Latest activity

George Nenni · May 11, 2026

Hi @JameyJ ,

Thanks for the comment, CarDealster is currently fullly built out, ready to scale, but sitting on a shelf, taken down from the App Store. We got plenty of salespeople to download and use the app, but only very few used the tool. Likely there were critical pieces missing, prior to AI automation opportunities, but I will always believe in the concept. Maybe revisit at some point with @Jeff Kershner's help!

joe.pistell · May 10, 2026

This is how I yelled at AI yesterday.

"ok, that does it. What happened to your oversight? You are making significant mistakes on every request. I want a full forensic study on this thread. I must be mis-managing this. We have created amazing CIO <--> CTO iterations in the past, complete mastery. This session is creating an outcome that I don't ever want to replicate. Find the problem(s)"

Expert level AI requires you to become a better boss.
1. 1st Yell at it
2. then, like a good boss, assume some of the blame (if you want the truth)
3. demand answers
4. and a fix.

joe.pistell · May 8, 2026

Ryan Thompson said:
I recently used it for staff scheduling. This was one of my most dreaded tasks (not even numbers, different criteria, etc.).

OMG, my son in law owns a SMB with 20 employees, he needs this. Tell me more!

Ryan Thompson · May 8, 2026

I recently used it for staff scheduling. This was one of my most dreaded tasks (not even numbers, different criteria, etc.).

Ryan Thompson · May 8, 2026

Happy Bday gang!!

CarlAutofusion · May 7, 2026

I spoke to one of our account managers and showed him this post. He added that you should also exclude mobile app traffic. This can only be done on at the account level. This should take care of most of the bad traffic as many apps, especially games, get accidental clicks.

joe.pistell · May 7, 2026

datepast said:
carflowai.com

Nice work

CarlAutofusion · May 6, 2026

Hi Brad, Are you running VLA-only campaigns? We have found some of our VLA-only campaigns only show on Search and others run on both Search and Display. Same settings.
For those running on both Search and Display, we use placement and content exclusions to limit the amount of ads showing on Display. There's no way to completely eliminate the Display ads as far as we know because we can only exclude the ads once they show up on Display but this does reduce it by quite a bit.
Hope this helps.

ryan.leslie · May 6, 2026

DM'd you @Brad Burlingham. I'm in the office this week and can grab an analyst. Let me know if I can help.

ryan.leslie · May 6, 2026

joe.pistell said:
did @Ryan Everson have a driver's license 21 yrs ago?

Not sure about that, but... THIS Ryan had hair!

Happy Birthday Refresh! Congrats to the two of you for the commitment to empowering and improving this incredible industry!

joe.pistell · May 5, 2026

Alex Snyder said:
It just keeps getting more shocking it has lasted this long.

did @Ryan Everson have a driver's license 21 yrs ago? :baby:

john.quinn · May 5, 2026

What? 21???? No way... Johnny is 21 this month!!!

Alex Snyder · May 5, 2026

We can finally drink… legally :cocktail:

Last year’s birthday was a shocker. It just keeps getting more shocking it has lasted this long. Very cool!!!

joe.pistell · May 5, 2026

Ryan Everson said:
I'll look down at the clock while Claude'ing and realize it's already 4am

STAND BACK 400 feet
mad scientist at work

Joe Pracher · May 5, 2026

kylewilliam said:
Hi everyone,

I’m exploring SEO services to improve my website’s visibility and search engine rankings. I’m particularly interested in providers who offer a comprehensive approach, including on-page optimization, keyword research, technical SEO, and quality backlink building.

I want to ensure the services are ethical and follow Google’s guidelines, avoiding any black-hat tactics that could harm my site. Has anyone had experience with trustworthy SEO companies or freelancers that deliver measurable results?

