Posts

Showing posts from April, 2018

Old Motorcycles: How to Restore Your Bike to its Former Glory

Image
You may be fortunate enough to still have your old bike or come across one that needs some restoration work. Knowing where to start on your project is the hardest part of any restoration. Depending on the state of the bike, it may require a complete overhaul. Here are some tips to get you started so that you can restore your bike to its former glory.   Pay Attention to the Details The details always matter in a restoration project. This may require that you completely disassemble the bike. If you decide to take this step, make sure to take pictures of where everything goes first. This will save you from not remembering where to put your parts. Remove all of the dirt and grime so that you can assess the usability of your parts.   Order the Right Parts It’s very likely that some of your parts may need to be replaced. Find a reputable dealer to purchase your parts through either online or locally. This will save you from buying cheap knockoff pieces that don’t fit in with your visi

5 Tips to Avoid Getting Scammed When Buying a Used Car

Image
Picture this: you just got back from the marketplace. When you examine the groceries, you realize that the merchant lied about the quality of the products. You are furious and decide never to shop from him again. Now, imagine the same things happen when you buy a car. Although a used suv BC can be the perfect solution for your needs and budget, it’s very easy to get tricked into buying a vehicle with all sorts of problems. That is especially true if you buy the car from a private party, and not a dealer. It is in your best interest to be diligent when evaluating the car. To help find the right car for your needs, and make sure you will not get scammed, here are five tips to keep in mind when buying a used car. 1. Check the VIN Decoder and the Seller’s Identity Ask any mechanic and they will tell you that an average vehicle has a use of about 20,000 miles per year. A car that shows a lower use should trigger an alarm signal. Car vendors have the bad habit of sabotaging the odomet

Keep These 4 Things in Mind If You’re in a Car Accident

Image
You can never be prepared for a car accident. The sudden stop and intense noise are enough to disorient anyone. If you are in a car accident, though, there are a few things you can keep in mind both immediately after the incident and as you adjust to life after the crash. Below are just four things to consider after your car accident. Injuries Aren’t Obvious Try to remember that not all injuries are obvious. You might feel fine today, only to wake up in extreme pain. If you are offered medical attention at the scene of an accident, it’s often better to be safe than to be sorry. Never try to tough it out after an accident—the stakes are simply too high. This Is a Matter for the Police While you might think of your accident as a simple fender-bender, you really do need to involve the police in the matter. Allowing the police to objectively judge what has happened as the scene can play a huge role in what comes next for you. While you might feel like you’re going overboard, having t

BLACK BOOK LAUNCHES BLACK BOOK CHERRY, AN INTELLIGENT INVENTORY RECOMMENDATION SOLUTION

Black Book, a division of Hearst that provides industry-leading used vehicle valuation and residual value forecast solutions, announced today a new inventory recommendation solution named Black Book Cherry. Available on desktop or mobile, Black Book Cherry helps personalize dealers’ inventory discovery by automatically identifying the most desirable vehicles at auction, appropriately known as “cherries”. Timely and efficient local auction research helps dealers gain a significant competitive edge by allowing them to spend less time trawling auction run lists and more time evaluating profitable vehicles. Available to all Black Book Digital mobile application subscribers, Black Book Cherry uses individual subscriber’s previous inventory preferences and behavior to filter run lists according to the dealer’s needs. It is auction agnostic and works nationally. Additional functionality allows users to “like” a vehicle, label it as a cherry, “dislike” a vehicle, or “share” a vehicle with a

We Have Video Content. Now What? (Part 2) [VIDEO]

Image
Tim James shares why simply having video content isn’t enough in the second video blog in this series. by Timmy D. James via Everyone's ADM Blog Posts - Automotive Digital Marketing

Is $7.5 Million Worth a Process Change?

Image
Most dealerships at the very least conduct some form of multi-point inspection and inform the customer about any needed repairs discovered during the inspection. But what happens if those recommendations aren’t properly documented?   Well, failing to document those recommendations can be an expensive mistake – and not just because you miss out on any future revenue as you cannot follow up on declined recommendations. There is a whole other side to the importance of documentation as relayed in  a recent Automotive News’ Fixed Ops Journal article, which  tells an interesting story about a very expensive lesson a California Ford dealer had to learn the hard way.   According to the article, the dealership purchased a Ford F-250 at auction then sold it to a customer who returned it complaining about “multiple steering problems.” The dealership then resold it and the new owner subsequently brought it into the service department with similar complaints.   The issues were never resolved

Effective Public Relations Begins with Humans

Image
The art of public relations has changed dramatically in recent years and now includes a myriad of services and possibilities. Today’s consumers are exposed to as many as 10,000 brand messages per day and, to break through this noise barrier, public relations must adjust methodologies accordingly. While this is certainly a challenge, there is a way to make things a tad easier: Think like your human audience!   An interesting article on agilitypr.com shares how companies can better target their audience and increase brand reach if they fine-tune messaging to be more appealing to that audience. One key point in this article, but something many companies neglect, is to truly know your audience.  When asked who their audience is, many companies include generic demographics such as:   Age range Income level Marital status Homeowner status etc.   The problem here is that, while those demographics may help you choose media buys and advertising placement, they do little to increase

The Stock Exchange is a market like any other, but in this one shares company shares.

