What Dealers Were Really Talking About at the 2026 NADA Show
Every NADA Show reveals patterns. Specific topics repeatedly surface in conversations among dealers, often reflecting broader industry shifts. This year, a few themes stood out. Margin Protection Is Top of Mind Dealers across the country expressed a shared concern: protecting profitability without compromising the customer experience. Rather than chasing growth at any cost, many focused […]
Surcharging Gains Momentum: How Dealers Are Tackling Rising Payment Costs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IROcRzhWsWE&feature=youtu.be Surcharging is becoming a bigger conversation for dealers. Hear how payments, compliance, and the future of automotive commerce are evolving.
The future of automotive commerce: A Q&A with Dealer Merchant Services’ Amberly Allen
The future of automotive commerce: A Q&A with Dealer Merchant Services’ Amberly Allen Dealerships are facing tighter margins, rising transaction costs, and increasing compliance scrutiny. As a result, payments are drawing renewed attention across automotive retail. We spoke with Amberly Allen, managing partner at Dealer Merchant Services (DMS), about what dealers are focused on right […]
Why Dealer-Endorsed Solutions Are Replacing Generic Vendors in Automotive Retail
Dealerships are approached by vendors constantly. Software platforms, financial tools, marketing services, and operational solutions all promise improvement. Yet in 2026, a clear shift is happening: dealers are becoming far more selective about who they trust. The Problem with One-Size-Fits-All Solutions Many vendors serving automotive retail were not built for dealerships. They were adapted from […]
The Hidden Cost Most Dealerships Still Absorb and Why It Matters in 2026
Margins in automotive retail are under more pressure than ever. Inventory costs fluctuate, advertising continues to evolve, compliance requirements increase, and customer expectations remain high. Yet one of the most persistent profit drains in dealerships is also one of the least discussed. It’s not flooring.It’s not staffing.And it’s not marketing. It’s operational expenses that dealerships […]
How Auto Dealers Can Reduce Credit Card Processing Costs Going into the New Year
As dealerships reflect on financial performance and plan for a stronger 2026, one operational expense stands out for its rapid growth and lack of visibility: credit card processing fees. These fees impact Service, Parts, Sales, F&I, and Rentals, often without dealers knowing the actual cost, the source of the increases, or the options available to […]
The thief among us
Most Dealerships are completely unaware that there is a very quiet, very stealthy thief amongst them. This thief is stealing from the pool of their hard-earned profits in a way that goes almost entirely unnoticed. The thief has stepped into every dealership across the country and comes in the form of the credit card processing […]