Page 50 - GIADA-Dec 2017-Final

RECALLS

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at times, the odds of three departments “We have five million people who use this
making that same mistake are very slim in a app,” Basso said. “Learning about a car’s
well-run dealership. condition from a dealer is much better for
that dealer than if the customer learns about
Even if your dealership is small and there it from a service provider like Carfax.”
aren’t a lot of people dedicated to paperwork,
Osburn said, it’s worth making the effort. Sandra Moss, a partner with Moss Motor
Co. in Dillwyn, Va., said the sooner dealers
When vehicles go through auction lanes, accept the fact that recalls will be a part of
it can take time to check every VIN on the their lives, the better it will be for them.
safercar.gov website. But it doesn’t have to be
a lengthy process – there are tools available “Recalls should always be addressed sooner
from a number of vendors to make checking than later,” she said.
vehicles’ recall status easy.
Moss said her state IADA in Virginia has a
“We help dealers do a couple things,” said member benefit arrangement with website
Keith Crerar, vice president of sales and provider JTZ Enterprise that includes recall
operations for TradeRev, an online dealer- notification.
to-dealer vehicle marketplace. “By scanning of before the sale,” Crerar said. “These
a VIN using our app, TradeRev checks sorts of things demand attention. “Those of us who put inventory online are
public records to determine if a vehicle has automatically informed if that inventory
been damaged in some sort of incident or is “Remember www.safercar.gov is open to comes under recall,” she said. “That allows
under open recall.” anyone. We live in an era when people us to handle the issue up front.”
walk around with smartphones that can
Buyers should have all the information they access the Internet. If customers feel they If parts aren’t available, dealers get another
about a car before they purchase it, Crerar were treated badly because they weren’t chance to interact with customers by
said. And car dealers are car buyers. informed of any recall issues, they can use contacting them and telling them when the
those smartphones to post negative reviews parts are in, Moss said.
“This is a competitive business,” Crerar said. on all sorts of sites.
“Inventories depreciate and dealers like tight She said dealers can arrange to have cars
turn cycles. Knowing a car is under open “We live in a digital repaired with franchise dealerships with
recall before purchasing it at auction or from marketplace. This is about which they have good relations.
a wholesaler gives dealers the information
they need to make an informed decision on trying to do things the right “Get it done before you put that car on the
whether or not to buy that vehicle.” way, right away.” lot,” Moss said. “Don’t be afraid of recalls.”

A good car salesperson is a prepared car Carfax public relations manager Chris Moss, who has been in business for 33
salesperson, Crerar said. Basso said dealers should remember one years, said the recall issue is an example of
important thing when handling recalls – why it’s important for dealers to join their
“Dealers shouldn’t be afraid of the possibility they are in place to keep the public safe. state and national dealers association.
of an open recall on a car they want to buy
or sell,” Crerar said. “Just check first before “Recalls protect consumers and make roads “The business has gotten a lot more
buying. And check your inventory when and driving safer,” Basso said. “This is for complicated,” she said. “I tell people
preparing a sale.” the benefit of everyone. interested in getting into the used car
business to be aware of the problems they’ll
That way, Crerar said, dealers can get a “And they can be a revenue source for face.
recall taken care of before putting a vehicle dealers. They can be a way to strengthen
on the lot. And if a vehicle is placed under bonds with customers.” “That’s why it’s important to belong to
recall while on the lot, customers can be your state association. They can help
easily informed. Carfax offers an app that allows consumers dealers have processes in place to handle
to check the recall status and history of their issues like open recalls. So many people
“While a dealer is under no obligation to cars, Basso said. Which means there’s a good don’t have a clue of what to do and state
get a car under recall fixed before selling, chance a car shopper already knows if a associations can guide them to be the best
any safety recall issue should be taken care vehicle on your lot is under an open recall. dealers they can be.” n

48 | GIADA Independent Auto Dealer DECEMBER 2017