I’d love to hear about your experiences, recommendations, or tips for choosing the right SEO service without breaking the bank

OneKeel.ai | AI Solutions for Automotive Dealerships We built the first ever and only 24/7 Complete Full Stack SEO AI Army....GSEO Hub....As a Co-Founder....Happy to Walk Through GSEO HUB with you.

Screenshot 2026-05-05 at 10.08.11 AM.png

Brad Burlingham · May 4, 2026

Hi all, we are seeing VLA ads showing on display network once again and that means a ton of "fake" calls. I saw this happen to us at the end of last year, but its happening again. We discovered it happening at 5 of our dealerships and its happening across several vendors. IF you have access to your google ads account, you can look at pmax campaigns by channel. if you are showing on display network, its a waste of money.

Since google doesnt allow you to turn off display, you need to block certain sites (i'm not talking about the partner network) and rethink what you are optimizing for. If you are including click to call as one of your optimized events, this might be the culprit.

Anyone else having these issues and or have some hacks on preventing it. i hate google!

joe.pistell · May 2, 2026

Lots of pioneering dealers hang out here. Craft a pitch to this audience, link to your LI account or your resume or your past products/projects. Explain why your drawn to this space.

joe.pistell · May 2, 2026

joe.pistell said:
Today, I ask AI for a hard one: "Find me the 3 best Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE with under 15k"

One year later, I am surprised that no one has built a AI powered car shopping suite. (aka AI wrapper)

joe.pistell · May 2, 2026

Harrison Schneider said:
A solution I am proposing is an AI-driven solution

Take a number, get in line.

Harrison, sarcasm aside, you never worked in a store, you've never seen why it works and why it doesn't. TAKE YOUR AMAZING MIND and go find a dealer group (or a store) that is looking for an AI guru partner. Roll up your sleeves and get to work. What you build will likely scale.

p.s. Better models plus Meta prompting is creating a bottom up revolution.

p.p.s. SaaS has competition coming.

Alex Snyder · May 1, 2026

Harrison Schneider said:
I see. Would it be correct to say that inventory is the biggest frustration? Also, I am actively looking for people to network with that currently own or manage their own car dealership? This is why I am posting on this site, to connect with people who have experience and understand their day to day frustrations before I build anything. If you are interested, you can either reply to this or send me a direct message. I appreciate the connection and this goes out to anyone seeing this.

You are in the right spot. The only criticism I have is that you’re asking to be a bit spoon fed.

We have absolutely no idea what you are thinking and zero idea what you are capable of. This is an advanced community who will give you more feedback than anywhere else. It will give you actions to roll. It is on you to figure out how to unlock us for your cause.

Alex Snyder · May 1, 2026

Harrison Schneider said:
When you say finding quality inventory is the biggest struggle, is it more about finding the right cars at the right price or more about competing with franchise dealers who have access to off lease vehicles and better auction relationships? Just want to better understand this pain point.

Yes

joe.pistell · Apr 30, 2026

Harrison Schneider said:
Something that runs completely in the background with zero behavior change required from the dealer or their staff

AI assistants will create behavior change from the dealer or their staff

john.quinn · Apr 29, 2026

RIF: The Playbook to Landing Your First CEO Gig

An advice column for tomorrow's automotive SaaS executives, by Brock Hammerstein, CEO of VelocirAuto Synergistics™

Friends, colleagues, fellow travelers on the journey from Series B to "strategic exit" —

It's me, Brock. Three-time CEO. Two-time LinkedIn Top Voice. My inbox has been overflowing with letters from junior executives asking the same question: "Brock, how do I become a CEO in this economy?" Pull up a chair. Let's get fit and focused.

Dear Brock,

I'm a VP at a dealer-tech SaaS company. I want to be CEO, but I don't have a track record of building anything. What do I do?

— Ambitious in Augusta

Dear Ambitious,

Building things is so 2019. Today's CEO doesn't build — today's CEO rightsizes. I haven't shipped a product since the Obama administration, but I've eliminated 11% of three different workforces, and the stock popped 7% each time. That's value creation, baby.

