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Social Media Policy Question from Julie Powers - Lia... What's the best way to develope a social media policy for employees without sounding like "big brother" or defeating the purpose of an "open conversation"? Julie, I find that it is best to research and...

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Do you allow all sales staff access to internet pricing?

Posted by Kim Clouse | Posted in Dealer Process | Posted on 12-10-2009

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Every dealership I have visited lately has every phone call, tracked or not, going to the switchboard. Then they are round robin to sales staff if the ISM is busy. We know that never happens; The problem is either the GM, GSM, or phone king, will not make it mandatory that they have inventory, incentives, and information open on their desktop all day. They all have computers but they refuse to use the data or the log in to pertinent data is top secret. Gotta have a 4 square right?

Managers who keep information from sales staff are practicioners of Bovine Skitology period.
We know all of our customers are online. We know they OEM’s, KBB, Edmunds and everyone else who can gives them data. that is, for the most part correct  but below is what I hear when I listen to calls. Dealix had a webinar on phone traffic a few days ago that was very good. But are all of the walk in customers immune to the data inflow we are feeding to the universe? Be ready or stay away from customers, period.

 Thank you for calling ABC motors: ” Yes new car sales please” one moment: “new car sales this is Joe Bob,
kelp ye?” (Yes seaweed) ” I am calling about the 2006 Camry you have listed on usedcars .com, gold with tan leather, is it still available?”
“Yep sure is” ” can you tell me anything about it?” “I think it has been marked down to $21699 but I can beat that a little” “Really, online it says must go $14650.00 out the door” That’s a typo” Oh, okay do you know what it should actually be?” ” Naw but I can git with the manager and call you right back, whats that number?”   click: And they tell everyone about this highly professional individual or, just shoot themselves righ there on the spot. Either way you loose the deal.

 Does anyone else see this? If you are doing this, do you need to be at Burger King saying, “Would you like some fries with that?” I can’t wait to hear this.