Image
Many people have misconceptions about the Stock Market because there have been many myths and legends around it. Is it a club where the rich get together to make money at the expense of others? Is it a place where speculators meet to try to bet with the shares of the companies listed on it? I have heard this and much more from some clueless readers. Actually, it's nothing special. It is a market, like any other. But instead of meat, fruit or vegetables, shares of companies are bought and sold. But let's start from the beginning: why is there a stock market? Many people aspire to have a business. Think for a moment that you are one of them. In this way, you have three options: Start a business from scratch. In this case, you have to set up a company, either as sole owner or as a partner with friends or family. Many people put at least two partners, to use the figure of "joint stock company" which is quite popular, but there are many other options. The initial capi

Automotive Event: Fine Cigar Dinner for Dealership and Repair Shop Owners and Managers

Image
Richie Bello Announces Fine Cigar Dinner for Auto Dealers and Repair Shops to be held at Beach Club Estate in New York on May 9, 2018 Richie Bello and WomenAutoKnow.Reviews have announced their Cigar Buffet Dinner scheduled for May 9, 2018 from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM to be held at the luxurious Beach Club Estate located at 161 Rose Drive in Ronkonkoma, New York. This event is open to Car Dealers and Auto Repair Shop operators who RSVP before May 8, 2018 by calling (631) 578-9018. " This is a great opportunity for auto dealers to motivate their staff, just in time for this year’s upcoming selling season! Money is not the only motivator in the automotive sales business, your employees need to be motivated on a more engaging level..." -- Richie Bello RONKONKOMA, NEW YORK (PRWEB) March 15, 2018 - The evening’s event will showcase an exclusive dinner buffet, along with complimentary cigars by Village Cigar Headquarters, and a cash bar. Richie Bello, the event’s

Internet Facts and Statistics 2018 [INFOGRAPHIC]

Image
Internet Facts and Statistics The internet holds a wealth of information, has literally billions of users worldwide, but also contains some really interesting facts and statistics. For example, half of the U.K.’s population would be willing to receive their online shopping via drone. This information may seem strange, quirky even, however, it’s relevant in one form or another. Whether you’re an internet user, website owner, or run a business online, it’s important to know what’s ‘going on’ around the internet, what’s trending, and what’s not. In order to help you succeed in 2018, we’ve put together a helpful and interesting selection of internet facts and statistics for you to gawp at, and share with others! More Facts and Statistics The Internet – 2018 As of 1st January 2018, the total internet users across the world was 4,156,932,140 (that’s over 4 billion users) 2 billion of the world’s internet users are located in Asia, where their population is just over equal to the to

Sales Managers Using These 4 Phrases Hurt Themselves And Their Team

Image
4 Phrases That Hurt A Manager’s Credibility These phrases might sound harmless, but they can undermine your authority as a manager.                                                  [Photo: Vadim_Key/iStock] When you’re a manager, your employees are constantly watching to see how you behave and what you say. As a result, it’s important to be intentional about your choice of words in any setting. As the boss, there are certain things you probably shouldn’t say. You’re probably aware of the more obvious statements, like: “I’m only doing this because corporate is making me.” “I really shouldn’t be telling you this, but . . . “ “I just need to vent to you about [person] . . . “ However, in addition to these obviously-nots, there are a few other phrases that, although seemingly harmless, may end up hurting you and your team.       1. “Keep Doing What You’re Doing” Leaders often say this to their high performers–the low-maintenance team members they know they can count on to

Crash Recovery: 4 Steps to Getting Back on Your Feet after a Car Accident

Image
Life has a way of throwing unexpected crises in your path whether you’re ready for them or not. A car accident is one of these unexpected crises. It will certainly leave you with a significant amount of expenses. These expenses can arise from car repairs, medical bills, or lost wages. If you’ve experienced a car accident and are attempting to recover from it financially, here are four steps to getting back on your feet. Speak with a Legal Professional While dealing with the insurance company of the other driver involved can provide financial compensation for some of these expenses, they can’t provide for all of them. At least, not without legal recourse. The first thing you should do after a car accident is to speak with a legal professional such as automobile accident attorney to learn your options. You may even need to hire a personal injury attorney to recover any financial compensation from the opposing insurance company. Create a Budget After you begin to pay the upfront cos

Whаt аrе thе mоѕt important tips fоr rеѕtоring a vintаgе car?

