Wholesale Markets

Georgia

Corey Sanford, general manager, America’s Auto Auction-Atlanta, Cartersville, Ga.

“Year-to-date, we’re up more than 400 sold over last year. We sold 2,368 (units) in February.

“January was kind of flat but February was a home run.

“We’re averaging 1,000 (units) and if it drops, it drops to 950. Last year it was about 800.

“We’ve picked up some new accounts. We just have an aggressive sales team that does a wonderful job for me. They just picked up two dealer groups, one with four stores, one with five stores. That’s made up the (additional) volume.

“But fleet’s down for us. We were right about 10% fleet and 90% dealer volume last year. I just looked at the numbers and this year we’re at 6% fleet and 94% dealer cars this year. Part of it was because we lost the Nicholas Financial account after Westlake Portfolio Management (began servicing those loans).

“We draw an average of 500 bidders in the lanes and 400 online.

“If you go back to five years ago, we were selling about 10% online. Right now, we’re selling about 30% on simulcast.

“Our average price coming across the block is $12,000. That’s flat from last year. I have an in-op sale twice a month and that brings that average down. We’ll run 100, twice a month, after the auction.

“Our last two sales were 62%.

“In December, we were No. 2 for independent auctions for OVE sales.

“I do hear from dealers that trucks are down and diesel trucks are way down.

“I’m not worried in the least. I feel like we’ll have another record year. We have a great, aggressive sales team.”

Montana

Jake Gertsch, sales manager, Auto Auction of Montana, Billings, Mont.

“We’ve owned the auction close to 20 years now.

“We have four lanes with the ability to double-block and run six lanes.

“This year has started out good. In mid-to late January, it started to take off and February has been good.

“Lately, volumes have been between 400 and 450 cars.

“We’ve always been used to selling 2-year-old vehicles and you look back two years and you’re in ’20 and ’21 and they were selling many.

Compiled by Jeffrey Bellant

“(For conversion rates) in December it was slower but in the last few weeks we’ve been above 70% – 70% to 80%.

“It seems like $25,000 to $30,000 stuff is what is really hot here.

“Our average price in the lanes is just over $30,000. It’s a definite increase over the past three years.

“The majority of our volume is trucks and SUVs. I’d say easily that 90% of our vehicles are trucks and SUVs.

“We sell lots of dealer cars. We’re probably 70% to 80% dealer cars. We used to have a higher number of fleet back when there was a lot more fleet.

“We also sell a lot of Canadian imports and it’s been that way for the last six or seven years. That makes up probably 50% of our volume.

“We also do a GSA sale that typically runs once a month.

We’ll average 20 to 30 per month.

“For auctions, it’s all about volume. So, I think this year is going to be a fight to find inventory.

“But we think sales percentages will stay high because demand will stay high. The price of new vehicles has increased substantially, so I think that will keep the used sector in business. That’s especially true when you get into that $20,000 to $50,000 range. Also, with the chip shortage, a lot of the new vehicles don’t come with all the options they once did.

“But the franchise dealers are saying they’re seeing more new cars on the ground.

“Heavy duty trucks are in short supply. You know, diesel trucks, especially with the long box. Those vehicles are still hard to come by.”