October 7, 2013
www.usedcarnews.com
ON THE WEB: Leaf Joins CPO Ranks
Nissan is adding the allelectric Leaf to its certified pre-owned vehicles program. In addition to the existing 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty coverage protecting against defects in materials and workmanship, and 5 year/60,000-mile coverage for battery capacity loss below nine bars of capacity as shown by the vehicle’s battery capacity level gauge,
Carfax Lawsuit Grows
Law firm Bellavia Blatt announced that more than 420 plaintiffs – up from 120 – have joined the class action lawsuit filed against Carfax. The additional plaintiffs resulted in Carfax’s increased potential liability of more than $150 million, up from $50 million previously.
National Association Honors Auctioneer
Jack Davis received the National Auto Auction Association Bernie Hart Memorial Auctioneer Award for 2013 during the group’s recent convention in Indianapolis.
1-800-554-1026
State Groups Honor Quality Dealers By Ted Craig
Two state Independent Automobile Dealers Associations named their 2013 Quality Dealers. The Michigan IADA recognized Ray Campise, owner of Certified Motors in St. Clair Shores, Mich. The Indiana Independent Automobile Dealers Association named David Jamesen of Concord Cars in Elkhart, Ind., as its 2013 Joe Krier Quality Dealer of the Year. The Quality Dealer of the Year is chosen based on several attributes. The dealership must be consumer oriented, and the dealer must have a record of good business decisions based on honesty and integrity. Also, the dealership must represent itself as a civic leader within the community. Campise came to the usedcar business after years of working at franchise stores. In his mid-50s, he found himself out of a job after General Motors discontinued the Oldsmobile brand. “Who wants to hire a guy who’s 54 years old and knows everything?” Campise said.
Photo by Jeffrey Bellant CERTIFIED: Ray and Lori Campise beam with pride over their state Quality Dealer of the Year award. The couple run their store, Certified Motors in St. Clair Shores, Mich., with staffers Amanda Beauchamp and Eric Bowen.
He sat down with his old friend Ted Cooper of Genesys Systems and came up with a plan to get into the used-car business. A great opportunity arose when veteran dealer Maurice Van Collie put his store up for sale. Campise took it over and launched a business that would emulate the used-car
department at a franchise store. All vehicles undergo an inspection and come with a pre-paid service contract. All the cars have less than 100,000 miles on them. Campise carries about 30 cars at Certified Motors, turning more than 20 cars a month. The average price is
$6,950. Certified Motors’ inventory is 90 percent cars and 10 percent trucks and SUVs. All the vehicles are domestics. Campise said financing is divided up between two-thirds conventional financing and one-third subprime. Continued on page 3
Rush - Dated Material
CarMax Continues Aggressive Growth in New Markets Used-car superstore chain CarMax Inc. continues to move into new markets and beef up staffing at its existing stores while recording record results. CarMax opened its first store in Jackson, Tenn., in September. The store has more than 8,400 square feet, occupies approximately five acres, employs some 20 associates and stocks about 150 used vehicles. The company is hiring for new stores in Brandywine, Md., and two locations in the St. Louis area. Meanwhile, CarMax Inc. is recruiting for more than 1,000 positions in locations across the country.
The majority of open positions are in service operations (detailers, experienced technicians) and sales, with additional positions in purchasing and the business office. CarMax has plenty of money to pay these new employees. The company reported another record for its latest quarter, ending Aug. 31. Net sales and operating revenues increased to $3.25 billion. Used unit sales in comparable stores increased 16 percent. Total used unit sales rose 21 percent. Total wholesale unit sales increased 10 percent. CarMax Auto Finance income increased to $84.4 million.
THE NUMBER OF LOCAL SHOPPERS ON AUTOTRADER.COM IS GROWING.
To see how we’re driving local shoppers in your market, go to WeWorkForYou.com/localshoppers. ©2013 AutoTrader.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. “AutoTrader.com” is a registered trademark of TPI Holdings, Inc. used under exclusive license.
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