Image
Vintage car rеѕtоrаtiоn iѕ a hugе оrdеаl, and a big job, but if it'ѕ dоnе right it саn аlѕо bе a lоt оf fun. Invоlvе уоur fаmilу аnd mаkе a big family fun timе оut of it, оr if уоu tаkе it tо a shop, but rеmеmbеr thаt classic саrѕ аrе mеаnt tо be оnе thing, and thаt is fun. If it's nоt fun оr enjoyable fоr уоu, thеn do уоurѕеlf a fаvоr and sell it. Shор Prераrаtiоn Thе first ѕtер during сlаѕѕiс саr rеѕtоrаtiоn iѕ tо gеt уоur ѕhор ready fоr thе rеѕtоrаtiоn. You will need a саmеrа, a рlасе fоr thе раrtѕ, and a lаbеling ѕуѕtеm. It iѕ bеѕt tо tаkе рiсturеѕ оf thе раrtѕ as you рull them оff ѕо уоu knоw whеrе thеу wеrе аt аnd whеrе thе nеw раrtѕ should bе рlасеd. When taking thе раrtѕ of thе vehicle you will nееd tо place them in an оrdеrlу fаѕhiоn ѕо you can find them аgаin if you nееd them. Cardboard bоxеѕ come in really hаndу аt thiѕ point. Labeling the parts iѕ a grеаt mеthоd оf kеерing track оf whеrе thеу gо, whаt they dо, аnd whаt thеу аrе саllеd in саѕе уоu nееd tо рurсhаѕ

How to Stay Safe When Almost 1.3 Million Die in Car Crashes Every Year

Image
It is an unfortunate fact that millions of auto accidents take place every year, and those collisions often result in a myriad of legal, financial, and medical problems. While some accidents are caused by variables that are completely out of your control, drivers can do quite a bit to stay safe while behind the wheel of a vehicle. These few tactics and strategies will help you avoid collisions and keep your passengers safe. Properly Maintain Your Vehicle Proper vehicle maintenance is absolutely vital to your safety and the safety of everyone around you. As a general rule, you should always stick to the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance schedule. Servicing your vehicle usually includes rotating the tires, topping off the fluids, and replacing old windshield wipers. You should also check your tires once every few days for any early warning signs that they might need to be replaced in the near future. Never Drive Tired Experts now agree that driving tired is just as dangerous as

Everyday American Heroes Honored with "Pay it Forward" Sweepstakes from JC Whitney

Image
The "Everything Automotive" Company Honors American Heroes Serving Country and Community with a Sweepstakes Featuring Cash, Prizes, and a Trip to Las Vegas to Pick Up a Custom 2017 Ram Truck   CARSON, Calif., April 26, 2018 -- U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc. (NASDAQ: PRTS), one of the largest online providers of aftermarket automotive parts and accessories, today announced that  JC Whitney , U.S. Auto Parts' subsidiary that has offered DIY-minded enthusiasts "Everything Automotive" for over 100 years, is accepting entries for a new and very special sweepstakes to honor the many everyday American heroes who keep America safe and free. The "Pay it Forward" Sweepstakes is open to those who are either active duty or a veteran of any U.S. military branch; a current or retired federal, state, or local law enforcement agent; a firefighter, or an emergency responder from the public sector. The grand prize is a fully customized 2017 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4X4.

How to revamp the interior of your vehicle

Whether your car is brand new or you have had it for several years, you may feel that you want to either spruce up the interior or give it a more personal or luxurious feel. There are lots of things that you can revamp in the interior of your vehicle, from the upholstery to the steering wheel and the floor to the roof. Change your interior To simply add some finishing touches, you can buy items such as new mats to hide existing damage or simply protect the manufacturer's flooring. Gear knob and steering wheel covers are now available in a multitude of styles, colours and material, while car seat covers come in a variety of styles that will help to prolong the life of the existing seat while adding some personality. Door cards can be replaced with a woodgrain effect for a more luxurious feel or a metal finish for a cutting-edge, modern style; alternatively, you can refurbish the existing panels with treatments that will bring scuffed and faded plastics back to life. Vinyl wraps c

