CAR BUSINESS LANGUAGE AND LINGO-EPILOGUE

“Using All The Terms In One Short Story” I was going into work one day and my thoughts were focused on selling a car. I had a couple of bad days where it seemed like everything went wrong. The “Up” I had turned out to be a “Bogue” that was also “Upside Down” in his trade…No deal. The next “Up” I got wasn’t much better off…He was “Hooked” so bad he didn’t have a chance of doing anything. Then I had a “Be Back” that wasn’t much better off than the first two “Fresh Ups” I had earlier…He was “Clobbered” and reminded me of the guy I had last week that was “Buried.” I figured the next “Up” would either be “Hammered” or I’d put a deal together and it would be a “Roll Back.” Yeah, my attitude wasn’t the best so I needed to find a way to get pumped up about selling something. I needed a “Lay Down” bad. Someone that by the time I got done with them, they’d be completely “Laid Away” and it would be a “Spot� [Read More]

published June 21, 2011 at 3:41pm CDT

CAR BUSINESS LANGUAGE AND LINGO-PART I

Now the car business is very unique when it comes to having its own language. I remember when I first got in the retail side of the business back in the mid 80′s, and I thought everyone was speaking a different language in the car dealership I was working in. Being that I was a young strapping 28 year old, and very wet behind the ears. I was about as green as they get at that time in my life.  When I started hearing terms like “Up’s” and “Be Backs” I thought I needed to go back to school and lean this specialized language everyone was speaking at the store. I had no idea I was getting into a new business and that I’d need to learn a whole new vocabulary. But it wasn’t long when I started to pick up on the specialized language that car salespeople speak at a car dealership. I’m sure some of these terms are used in other businesses, but for the most part the following are unique to the car business. Below is most and#40;I’m sure I’m forgetting some s [Read More]

published May 18, 2011 at 2:49pm CDT

FTC PROVIDES “TIPS ON MAKING MOST OF YOUR AUTO WARRANTY”

Brought to you by Car Care Council The FTC offers these tips to help consumers make smart decisions and get the most out of their auto warranties: Read the warranty that came with the car, or check the “owners” section of the manufacturer’s Web site. Be aware of when the warranty period ends, and get any problems that arise checked out beforehand. Service the car at regular intervals, following the manufacturer’s recommended service schedule. Keep all service records and receipts, regardless of who performs the service. This includes oil changes, tire rotations, belt replacement, new brake pads and inspections. These receipts can be used to prove that the vehicle was properly maintained. Complain if you believe your warranty claim has been denied unfairly. Speak to a supervisor at the dealership, and then go to the manufacturer or another dealer. Consider filing a complaint with the state Attorney General, local consumer protection office, local Better Business [Read More]

published April 17, 2011 at 6:32pm CDT

INFOGRAPHIC: HOW THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IS EMBRACING SOCIAL MEDIA

At AskPatty, we keep a keen eye on social media as it relates to the auto industry, and it looks like we're not the only ones. Social media is an interesting venue - success here is not gained by spending money on ads - the big gains here come from out-thinking, not outspending.  So how are the big automakers doing in this new arena? This infographic courtesy of CarInsurance.org breaks it down for you.  It's pretty large, so allow it some time to load.  Hit the jump to be enlightened! Infographic created by Muhammad Saleem of Car Insurance Guide. You can follow him on Twitter @msaleem. http://carinsurance.s3.amazonaws.com/Automotive Social Media.png [Read More]

published March 30, 2011 at 12:25am CDT

MERCEDES-BENZ STAYS CONNECTED TO FASHION ELITE AS TITLE SPONSOR OF FASHION WEEK

Look closely--that's not your typical police car! Last May, Mercedes-Benz announced that it had renewed its Fashion Week sponsorship for another three years. In 2007, the German luxury automaker became the title sponsor of IMG's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim in Miami. Mercedes-Benz is now also the title sponsor of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin. The New York Fashion Week Fall Collections will be shown from February 10-17, 2011 at Lincoln Center.   Over eight days, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, produced by IMG Fashion, will play host to more than 100,000 guests who will flock to see the Fall Collection of more than 80 prominent designers including Diane von Furstenberg, Carolina Herrera, Vera Wang, Michael Kors, Derek Lam, Tommy Hillfiger, Prabal Gurung, Nicole Miller, Charlotte Ronson, Tory Burch, and Betsey Johnson. As part of its sponsorship, Mercedes-Benz will also make the U.S. debut of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLK during Fashion Week. [Read More]

