New and Used Car "packs"

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by tnpartsguy

We do safety inspects on wholesale vehicles as well. I think it's like $90

Originally Posted by Lakeshow

Used trade ins are always inspected, then determined if to be wholesaled or not.

Would your dealership still do an inspection if the sales department knew the vehicle was going to be wholesaled when they took it in as a trade? As an example, if your sales department took in a 2002 Camry with 240,000 miles would it still get inspected, or would it just be sent to auction?

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by Lakeshow

We always did inspections on dealer trades also. You are the delivering dealer and it reflects on your dealership. This came about when a new dealer trade was delivered with little or no fluid in the rear end. Even though another dealer had been paid and did the PDI, we had to fight GM for the repairs at 1200 miles.

Originally Posted by 79LilRedExpress

You would be surprised how many dealer trade vehicles have the lug nuts too loose or too tight... We use a torque wrench on every vehicle that goes into our service dept. incl customer service vehicles.

You both make great points.

Maybe the practice of inspecting New Car Dealer Trades is more common than I thought.

[tnpartsguy]

Originally Posted by XDCX

Would your dealership still do an inspection if the sales department knew the vehicle was going to be wholesaled when they took it in as a trade? As an example, if your sales department took in a 2002 Camry with 240,000 miles would it still get inspected, or would it just be sent to auction?

Yes, we would. We can't have a wholesaler or the auction guys drive a car off our lot and have a wheel fall off, now can we? (and yes, it has happened).

Unless it's an absolute POS and we know it's being towed off to the Co-Part auction, it gets a safety inspection.

[mr4t60e]

At the last dealer I worked for, that Camry would have been sold to one of the sleazier used car salesman's brothers-in-law (or some other similar distant relation) without first being inspected. Only after the sale is complete, the UCD would want it inspected, and invariably, it would need some expensive repairs.

I would like to think that after making the dealership look bad several times, that a policy would have been introduced that would prevent the above from happening, but nothing ever came of it.

Originally Posted by XDCX

Would your dealership still do an inspection if the sales department knew the vehicle was going to be wholesaled when they took it in as a trade? As an example, if your sales department took in a 2002 Camry with 240,000 miles would it still get inspected, or would it just be sent to auction?

[CarguyCO]

500 new
1000 used...

[Lakeshow]

There are certain instances where a vehicle will go directly to wholesale without a full inspection. However, it's a 120 mile drive to the auction so fluids, lug nuts, etc. are usually checked if the vehicle is not transported.

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by tnpartsguy

Yes, we would. We can't have a wholesaler or the auction guys drive a car off our lot and have a wheel fall off, now can we? (and yes, it has happened).

I can understand why your store would have that policy in place.

Originally Posted by tnpartsguy

Unless it's an absolute POS and we know it's being towed off to the Co-Part auction, it gets a safety inspection.

Glad to hear your store's using Copart - I'm still working on a plan to fund the forum's expansion by sending more business to their auctions.

Concerning the POS comment, I had to laugh, that's the association most dealers seem to have with Copart. Copart has some big plans and they definitely want to increase the business they do with franchise dealers but they'll have to address this image so dealers know Copart can sell any of their wholesale units, not just the clunkers.

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by mr4t60e

At the last dealer I worked for, that Camry would have been sold to one of the sleazier used car salesman's brothers-in-law (or some other similar distant relation) without first being inspected. Only after the sale is complete, the UCD would want it inspected, and invariably, it would need some expensive repairs.

I would like to think that after making the dealership look bad several times, that a policy would have been introduced that would prevent the above from happening, but nothing ever came of it.

I remember working with a dealer who was convinced that 50% of the Used Car Managers he ever employed stole from his company in some form or fashion. There's no question that there are some shady operators out there.

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by CarguyCO

500 new
1000 used...

Wow, those are some big numbers.

I know your store sells some big volume so it's obviously working.

[CarguyCO]

"removed by carguyco"

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by CarguyCO

"removed by carguyco"

Does this mean you'd like your post to disappear?

If so, just let me know and I'll remove your post.

[CarguyCO]

nope...I already edited my post...
Thank you so much though...
some things should be left in a persons head...

[XDCX]

Originally Posted by CarguyCO

nope...I already edited my post...
Thank you so much though...
some things should be left in a persons head...

Great - I just wanted to make sure.

In some ways my initial reaction to a high pack is it must limit the motivation of the sales staff and impact sales. That said, I've known some high volume stores that had high packs.

I guess it boils down to what the dealer does with the pack money. If the money is spent on advertising, promotions, spiffs for the sales staff, etc. it can be a "win-win" for the dealer and the sales staff. By contrast, if all of the pack money goes right to the bottom line I'd bet most new car deals end up being "mini" deals and there would be a lot of turnover with the sales staff.