pulled from a blog by my coworker, Brandon Weaver

The winter holidays are fast approaching. For auto dealers this means three things: chilly weather, holiday sales and finally being able to take that much needed, much deserved vacation. Pump the brakes on that idea this year.

1.  Consumer Demand & Hiring Are Up

Historically, holiday shutdowns let U.S. auto makers cut back on their inventories and encourage worker vacations. Not so much nowadays, as the AP reports "factories are operating at about 95 percent of capacity, and many are already running three shifts." Working longer hours is one of the common things we hear from the auto industry. Adding floor space and some much needed equipment to accommodate industry demand is a likely solution.

Auto sales continue to increase, as evidenced by Detroit's Big Three living up to their names, posting their best monthly sales in five years. Plus, you have the traditional Veterans' Day and Thanksgiving sales to move cars off the lot. Adding extra people can help lighten your load. All of this being said, with demand picking up just in time for cars under the Christmas trees, a vacation is probably not in the cards.

2.  Financing is Easier for Consumers Today

"No industry has benefited more from the unfreezing of credit markets than new and used vehicles," says Businessweek. What does this mean? An even bigger incentive for consumers to buy or lease. Case in point: Experian Automotive says auto leasing reached record highs since they began collecting data.

With more consumers spending on autos this year, they're still not going to be carrying wads of cash or putting a down payment on a vehicle using plastic. A program such as C.A.R.S. allows you to guarantee and process check payments faster than depositing them at the bank. In a way, using this is like a mini vacation because it eliminates the time and hassle of going to the bank.

3.  Airline Prices Keep Going Up

Sure, you can travel locally but if you're going anywhere of real distance, chances are it's going to require a plane ride. Plus, we're not only referring to ticket costs. Checked baggage, in-flight services and other fees apply. Recent airline mergers are not helping either because that only means fewer routes and seats. Add in family members and the costs grow exponentially.

With auto sales numbers rebounding to pre-recession levels and the travel industry not really incentivizing you to leave, is a vacation really worth it this winter? If so, we suggest you take it sooner rather than later. Or, make it a shorter vacation you can drive to and from. In the end though, postponing that trip of yours looks like the smarter decision. What else is a smart decision? Downloading a free eBook on scripts that combat those nasty car sales person stereotypes. Get 9 practiceable ways to beat a bad rep!  http://bit.ly/1gK8Ywg

pulled from a blog by my coworker, Brandon Weaver

The winter holidays are fast approaching. For auto dealers this means three things: chilly weather, holiday sales and finally being able to take that much needed, much deserved vacation. Pump the brakes on that idea this year.

1.  Consumer Demand & Hiring Are Up

Historically, holiday shutdowns let U.S. auto makers cut back on their inventories and encourage worker vacations. Not so much nowadays, as the AP reports "factories are operating at about 95 percent of capacity, and many are already running three shifts." Working longer hours is one of the common things we hear from the auto industry. Adding floor space and some much needed equipment to accommodate industry demand is a likely solution.

Auto sales continue to increase, as evidenced by Detroit's Big Three living up to their names, posting their best monthly sales in five years. Plus, you have the traditional Veterans' Day and Thanksgiving sales to move cars off the lot. Adding extra people can help lighten your load. All of this being said, with demand picking up just in time for cars under the Christmas trees, a vacation is probably not in the cards.

2.  Financing is Easier for Consumers Today

"No industry has benefited more from the unfreezing of credit markets than new and used vehicles," says Businessweek. What does this mean? An even bigger incentive for consumers to buy or lease. Case in point: Experian Automotive says auto leasing reached record highs since they began collecting data.

With more consumers spending on autos this year, they're still not going to be carrying wads of cash or putting a down payment on a vehicle using plastic. A program such as C.A.R.S. allows you to guarantee and process check payments faster than depositing them at the bank. In a way, using this is like a mini vacation because it eliminates the time and hassle of going to the bank.

3.  Airline Prices Keep Going Up

Sure, you can travel locally but if you're going anywhere of real distance, chances are it's going to require a plane ride. Plus, we're not only referring to ticket costs. Checked baggage, in-flight services and other fees apply. Recent airline mergers are not helping either because that only means fewer routes and seats. Add in family members and the costs grow exponentially.

With auto sales numbers rebounding to pre-recession levels and the travel industry not really incentivizing you to leave, is a vacation really worth it this winter? If so, we suggest you take it sooner rather than later. Or, make it a shorter vacation you can drive to and from. In the end though, postponing that trip of yours looks like the smarter decision. What else is a smart decision? Downloading a free eBook on scripts that combat those nasty car sales person stereotypes. Get 9 practiceable ways to beat a bad rep!  http://bit.ly/1gK8Ywg

What’s the ratio of customers who arrive on your lot open to buying used vehicles versus the only-new buyers? Probably a fraction of the amount that come looking to buy new. Of course, your profit margin is usually way higher on new vehicles, but there are many more reasons to turn folks down your Used Car Lane. We’ll get to those nuggets of inspiration, but first, here’s a list of other things that you just can’t beat buying used.

Records

When singer Beck mumbles, “Where it’s at?,” the response isn’t “I’ve got two MP3 players and a microphone.” It’s “two turntables,” and Beck and every EDM DJ in the world won’t stop spinning records just because they’re almost entirely gone from the scene. Digital downloads may have killed the record star, but you can still find these bastions of vinyl. Check around college campuses (if you’re near Santa Rosa Junior College in Sonoma County, California, The Last Record Store should be a stop on your tour), urban-hipster areas, and more. What can you do there you can’t do on iTunes? How about flip through actual sleeves with gorgeous cover artwork, make stacks in your arms, and discover works from people long gone from the scene?

