Dealer Insights
Showing 193–208 of 347 results
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Dealer Digest – Lenders should attempt to fix credit report errors
January / February 2014
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 418
Abstract: In this issue, “Dealer Digest” takes a look at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s efforts to crack down on lenders and debt collectors that fail to investigate consumers’ complaints about credit report errors. It also discusses a challenge by automakers to franchise-protection laws in Florida and Connecticut, and notes a forecast that’s optimistic about growth in new car sales in 2014.
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How to guard against deceptive advertising charges
January / February 2014
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 527
Abstract: When it comes to advertising, dealerships must be vigilant to ensure that their ads don’t mislead customers. One area to pay especially close attention to is deceptively advertising a vehicle’s cost by failing to disclose all qualifications and restrictions that apply to an advertised discount. This article describes how some dealers have found themselves in hot water with the Federal Trade Commission over this issue, and what dealers can do to make sure they’re in compliance.
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Separate real estate entities – Two can be better than one
January / February 2014
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 652
Abstract: A dealership that owns its buildings and land might find it prudent to separate the legal title of the business from the real estate. It can do this by transferring the title to the real estate into a newly created legal entity such as a corporation, limited liability company (LLC) or trust. It then simply rents the space from the new legal entity in a landlord-tenant relationship. This article describes the significant legal, financial and personal advantages this strategy can offer dealers.
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Is cloud computing right for your dealership?
January / February 2014
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 856
Abstract: Since the advent of large mainframe computers, business computing has been associated with physical machines on the business’s premises. But that’s beginning to change with the rising popularity of “cloud computing,” which refers to the use of on-demand computing and data storage resources located on remote servers via the Internet. It can include hardware (such as servers), software, data center storage space, applications and networking components. This article discusses the benefits of cloud computing and how a business can engage it successfully. A sidebar describes three main cloud computing models to choose from.
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Dealer Digest – Boomers regain top spot as new car buyers
November / December 2013
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 431
Abstract: This issue’s “Dealer Digest” cites a study indicating that the oldest baby boomers have replaced younger consumers as the U.S. demographic group most likely to buy a new vehicle. It also looks at the Financial Reporting Framework for Small- and Medium-Sized Entities — a new financial reporting option that could ease the process for privately held, owner-managed dealerships not required to follow Generally Accepting Accounting Principles.
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4 tips for thwarting identity theft
November / December 2013
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 611
Abstract: Frightening stories of identity theft take place at auto dealerships and other retail enterprises every year. This article offers four tips to help prevent this from happening. They involve checking job applicants’ backgrounds, encrypting data on the dealer website, limiting access to customer data, and regularly purging customer information.
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Take another look at leasing – Understanding your customers’ mindset is key
November / December 2013
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 641
Abstract: It seems like only yesterday when leasing was at the bottom of a dealership’s radar screen. But signs now point to a resurgence, so it’s time for dealers to revisit, or revive, their leasing operations if they haven’t already done so. Still, recent research indicates that leasing is more expensive than buying, so this article emphasizes that dealers will need to understand their customers’ motivations in getting a new car, and so be better able to advise them whether it’s better to buy or lease.
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Getting more out of forecasting
November / December 2013
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 811
Abstract: Eighty percent of businesses contacted in a recent survey say they’re reaching less than one-half of their potential productivity in their budgeting and forecasting efforts. This article suggests ways to help dealers improve in this area. It discusses data sources, adjusting the forecast, and analyzing various scenarios that could affect the dealership. A sidebar discusses who should be on the forecasting team.
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Dealer Digest – COSO issues new guidelines for strong internal controls
September / October 2013
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 427
Abstract: This issue’s “Dealer Digest” takes a look at new guidance finalized by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) regarding internal controls; legislative activity aimed at getting green car owners to pay annual taxes on their vehicles to support public highway maintenance; and one employee’s identity theft scam that should provide a warning to dealers everywhere.
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4 tips for turning around factory mistakes
September / October 2013
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 403
Abstract: When customers buy a new vehicle and discover a defect, it doesn’t matter if the flaw is the result of a mistake made at the factory — it’s the dealer that the customer will go to for a satisfactory solution. This is a pivotal point in the customer relationship, and might be the difference between saving — or even strengthening — the relationship and losing the customer for life. This article offers four tips for turning a bad situation into one that strengthens the customer-dealer relationship.
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Be an early bird – Prepare for your 2013 financial statements and tax strategies
September / October 2013
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 870
Abstract: For dealerships on a calendar year, it’s only a few months until year end financial statement and income tax planning will be here. Given the breadth of these documents and the complexity of changing tax laws, it’s not too soon for dealers to start collecting the information they’ll need and conferring with their CPA about strategies. The article discusses depreciation and deductions, fixed assets, inventory methods, adjusting journal entries, and owner transactions.
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Estate planning – In trusts, we often trust
September / October 2013
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 840
Abstract: Dealership owners set up trusts to protect their assets from a variety of threats, transfer their wealth to their heirs and reduce tax liability. Different kinds of trusts serve different purposes. But they all break down into two basic types: revocable, which can be revised, and irrevocable, which generally can’t be revised. This article describes the purposes of each, listing particular types. It also examines how certain trusts can benefit charities, while a sidebar discusses how a spendthrift clause in a trust can protect heirs from wasteful spending.
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Dealer Digest – Tax break still in play for improvements
July / August 2013
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 430
Abstract: This issue’s “Dealer Digest” looks at a tax break that extends accelerated depreciation for qualified leasehold retail-improvement property. It cites a forecast regarding dealership and sales growth in the years ahead, and discusses the effect on dealerships of recent changes to ordinary-income tax rates for individuals.
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Employee fraud – How to prevent the “inside job”
July / August 2013
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 705
Abstract: Alarming accounts of employee fraud at auto dealerships are, unfortunately, not unusual. This article discusses ways to prevent fraud. It discusses avoiding having one person being in charge of multiple financial duties; limiting access to the inventory system; and other safeguards.
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The ins and outs of earnouts – They can seal the deal, but be sure to think it through
July / August 2013
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 850
Abstract: It can be frustrating when a seller and potential buyer of a dealership can’t agree on price — but an earnout provision in a purchase agreement can help seal the deal. In an earnout agreement, the seller typically accepts at closing a payment lower than the asking price and maintains an interest in the business. The expectation is that the business will do well enough to compensate the seller with future payments — but this article also explains how to manage the risk that it won’t. A sidebar addresses the appropriate length of a term covered by an earnout provision.
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6 tips for conjuring service customer loyalty
July / August 2013
Newsletter: Dealer Insights
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 437
Abstract: Although it might take more know-how and creativity to instill customer loyalty nowadays than it did in days gone by, this golden commodity is still obtainable. This article offers six ways to conjure up loyalty among service department patrons. They include appointing someone to track and improve customer loyalty, enhancing the dealership’s waiting area, and following up on customer feedback.