I’m David Steinberg, founder/CEO of Foureyes. Disclosure up front: we just released the Connect MCP, which lets you work with your store’s unified data (CRM, DMS, website, inventory, phones) right in the Foureyes platform or from the AI tool you already use.

Nobody’s day at a dealership gets wrecked by one big problem. It gets bled out by a thousand papercuts: logging into four systems to answer one question, a spreadsheet someone rebuilds every Monday, a lead that went cold because nobody saw the customer was back on the site, a call that never made it into the CRM, a list you can’t pull because the data lives with a vendor.

Every one of those is small. None of them was ever big enough for a software company to fix for your store, so you worked around them, every day, for years.

I think that just changed. We tooled up the MCP with builder capabilities, so the AI doesn’t just answer questions. It builds and deploys working apps on your unified data: it can save audiences, contact only the people you’re allowed to contact, and write the follow-up back to your CRM.

So here’s the deal: reply with your papercut. What slows you down? What do you rebuild every week? What question takes three systems and twenty minutes to answer? I’ll pick a few, build a sample app for each on demo data, and post the working result and how long it took.

And if you’d rather just ask me anything about dealer data, AI, vendor lock-in, or consent, go for it.

I'll pick an idea or two and build a live app in 15 minutes to demo it on Friday.

Vendor disclosure up front: I work at ASN Software — we build the dealer/finance management platform a lot of independent and franchise stores run on.

Two things we've been working on that I'd love this group's take on:

1. An AI collector that actually converses. Not a robocall blast — it holds a real conversation with the customer, answers basic questions, and takes payments. Your team stops chasing and only touches the exceptions. Happy to get into the details: what it says when someone pushes back, how payments post, where the handoff to a human happens.

2. Sales-side automation. CRM + digital menu + full automation tied into a bunch of F&I product providers, so the deal moves faster with compliance baked in rather than bolted on. Same offer — ask me how any of it works in practice.

Not here to pitch. Genuinely curious which of these still hurts most in your store, and I'll answer straight. Can also do a quick screen share — just the workflows, no deck.

For the first time in 20 years, we have full control of the technology that powers DealerRefresh. If you’ve ever thought, “I wish DealerRefresh would just…” – this is the time to say it. Big swings, small annoyances, and controversial ideas are all welcome. We have the power to evolve fast!

Not sure where to start? Pick one (or more) of these and drop a quick reply:

1. One thing you’d change about DealerRefresh tomorrow if you had our keys.
2. One feature or thread type you wish we’d never remove.
3. A new section, tool, or recurring series you’d love to see us build this year.
4. Where do you think DealerRefresh has the most untapped potential right now?
5. How would you like to see AI used (or avoided) on DealerRefresh?

Okay, I made up the 92% statistic, though I doubt I am too far off.

It's been over 8 years since we recorded a 15-part video series covering "How to Spot & Stop SEO & SEM Theft and Fraud," and although some of the content in that series is a little dated, the need for dealers to be vigilant about how their digital marketing dollars are being spent has only grown.

In that series, I mentioned that SEM Shouldn’t Stand For “Steal Everyone’s Money” - though, sadly, that's the reality I see with dealers even today.

Much of the waste and fraud I see today is the direct result of OEM digital programs. To be clear, the waste and fraud in these programs is a feature, not a bug. These programs are profit centers for the OEM. Those running them don't care if any metal is moved, just so long as they score their bonuses.

Some of the waste and fraud I see is the result of either nefarious or inattentive digital marketing vendors. Again, this is a feature, not a bug. Truly managing a dealer's marketing budget with a goal of maximizing that dealer's return on investment doesn't always come with high margins. Not if you have to hire competent people to run the campaigns and provide the dealership with full transparency. While I want the SEM Vendors to make money, I don't want them to make all the money.

Finally, there's Google. The remaining waste and fraud I see is caused by Google being Google and blowing your budget chasing clicks that would've converted organically or have nothing to do with moving metal. Again, this is a feature, not a bug. You see, Google knows how to run your business better than you do. Don't believe me? Just ask them. Every interaction with someone on the Google Ads Team is all about showing you why you need to spend even more money despite the lackluster results.

Not sure if your SEM budgets are being wasted or stolen? Ask me anything - if you know me, you know I love my opinion, and I don't mind sharing it.

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We did an ask @tomkline before, and we thought it was time to bring it back. What questions do you have about the FTC stuff going on now?