How to Find Your Optimal Price & Profit Sweet Spot
Quick Answer Find your optimal price and profit sweet spot by understanding your dealership’s direct, indirect, and break-even costs. Next, you must evaluate market demand, competitor pricing, and customer perceived value to position your offerings effectively. Implement proven pricing strategies, enhance value through ethical tactics, and continuously audit your approach to guarantee sustainable profitability and […]
How to Make Your Dealership Service Department EV-Ready
The EV wave is our present reality. It’s already here. So if your dealership’s service department still operates with a 2010 mindset, you’re missing out. Electric vehicles fundamentally reshape fixed operations, moving us away from high-volume, routine maintenance. This shift means fewer traditional service opportunities and a direct challenge to your established profitability model. Now […]
Why Prioritize Customer Retention Over New Leads
Every dealership strives for growth, often pouring significant resources into attracting new customers. Think about all the marketing campaigns, advertising budgets, and sales efforts dedicated to bringing unfamiliar faces onto your lot. Have you realized that? Yes, such pursuit of fresh leads is vital. But more often than not, it comes at a steep price, […]
SDR Live Academy: Complete Fixed Ops Training Guide
Walk onto almost any dealership service drive during the morning rush, and you’ll see the same story playing out. Repair orders pile up, advisors scramble to keep up with phone calls, and technicians sit in the shop waiting on missing parts or vague diagnostic notes. These small daily breakdowns quietly destroy your effective labor rate […]
What Does a Fixed Ops Director Actually Do?
Dealership profitability often hinges on a consistent, well-oiled fixed operations department. Yet, without clear leadership, service, parts, and body shop teams can operate disconnected, creating inefficiencies, missed revenue opportunities, and frustrated customers. Such a fragmented approach is a recipe for disaster, silently eroding your dealership’s financial stability and customer trust. That is why it’s important […]
How to Reduce Parts Obsolescence in Your Car Dealership
Service Drive Revolution — Episode #370Official Full Transcript Host: Chris CollinsGuests: Adam Krey and Chris HoglandPublished: August 3, 2026Duration: 45:18 Listen on Apple | Listen on Spotify In Service Drive Revolution Episode #370, Chris Collins, Adam Krey, and Hogi answer a question from a Parts Director about the differences between automotive and heavy-duty truck Parts […]
How to Ace Your Next Manufacturer Warranty Audit
A manufacturer warranty audit can often feel like a targeted attempt to claw back your hard-earned revenue. These reviews occur randomly, regardless of how well your service department performs. Pulling hundreds of VIN records manually consumes valuable labor hours and risks misplacing vital paperwork along the way. And when you fail to provide a single […]
How Can a Service Manager Fix Shop Underperformance
Empty bays and falling labor hours often signal more than just a slow week. Many dealerships face persistent underperformance that drags down morale and erodes the bottom line. Without a clear process, problems go unaddressed until they reach a breaking point, leaving everyone feeling frustrated. That lack of structure puts a heavy burden on the […]
How to Increase Effective Labor Rate Without Raising Prices
Every car dealer wants to drive more profit, but many overlook a critical leak in their service department. You might be collecting far less per service hour than your posted rate suggests. This isn’t just a minor difference as you might think. It’s actually a big gap that can directly impact your bottom line. Common […]
Can Better Dispatch Control Stop Service Department Chaos
Walk into most service departments, and you will see a board full of names that looks organized but often hides a mess. Repair orders pile up, technicians cherry-pick their own work, and advisors scramble to give customers basic updates. This lack of structure can turn your service department into a source of constant stress for […]
Service Walk-Around Process Guide for More Approvals
Staying behind the service desk often costs your dealership valuable revenue and trust. When advisors skip the physical inspection, they lose the chance to see what the customer sees. This disconnect leads to vague repair orders and guests who feel like just another number. Without that initial connection, selling additional work is now harder because […]
How to Coach Service Advisors Without Micromanaging
A service drive where the manager hovers over every write-up rarely runs smoothly. Don’t you agree? That constant oversight often backfires, causing talented advisors to feel stifled and defensive. Instead of building a skilled team, many managers accidentally create a culture of anxiety that hurts CSI scores and drains staff morale. Now, if you want […]
