Selling Aftermarket Backup Cameras On Older Vehicles

Hi,
A lot of the inventory I sell is older and most don't have backup cameras. I was thinking this would be an easy way to improve my back end profit and sell/install backup cameras. I know its a desirable option most people like to have and would happily pay for an affordable and quick solution.

Does anybody have experience or suggestions with this?

My initial thoughts are using a wireless camera that mounts to the rear license plate for a fast and reliable install. This could be done during the paperwork process. The camera image being shown on an aftermarket rear view mirror is probably the cleanest look. I have driven cars with the rear view mirror showing the rear image all the time while you drive. It was strange at first, but I got used to it and then noticed that it eliminated the blind spots. This is also another plus for older cars without BLIS.

Any input from dealers with experience and success in this area would be helpful.
Thanks!

Dealerships need to rethink their business model.

Consider this:

✔ Interest rates are rising.

✔ Car prices are rising.

✔ Companies are downsizing.

✔ Wages are shrinking.

✔ Politicians are maximizing fear by talking about war, tariffs, chip shortages and the talk is choking supply chains.

✔ Meanwhile, gas and food prices keep climbing.


And while all of this is happening…

OEMs are daydreaming about shipping self-driving cars directly to the consumer, cutting out the dealership entirely.

Ride-sharing keeps growing.

Trust in dealerships?

That well’s gone dry.

Consumers are tired of:

✔ Greasy handshakes

✔ Shady pricing

✔ Haggling for the best deal

New players are winning.

✔ No inventory.

✔ Just platforms, clean code, and global demand.

This isn’t just an inventory battle.

It’s a platform war.

And right now... the platforms are winning.

Meanwhile, the average dealership website?

Slow load times (some close to a full minute)

Bloated code

Endless errors

Poor UX

Bad SEO

And customers notice!
Am I wrong?
Does AI change the game and give dealerships a fighting?

Curious to hear your thoughts.

Social Media for Your Business

Greetings.

I’m 17 years old and I recently started a Social Media Agency for Automotive Businesses.

Due to my age, I understand Social Media much better than the average person at another agency, and I know how what works on different platforms and what doesn’t.

Everything is covered, from video editing to SM management. We do both Organic SM, as well as paid advertising on SM.

With my team, I can grow your SM account to gain more local traffic, as well as make people KNOW who you are….which helps a lot when trying to sell something.

Here’s a portfolio of some videos. We’ve downscaled them purposely to respect the editors’ wishes. Make sure you open it in YT to see the full playlist.

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZpoa3eKXY8&list=PLbjpn5YQ3XE6grds0LrNoAWnvBgHlS2Gu&index=1


If you’re interested, email us at autovantaoffical@gmail.com and/or shoot me a private message. We’ll have a discussion about how we can get something working for you. My job is to make sure your business is successful, so we’re ready to work in all circumstances for all budgets.

Thank you for your time.

What AI search engines are you using?

On :unclejoe: @joe.pistell's suggestion, I have been trying Perplextity.ai on and off for a while. At first, I wasn't too keen on the results, but lately it has gotten much better! A couple of recent searches haven't just mirrored my own opinions ("what's the best pizza in Vermont" for example) that no search engine would give, but it is also taking me into new sources I wasn't aware of. The convenience of it distilling results into paragraphs of content instead of pages of crappy meta descriptions is far more convenient too.

Anyway, there's a vote for Perplexity.

I'd love to see this thread turn into a library of new search tools. What have you tried, and what do you think of it?
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My Super Email List: Staying Connected with Friends and Family

Imagine you have a special address book, but instead of physical addresses, it holds email addresses. That's kind of what an email list is! It's a collection of email addresses that you use to send messages to many people at once. These people could be your friends, family, teammates, or even people who share a common hobby with you. It's a powerful tool for staying in touch and sharing information easily. Many people use email lists every day without even realizing it. They are very common in our digital world.



Why Is My Email List So Important?​



Having an email list is super useful. First, it helps you share news quickly. Think about a last-minute party invite or a change in plans. Sending one email to everyone on your list saves a lot of time. Secondly, it keeps everyone updated. Maybe you have a group project at school. You can send updates to everyone at once. This makes sure no one misses important information. It also builds a sense of community. Everyone gets the same message, so they feel connected. It is a very efficient way to communicate with many people.



How Do I Start My Own Email List?​



Starting your own email list is easier than you might think. Most email services, like Gmail or Outlook, let you create groups or contact lists. You just need to find the "contacts" section. Then, you can add email addresses one by one. Make sure you ask people for their permission first. It's always polite to ask before adding someone to a group email list. You can give your list a simple, clear name. For example, "My Soccer Team" or "Family Updates." Precision-targeted email contacts – grow your list at telemarketing data today.



Keeping Your Email List Tidy and Safe​



Just like your physical address book, your email list needs to be looked after. Over time, some email addresses might change. People might get new emails or stop using old ones. It's a good idea to check your list now and then. Make sure all the addresses are still correct. You can also remove people who don't want to receive your emails anymore. This keeps your list clean and useful. Always protect your list, too. Don't share it with strangers. Your list is for your personal use.