published February 16, 2011 at 1:16pm CST

TOYOTA'S JIM LENTZ AT NADA AND THE IMPORTANCE OF WOMEN

Last weekend at the NADA conference in San Francisco, Jim Lentz, President and COO of Toyota Motor Sales USA delivered a keynote speech on the state of the industry.  In it he said that 2011 marks a new beginning for the industry, giving dealers a call to action to rise above the oft-mentioned economic downturn of a few years past, saying to strive for gradual improvements this year and next; he spoke of the importance of 'Generation Y' as a target audience, the benefits of reaching the hispanic community, and, of course, the importance of the woman comsumer in the auto industry.  Here's that particular segment, where he calls for auto dealers to take the radical stance of actually listening to women, and quotes someone familiar to the AskPatty.com readership - AskPatty's own Jody DeVere.  Head past the jump that segment of his address. In addition to attracting younger consumers, we need to do a better job working with two other rising consumer groups…women and Hispanics.Let� [Read More]

published February 8, 2011 at 10:51am CST

ASK PATTY ABOUT ENTREPRENEURIAL INSANITY

AskPatty.com CEO Jody DeVere appears in a new book, along with several friends and partners in the industry.  It's called Entrepreneurial Insanity in the Tire Industry, and if you're in the tire industry that title may feel familiar to you. The book asks tire businesses owners to look at whether they are behaving like a "small business" or an entrepreneur.  Author Roger McManus, with input from some significant players in the tire business, defines the question and lays out a road map of Entrepreneurial Insanity - a guidebook for the small business owner to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit and truly shine. As you'd expect, this isn't a book about money - it's a book about attitude, and we're proud to be part of it. Contributors include Roy Littlefield, Executive VP of TIA, Pam Gatto, president of Gatto's Tire and Auto Service and#40;Melbourne, FLand#41;, Jody DeVere of AskPatty.com, Larry Morgan currently with Morgan Auto Group and#40;Tampa, FLand#41;, Charlie Creighton of Colony Tire [Read More]

published February 2, 2011 at 4:42pm CST

MADONNA TO OPEN CHAIN OF HEALTH AND FITNESS CLUBS

Do you want your arms as contoured and fit as Madonna’s? It will soon be possible. Yesterday, the pop icon announced she is  set to launch an international health club chain called “Hard Candy”. The  music star is famed for her toned figure and love of working out, so this venture seems to suit her well as she diversifies beyond the realm of popular music. Health and fitness is obviously of great importance to her, and she’s in incredible shape, considering she’s  52-years old. The Material Girl has teamed up with Mark Mastrov, chairman of New Evolution Ventures and#40;NEVand#41; and the founder of 24 Hour Fitness and manager Guy Oseary  to open the high-end fitness center. “Our goal is to create an environment inspired by Madonna’s vision and high standards of what the ideal gym would be,” said Mastrov. “Hard Candy Fitness will be a reflection of Madonna’s point of view and will reflect her input on every detail including music space, light and other design [Read More]

published October 26, 2010 at 2:42pm CDT

OLYMPIC PRICING: EQUALITY? ECONOMICS? GENDER?

What equality is remains contextual and questionable. I don't know much about economics. And gender continues to present so many interesting issues with which to contend.Hence all the questions in the title of this post.But what I really want to talk about and#40;though I am actually still a little hesitant about talking about itand#41; is the recent news that the organizers of the 2012 London Olympics have priced the tickets for men's and women's events differently. In many cases, tickets for men's events are more expensive--sometimes significantly so.The IOC and#40;though it does not set the ticket prices--the organizers doand#41; is taking most of the flak for this decision. Critics contend that the pricing undervalues women's sports and sends a message that women's sports are just not as good as men's sports.I agree that that message is being sent and that it is not good. But I do not see the pricing differential as entirely bad.First, the difference reinforces prevailing beliefs about the [Read More]

published October 22, 2010 at 12:46am CDT

LADY GAGA, OPRAH AND DANICA PATRICK TOP 100 MOST POWER WOMEN - FORBES

Forbes just launched its very diverse and mixed bag, Power Women Issue, which is lead by first Lady Michelle Obama. Forbes divided the power women candidates into four groups: politics, business, media and lifestyle and#40;that is, entertainment, sports and fashionand#41;. Then ranked the women in each group, and then group against group. Quote:"Not easy, but that's today's reality: an incongruous, diverse mash-up of hard power and#40;currencies and constitutionsand#41; and dynamic power and#40;audience and audacityand#41;." Here are a few that caught my attention and admiration: Ranked #93 is 28 year old Danica Patrick women race car driver! Profile: In 2010 Danica Patrick took a calculated risk: to split her time racing between the IndyCar racing that she's competed in since 2005 and NASCAR's second-tier Nationwide Series stock car circuit. And as the season draws to a close, despite middling performances on both circuits, she sees her decision as a good one and is up for a repeat next [Read More]

published October 8, 2010 at 12:46pm CDT