Greg Goebel - It is a new year, and many dealers have finished their annual planning and are prepared for a continued upswing in business for the coming year. Based on the calls and e-mails I have received recently, that includes for some dealers (for very good reasons) a refocus on their special finance efforts.
Greg Goebel - The seasons are changing, and judging by my phone and e-mail messages, so is the climate for special finance. As inquiries pick up, I can tell more focus and effort is returning to the market.
Greg Goebel - The past 18 months have proven to be historic times in the automobile industry, and that certainly holds true for the special finance segment of the market. The three “Cs” – capital, collections and collateral – all experienced significant if not total deterioration during some or all of the past year.
Greg Goebel - The past 12 months have provided a bumpy ride for most of those involved in the special finance industry. As credit tightened after capital markets vanished and delinquencies rose, dealers felt the pinch all across the country.
Greg Goebel - It has been a while since I have used a running analogy for special finance, but based on recent events in my life and the auto industry, I feel there is no better time than the present. Prior to taking up marathon running in late 2007, it had been many, many years since I was identified as an athlete, so regardless of whether or not you run, this article is still very apropos ...
Greg Goebel - I write this month’s column while on the plane back from the Non-Prime Auto Finance Conference hosted by the National Auto Finance Association. While this conference is oriented towards the non-prime auto finance companies and the industry vendors that serve them, I do recommend it to dealers who desire a better understanding of the other side of the fence – the challenges finance companies face on a day in and day out basis ...
Greg Goebel - Some department managers self-prophesied themselves out of a job. After convincing their senior managers and dealer principals that SF was no longer viable and finance companies were not willing to finance the subprime credit customers, their positions were easy to eliminate as dealerships were looking to ...
Greg Goebel - ... the reporting of the death of the SF industry is beginning to sound much like the infamous “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline from 60 years ago. Yes, the industry has definitely changed, but it is still alive and kicking. Although it’s more challenging than in recent years, much can be learned from the SF Top 10 dealers ...