Fun Things to Do with Your Email List​



Once you have your email list, the possibilities are endless. You can send out holiday greetings to everyone. Share funny pictures or important family news. If you're planning a birthday party, it’s perfect for sending invitations. For school projects, you can share links to helpful websites. You could even use it to coordinate a group activity, like a picnic. An email list makes these things so much simpler. It truly helps you connect with others.


my email list of contacts.png


Tips for Writing Great Emails to Your List​



When you send emails to your list, keep a few things in mind. First, make your subject line clear and interesting. This helps people know what the email is about. For example, "Party Details!" or "Important Project Update." Second, keep your message short and to the point. People are busy, so they appreciate clear information. Third, be friendly and polite in your writing. Always proofread your email before sending it. Check for any spelling or grammar mistakes. A well-written email is easy to read.

Still not using Click to Call? Watch this:

The President of Shift Digital (Tier 3 digital program manager) just said that form fills are continuing to trend down while click-to-call is trending up.

The reason? Mobile web visitors are not playing the game.

The "Lock In This Price" or "Get Today's Price" form fill nonsense is killing conversion.

The reality is, dealers are already putting too many decisions in front of buyers, adding to the cognitive load that results in abandonment.

It seems we've crossed the rubicon in terms of the trade off between the antiquated-but-reliable attribution from a form fill and the convenience of click-to-contact.

That said, with call recording and AI-snipped insights, I'd argue you actually get even more value and data from a call now than from a form fill.

Has anyone added click to call to their SRPs/VDPs and can comment/share results?

Worth watching:

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Current Per-Vehicle Photo Rates in 2025?

Hey everyone,


I’m currently doing automotive photography for multiple dealership groups and uploading through vAuto. I’m being paid $7 per vehicle right now. I’ve been doing this for a while and have good working relationships with some major dealer groups in my area.


I was curious — for those of you either working in-house or contracting out vendor services —
➔ What are dealerships typically paying per vehicle for photos in 2025?
➔ If you’re a vendor or independent contractor, what are you currently charging per vehicle?



Trying to get a sense of where the market is at right now. Appreciate any feedback! Thanks.

Mac compatibility in a dealership

Hi everyone,
So i am wondering about Mac compatibility inside a dealer and wonder if anyone else is running Mac OS. I myself daily a MBP 16” M2 and use it for almost all my work since I am in marketing.

We currently are using CDK as our DMS and are swiching to PBS Q1 2024.

I wanted to update the look of our front reception and now we ordered a IMac M1. I hated the look of the cheap looking HP all in ones.

Has anyone tried CDK or PBS on Mac? Or tried to integrate Mac OS into a dealership?

PR & News Common Car Problems That Mobile Mechanics Can Fix at Your Doorstep

I'm a mobile mechanic building my network and sharing my experience with this forum.

At first, I noticed how many car owners were trapped in situations such as dead battery, starter issues, and flat tires, and it often happened in the most inappropriate places. If you have ever found yourself isolated without assistance, what did you do?

One thing that makes a huge difference for my customers is reliable Mobile mechanic services. It used to be every client's nightmare to have a battery or an alternator problem which I could easily solve thus the clients are so grateful. Which car breakdowns could you mention that the driver would have wished for someone to solve right then and there? Just give me feedback, I am very much curious!

A Dealer Guide to the FTC Safeguards Rule - Download PDF

If you're the type of person who studies the morning of a final and gets an "A", then you'll probably be fine. If you need to study weeks in advance to get a "C", then it's time to panic. Either way, if you haven't started you need to start NOW to make sure you and your vendor partners are all buttoned up before the Safeguards rule goes into effect this December. There are a number of resources out there, including the NADA. Here is a simple guide, long but simple, to follow on your path to avoiding potential headaches and fines. Our auto group, through a team wiser than I, started this journey months ago.

Here is the link to the guide Login to view embedded media View: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YI52pPD1BHzoowgFv1mBzoNf1YJZZ9Bs/view?usp=sharing

If you're with the NADA, and I'm not supposed to share this document, sorry.

Best stocks in the automotive industry

How many of you have or watch stock investments in the industry?

I've been playing with the market for a few years now and have done decently well percentage wise. Lately one of the better stocks has been Cars.com. Last year I grabbed a couple shares when it was sitting at over $7.00. As of today, it's hovering right above $14.00. with arrows pointing up.

Another stock is BLNK - EV charging equipment, and networked charging services. I got lucky and stumbled across this one when it was sitting at $2.50 a share and sold at $44.00. That's one you look back and slap yourself silly for not going all in on.

I also grabbed a few shares of Mazda when it was $2.80.

Anyone else play the market with companies in the automotive industry?

*if you want to add your own ticker, use the "insert media" feature in the toolbar then copy/paste the following URL with the edited "Exchange-symbol"

Example(s):

Code:
https://www.tradingview.com/symbols/NYSE-CARS/
https://www.tradingview.com/symbols/NASDAQ-BLNK/
https://www.tradingview.com/symbols/OTC:MZDAYS/

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Does Text Messaging work for Dealers?

I just saw a post for a presenter at the upcoming Digital Dealer Conference that will be:

"providing
engaging content for using SMS at a Dealership. Simple but clearly presented examples of how to integrate your text marketing campaign into your dealership could improve your customer draw and retention."

I'm curious. Are dealers using this technology still and does it work? I for one don't think I would ever text for more information.

Who handles your calls in a Virtual BDC?

A Virtual BDC is made up of certified agents, thus producing best in class results on true sales opportunities. Agents go through several training videos and quizzes to obtain their certification, and are also required to maintain that certification.

Calls should be monitored and coached using active coaching methods, just as an agent at the dealership would be. This is how you can be sure that your calls are being handled professionally and no opportunities are lost.

The team is knowledgeable in dealership handling procedures and always follow the scripts accordingly. Making sure to ask for the appointment for every true sales call!

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