Kevin's Unfiltered Archive
Management. Sobriety. Family. Automotive. Food.
Whatever's on my mind and worth putting down.
The Golden Mile of Golden Rules
By the time I opened my own lot, I had learned enough from my father to know my edge.
Prep That Pays
Prep is not about doing more. It is about doing the right things in the right order for the vehicle you have and the time you have to work with. The sellers who make the most …
The B.A.C.O.N.
Knowing where to find a good car is one skill. Knowing how to walk in the door and buy it for less than it is worth is another. I have watched buyers with cash in their pocket…
Pricing It Right
The Eldorado took three days of calling and one Sunday morning to buy. The acquisition was a win. What happened next was a $14,500 education.
Marketing Your Listings
The first auction software I built had a problem I did not expect.
Choosing Your Platform
We needed four cars for the lot in Buffalo and we needed them fast. I had heard Dansville Auto Auction was running strong inventory that week, so I called in a favor from a pi…
Online Platforms
The Dansville trip was about reach. We needed cars and the inventory we wanted was not sitting in Buffalo that week. We went where the cars were because we had no choice.
Fees and Profit Protection
I once bought a clean Toyota Camry for $4,000. I knew the market well and I had comps showing it would sell for $5,500. In my head, I had already spent the $1,500 profit. I di…
After the Sale
I learned early that a sold car is not the end of the deal. The negotiation often continues after the hammer falls. This lesson hit home when I built Auction Simplified.
The Most Expensive Mistakes
I have watched sellers leave $4,000 on a single deal because they refused to spend $100 on a detail. I have watched a dealer lose his entire gross margin on a tow-yard pickup …
The Checklists
Every chapter in this book comes down to a process. The checklists below are that process in its shortest form. Print the ones that match your operation and work through them …
Closing In On The Gap
The Maverick sold on a Thursday afternoon.