1960s/1970s Japanese Collectibles See Increased Interest as of Late

Black Book has some new insight showing increased collector interest in Japanese cars from the 1960s/1970s.  Many of the below cars and trucks were in the “first wave” of Japanese vehicles, and were radically different from the typical large American cars of the time. "Over the last few years, collectors have shown increased interest in the first generation Japanese imports, such as Honda Civics.  For years these cars were overlooked, but have recently become sought after, especially since movies like the 'The Fast and the Furious' franchise have exposed cars like this, although generally newer models, to a wider audience," said Eric Lawrence, Director of Specialty Products at Black Book. Here are a handful of Japanese Collectibles* that have appreciated in value in recent months: Honda 1964-70 S600/S800 Coupe $30,000, Roadster $35,000 Honda 1973-78 Civic $15,000 Honda 1976-78 Accord $5,500 Mazda 1979-85 RX-7 $12,500 Datsun/Nissan 1967-70 2000 Convertible $20,

Cherried Out: How to Restore a Classic Mustang Piece by Piece

Image
Classic Mustangs can be worth a lot. They can often be difficult to find, too. If you’re the proud owner of this kind of rare gem, restoration may be one of your aims. Restoring one of these beauties is a process that requires a significant time commitment. It’s a process that requires a lot of love as well. Assess Your Choices in Classic Vehicle Restoration Professionals Classic car restoration is a job that calls for an undeniable professional touch. If you want to restore every single part of your Mustang, you need to look for the ideal restoration professional. Don’t do so rashly, either. Request to see examples of earlier completed projects. Restoration centers typically provide potential customers with images that showcase their abilities. Don’t settle for pictures alone, though. Take the time to actually look at the restored vehicles with your own eyes. Prioritize Restoration Companies that Have Mustang Experience Capable restoration professionals should have comprehensive e

The Magic Formula for Success

Image
Did you know that the self-improvement industry in the U.S. is a $10 billion market? That means there are a lot of people out there who are not achieving their goals. Of course, there are also dozens, if not hundreds of self-help gurus taking advantage of this situation and dishing out advice on how to be successful.   If only success were as simple as drinking a bottle of magic formula.   The reality is, whether you’re selling cars or performing oil changes, only you are in control of how successful you will be. Ultimately, it’s up to you to create your own formula for success. Expect it to take time and allow plenty of room for trial and error.   When I started selling cars many years ago, I learned about the three P’s: preparation, practice and persistence. In retrospect, this formula has served me very well throughout my career, so I thought I would share it with you.   Preparation   Success requires mastery. Mastery requires knowledge. To gain knowledge requires researc

BLACK BOOK TEAMS WITH MOBILITY SALES SOLUTIONS ON VIN-UP FOR SERVICE CUSTOMER

VEHICLE BUYBACK PROGRAM Black Book, a division of Hearst that provides industry-leading used vehicle valuation and residual value forecast solutions, announced today it has partnered with Mobility Sales Solutions and its new Vin-Up™ solution for automotive dealers and their service customers. Under the agreement, automotive dealers are immediately alerted to each vehicle’s latest Black Book value when vehicles come in for service, enabling better resale opportunities with their service customers. Service valets at automotive dealerships are equipped with Vin-UP™ portable scanners and printers, handing the vehicle owner a Vin-UP ticket as they exit their vehicle. The ticket displays the latest Black Book value of their vehicle, and dealers have the option of offering incentives to that customer to take a few minutes to discuss the sale of that car. “This program puts the customer first,” says Bruno Lucarelli, President of U.S. Vin-UP Distributor Mobility Sales Solutions. “We encourag

Tips To Choose The Right Courier services In Australia

Australia is a large country and a growing market too. If you’re looking for a reliable courier service provider for you, then you should consider a few things. If you are the owner of an e-commerce website, then you must be aware of the importance of good courier services . Without the help of a good quality reliable courier service provider, you will not be able to maintain your market reputation. There are multiple courier service providers available in the market and they offer on time postage to Australia . Choosing the right courier services can be tricky and it is easy to get confused in the huge market. There are thousands of courier service providers present in Australia and all of them claim to be the best. Before choosing the courier service for your business, you should keep certain things in your mind. Start Your Search from the Right place : If you are looking for a courier service provider to send a gift to your loved ones, then you may ask your family members and frie

3 Elements of a Successful Dealership Applicant Sourcing Strategy

Dealers have many options to fill job openings, but continuously face challenges finding quality candidates for in-demand roles such as service technicians and sales managers. And with fewer than 1% of job seekers considering a dealership for their next career move, it’s critical to have the right strategy in place to attract strong applicants – […] The post 3 Elements of a Successful Dealership Applicant Sourcing Strategy appeared first on DealerRefresh . by Scott Brinkman via DealerRefresh