Clothes

Ahhh, everything old is new again. We’ve already seen things like flared pants, neon, and fringe vests come and go for a second tour. While you can probably purchase a brand new, mass-produced-in-a-sweatshop version from any store in the mall, if you want something authentic, you’ve got to go used. Or as some stores say, vintage. It can revamp your entire look – or look for a day. The best thing is, used clothes run the gamut of all budgets. In charity shops like the Salvation Army, you can fill a paper sack with new looks for an entire week and spend about a dollar.

Houses

Quick, close your eyes and picture the term “Fixer Upper.” Did your heart just start to race at the fact that you’ve now got a reason for multiple trips to Home Depot, new tools, and getting your hands dirty? Or did you have a panic attack along the lines of the movie “The Money Pit” with Tom Hanks and Shelley Long? Used homes are not always money pits. In many cases, their owners are so desperate to sell that they’ve invested an immense amount of money to increase the home’s value, including fresh paint, updated appliances, new windows, and professionally cleaned carpets. And you’re much more likely to be able to bargain on a used home.

Collectibles

Peanut the Elephant is a Beanie Baby, and at one time, caused so much panic and disorder that people were breaking into malls to get the fist-sized blue beanbag. Oh, and paying around $5,000 for it too. So $5,000 for a small stuffed animal isn’t so great, but the thrill of the hunt is pretty nice. Becoming a bounty hunter for something you collect, whether it is baseball cards, original verified chunks from the Berlin Wall, or Hello Kitty paraphernalia, makes the chase fun. After all, there’s always the thrill of finding something that you know is a diamond in the rough, but the seller thinks is just an old clam.

Cars

Which leads us to cars. Even if you don’t want to memorize statistics, there are some good things to know. The Bankrate website notes that a new car can depreciate up to 30% in the very first year it’s driven off the lot. You can also let your customers know that they’ll almost definitely pay less in insurance on a used car, since insurance is valuated at the worth of the car, as is the registration cost. When you factor in all of the hefty research and stats available on used vehicles through options such as Carfax reports, customers should have lots of peace of mind.

Whether the majority of your sales come from new or used vehicles, present your customers with the opportunity to pay with multiple checks, and save yourself the time to guarantee and process them with our C.A.R.S. remote deposit capture program. Download this NEW (we promise, this time it's worth it) guide for all the details: http://bit.ly/1edQShh

What’s the ratio of customers who arrive on your lot open to buying used vehicles versus the only-new buyers? Probably a fraction of the amount that come looking to buy new. Of course, your profit margin is usually way higher on new vehicles, but there are many more reasons to turn folks down your Used Car Lane. We’ll get to those nuggets of inspiration, but first, here’s a list of other things that you just can’t beat buying used.

Records

When singer Beck mumbles, “Where it’s at?,” the response isn’t “I’ve got two MP3 players and a microphone.” It’s “two turntables,” and Beck and every EDM DJ in the world won’t stop spinning records just because they’re almost entirely gone from the scene. Digital downloads may have killed the record star, but you can still find these bastions of vinyl. Check around college campuses (if you’re near Santa Rosa Junior College in Sonoma County, California, The Last Record Store should be a stop on your tour), urban-hipster areas, and more. What can you do there you can’t do on iTunes? How about flip through actual sleeves with gorgeous cover artwork, make stacks in your arms, and discover works from people long gone from the scene?

Clothes

Ahhh, everything old is new again. We’ve already seen things like flared pants, neon, and fringe vests come and go for a second tour. While you can probably purchase a brand new, mass-produced-in-a-sweatshop version from any store in the mall, if you want something authentic, you’ve got to go used. Or as some stores say, vintage. It can revamp your entire look – or look for a day. The best thing is, used clothes run the gamut of all budgets. In charity shops like the Salvation Army, you can fill a paper sack with new looks for an entire week and spend about a dollar.

Houses

Quick, close your eyes and picture the term “Fixer Upper.” Did your heart just start to race at the fact that you’ve now got a reason for multiple trips to Home Depot, new tools, and getting your hands dirty? Or did you have a panic attack along the lines of the movie “The Money Pit” with Tom Hanks and Shelley Long? Used homes are not always money pits. In many cases, their owners are so desperate to sell that they’ve invested an immense amount of money to increase the home’s value, including fresh paint, updated appliances, new windows, and professionally cleaned carpets. And you’re much more likely to be able to bargain on a used home.

Collectibles

Peanut the Elephant is a Beanie Baby, and at one time, caused so much panic and disorder that people were breaking into malls to get the fist-sized blue beanbag. Oh, and paying around $5,000 for it too. So $5,000 for a small stuffed animal isn’t so great, but the thrill of the hunt is pretty nice. Becoming a bounty hunter for something you collect, whether it is baseball cards, original verified chunks from the Berlin Wall, or Hello Kitty paraphernalia, makes the chase fun. After all, there’s always the thrill of finding something that you know is a diamond in the rough, but the seller thinks is just an old clam.

Cars

Which leads us to cars. Even if you don’t want to memorize statistics, there are some good things to know. The Bankrate website notes that a new car can depreciate up to 30% in the very first year it’s driven off the lot. You can also let your customers know that they’ll almost definitely pay less in insurance on a used car, since insurance is valuated at the worth of the car, as is the registration cost. When you factor in all of the hefty research and stats available on used vehicles through options such as Carfax reports, customers should have lots of peace of mind.

Whether the majority of your sales come from new or used vehicles, present your customers with the opportunity to pay with multiple checks, and save yourself the time to guarantee and process them with our C.A.R.S. remote deposit capture program. Download this NEW (we promise, this time it's worth it) guide for all the details: http://bit.ly/1edQShh