of a time when retail demand will resume. The conversation highlights the market factors dealers should consider as they manage new vehicle inventories throug...

In this special Dealer Voices podcast, host Randy Kobat joins David J. Long, a leader at Hansel Auto Group, Santa Rosa, CA, to discuss how David is helping his team and customers stay fit, healthy and safe in the current COVID-19 crisis. From hosting the daily “3 o’clock eddy” meeting on Zoom to a flexible needs-based work schedule, David shares how Hansel dealerships continue to retail and servic...

In this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and vAuto founder Dale Pollak discuss why Dale believes dealers must adopt a liquidation strategy in their used vehicle inventories to help them reset their inventory investments in today’s volatile market. Dale shares pointers on how dealers should proceed with reducing vehicle prices, and how this strategy is leading some dealers to a retail rev...

In this episode, vAuto podcast host Lance Helgeson joins Mike Gibel, general manager of Ira Jack Chevrolet Cadillac (Saco, ME), and Matt Kondik, implementation manager for Kelley Blue Book Instant Cash Offer, for a candid conversation about the ways Gibel’s team engages customers, and sells cars, in the current COVID-19 crisis. Gibel details how his team appraises cars, desks deals, and delivers v...

In this vAuto podcast Retail Revival series installment, host Randy Kobat and Jake Sodikoff, dealer principal at Steven Nissan, Harrisonburg, VA, discuss how Sodikoff liquidated his used vehicle inventory, reset his inventory Cost to Market position through careful acquisitions, and began to capture retail sales despite the current COVID-19 crisis. Sodikoff shares how he/his team value used vehicl...

In this episode, vAuto podcast host Lance Helgeson and Patrick Janes, director of business development for Stockwave, discuss how the current crisis has caused uncertainty in wholesale valuations and created an opportunity for dealers to use MMR Retention to gauge wholesale valuations. The episode also examines recent wholesale sales that provide a ray of hope that the market is moving and offerin...

In this vAuto podcast episode, host Lance Helgeson and vAuto founder Dale Pollak discuss the dangers dealers face when they stock more used vehicle inventory than they sell, and how dealers can strike a better balance between their current stock and 30-day sales rate to improve used vehicle sales and profitability.

NADA 2020: New Vehicle Trends with Brian Finkelmeyer by vAuto Podcast

NADA 2020: Inventory Acquisition Observations with Patrick Janes by vAuto Podcast

In this episode of the vAuto Podcast, Brent Adamson, a Distinguished Vice President at Gartner joins Randy Kobat, Senior Vice President of vAuto, HomeNet and Rebates & Incentives for an engaging conversation that focuses on sensemaking and research. With dealerships being focused on selling, we get Brent's perspective on the car buying process, how thinking is challenged and what dealerships can d...

In this episode of the vAuto podcast, we say goodbye to the 2019 trends and look ahead to 2020 and NADA. Hear Brian Finkelmeyer and Lance Helgeson discuss what trends they expect to see this year.

A Sneak Peek at Dale Pollak's Newest Book by vAuto Podcast

The New Math by vAuto Podcast

In this episode of the vAuto Podcast, President/CEO of OfferLogix, Jerry Thompson and Cox Automotive Rates & Incentives Practice Leader, Todd Somerville share their insights on payment calculators, the evolution of digital retailing and what dealers can do to make and keep their customers happy.

Elements of a Used Vehicle Department Turnaround by vAuto Podcast

Understanding Rates & Incentives by vAuto Podcast

Unlock Profit Potential With the ProfitTime Trifecta by vAuto Podcast