Here's your homework: take whatever your company does and announce you're doing 11% less of it. The number 11 is critical. 10% sounds calculated. 12% sounds desperate. 11% sounds like you ran the math. You did not run the math.

Dear Brock,

Our board wants us to "trim management layers." How do I frame that?

— Confused in Cary

Dear Confused,

The trick is to make eliminating managers sound like a gift to the people who remain. Try this:

"By flattening our management structure, we're empowering our individual contributors to own their outcomes, accelerate decision velocity, and operate with the agility of a true challenger brand. Our people have told us they want fewer barriers between them and the work. We're listening."

Translation: we fired the people who knew what was going on, and now everyone reports to a Slack channel.

Pro tip: ensure exactly 20% of eliminated roles are management. Any less and Wall Street thinks you're protecting your friends. Any more and your remaining managers update LinkedIn before lunch.

Dear Brock,

How do I announce layoffs without sounding like I'm announcing layoffs?

— Wordsmith in Wilmington

Dear Wordsmith,

Never say "layoffs." Here is the approved lexicon:

Fit and focus initiative (we fired people, and we're proud of the alliteration)
Operational excellence transformation (we fired people and hired McKinsey)
Driving long-term shareholder value (we fired people and announced a $90 million buyback the same afternoon)

That last one is my personal favorite. Nothing says "we had to make difficult decisions" quite like authorizing $90 million to buy back our own stock approximately 14 minutes after the WARN Act notices went out. The optics are immaculate.

Dear Brock,

Be honest. Did any of you actually plan for the post-COVID environment, or are you all just panicking in unison?

— Skeptic in Schaumburg

Dear Skeptic,

How dare you. We are executing with discipline against a dynamic macro environment.

Also yes.

Dear Brock,

What's the final step? How do I actually land the next CEO gig?

— Almost There in Austin

Dear Almost There,

Here's the secret nobody tells you. Once you've successfully "right-sized" a company into a smaller, sadder version of itself, you don't get fired. You get promoted to the search.

You'll receive a generous severance, a non-disparagement clause, and a glowing LinkedIn post from your board chair using the phrase "after a successful transformation, [Brock] has decided to pursue his next chapter." Within 60 days, a private equity firm will offer you a portfolio company that needs to be — wait for it — fit and focused.

The cycle continues. The buybacks compound. And somewhere, a Series B founder is reading this column and taking notes.

Godspeed, you magnificent disruptors.

— Brock

Brock Hammerstein is the CEO of VelocirAuto Synergistics™. He is currently between layoffs.

joe.pistell · Apr 29, 2026

awolniewitz said:
what do you wish someone had told you on day one?

RUN FAST AND DON'T LOOK BACK

Alex Snyder · Apr 29, 2026

Steve Roessler said:
Totally agree Alex and actually, you are supporting the message I am saying. LOL. You just gave 2 examples that add up to $5K/mth. There are other products that dealers can consolidate. So Bolt on all the products and if dealers spend 13K-15K but it's all "A la Carte" and DriveCentric is 10K, that's a winner for the store.

We agree on most things, Steve. I certainly agree that you're a good salesman

Regarding our back-and-forth in this thread, I think you're adjusting my statement to fit your worldview. I'll distill it into something simpler: no solution fits every need.

If you have the expertise, stitch together solutions that make you more powerful. If you don't have the expertise, buy the bundle.

Latest activity

Latest activity

RIF: The Playbook to Landing Your First CEO Gig​

An advice column for tomorrow's automotive SaaS executives, by Brock Hammerstein, CEO of VelocirAuto Synergistics™​

​

RUN FAST AND DON'T LOOK BACK​

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RIF: The Playbook to Landing Your First CEO Gig

An advice column for tomorrow's automotive SaaS executives, by Brock Hammerstein, CEO of VelocirAuto Synergistics™

RUN FAST AND DON'T LOOK BACK