Retention Roadmap: Navigating Service Success for New Car Dealerships

What if your retention problem isn’t hiding in your marketing, but in your leadership? Too many dealerships treat retention like a report to manage instead of a standard to live by. And when leaders focus on numbers instead of behaviors, both employees and customers quietly drift away.

In this episode of Retention Roadmap, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill Springer sits down with Joe Clementi, Executive Vice President at Traver Connec...

The service drive isn’t always where customers decide to leave. More often, it happens after hours, between visits, or during a second call that never gets answered. Nothing dramatic, but just enough friction for a customer to try somewhere else.

In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill Springer is joined by Sean Hartman, Founder of Toma AI, to explore how AI can help dealerships capture and resolve these moments without sac...

Most dealerships talk about retention like it’s a campaign. Eddie Campbell sees it as a culture problem. From the service drive to the GM’s office, the decisions leaders make every day quietly determine whether customers come back or disappear without a word.

In this episode, Bill Springer welcomes back Eddie Campbell, industry veteran, former General Manager of Forest Lane CDJR, and the first repeat guest on Retention Roadmap. E...

Convenience isn’t just a perk anymore; it’s the line between keeping a customer and losing them for good. As vehicles get more expensive and expectations rise, dealerships face a hard truth: customers won’t fight friction just to stay loyal. The solution? Meet customers where they are — literally — while removing confusion at the moments that cause the most defections.

In this episode, Bill Springer sits down with Karl Murphy, CEO ...

Ever feel like your dealership is doing all the right things and customers still drift away? Skyler Chadwick says the problem is a lack of clarity and confidence at the moments that matter most. His fix: stop checking boxes and start building trust with transparent pricing, tighter processes, and a service experience that makes customers feel certain they’re in the right place.

In this episode, Bill Springer sits down with Skyler, ...

What if your service department isn’t being “outperformed”… but simply misunderstood? Don Hall argues that fixed ops is the real engine of the dealership, and the stores that treat it like an afterthought are quietly training customers (and technicians) to leave.

In this episode of Retention Roadmap, Bill Springer sits down with Don Hall, President & CEO of the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association (VADA), for a candid conv...

Most dealers still treat retention as something you worry about after a customer disappears. But some OEMs and dealers are already experimenting with a playbook built on predictive data, subscription-style benefits, and emotional convenience that keeps customers from drifting away in the first place.

In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, you’ll hear how shifting from reactive reminders to proactive, value-rich programs can hel...

Most dealerships obsess over selling the next car and overlook the goldmine rolling through their service drive every day. If you’re only talking about retention at the CRM or marketing level, you’re missing opportunities. The fix is building a simple, disciplined service-lane acquisition process that treats every repair order as both a retention play and an inventory opportunity.

In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill tal...

Chasing CSI while customers drift is like polishing the hood of a car that won’t start. If you’re measuring satisfaction but not repeat behavior, you’re missing the point and the sale. One quick fix: align OEM and dealership processes around ruthless convenience, proactive outreach, and service-drive plays that turn today’s RO into tomorrow’s trade.

In this week’s episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill talks with Dan Cantrell, Direc...

Complacency is the quiet killer in fixed ops. If you’re waiting to see which “new ideas” actually work before you move, by the time you copy them, the leaders have already moved on. The fix: build a culture that experiments on purpose. Own your data, personalize outreach, and lock in the first (and next) visit with simple, repeatable programs.

In this week’s episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill talks with Kyle Morissette, host of ...

When your advisors double as porters and your managers are the “most expensive valets in the building,” efficiency and customer experience both take a hit. The truth? Those front-line roles you think of as “non-revenue” may be the key to unlocking smoother operations and stronger retention.

In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill Springer sits down with Joel Furno, CEO of Citrin, a company that provides outsourced valet, port...

A recall feels like a headache until you see it for what it really is: a built-in reason for lapsed customers to walk back through your service doors. If you’re letting those opportunities slip, you’re leaving retention, CP revenue, and future vehicle sales on the table. The fix? Treat recalls like a strategic program, not a one-off task.

In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill sits down with Chris Miller, Founder & Chair...

Most dealerships don’t lose customers years down the road, but at the very first oil change. That early defection is costing dealerships future service visits, tire sales, and even repeat vehicle purchases. The solution? Build retention into the customer’s journey from day one and invest in your culture and technology to keep both employees and customers engaged.

In this episode of Retention Roadmap, Bill Springer sits down with...

If you're still trying to control every slot on your scheduler, you're probably pushing customers away. Today’s customers don’t want to call. They don’t want to wait. And they don’t want to be told when they can’t come in. They want control, convenience, and clarity. Dealerships that give them that? They’re the ones earning long-term retention. So, how do you design a service experience that gives customers control without losing v...

What builds real loyalty in today’s service lane? It’s not flashy tech. It’s trust. And that starts the moment a customer steps out of their car. Want to make customers come back again and again? Teach your advisors to become “my mechanic.”

In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill talks with Ron Maki, a fixed ops leader with nearly four decades in the industry, including corporate leadership roles at Volkswagen of America. Ron...

What if improving customer retention had nothing to do with discounts, campaigns, or clever emails, and everything to do with your team? Before you worry about bringing customers back, ask yourself: Would you come back if the service advisor changes every six months?

In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill Springer sits down with Austin Conroy, Regional Fixed Ops Director at Rohrman Automotive Group and the creator behind t...

Most dealerships are intrigued by AI, but many are still stuck in the dark when it comes to using it effectively. Instead of solving real problems, they’re overwhelmed by dashboards, buried in reports, and stuck blasting the same messages to every customer. The result? Missed opportunities, service defection, and underwhelming ROI on the tools they already have.

In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill sits down with Todd Smit...

What if your biggest threat to retention isn’t the competition, but your own calendar? Most dealerships don’t lose customers all at once. They just stop showing up. But with AI and a few simple process shifts, you can catch defection before it happens and make retention feel automatic.

In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, we welcome Dave Foy, a veteran of automotive retail and founder of the Automotive AI Summit. With decades o...

What if your best retention strategy had nothing to do with pricing, loyalty programs, or even your shop’s hours, and everything to do with how your service advisors say "good morning"? Most customers don’t come back because they weren’t helped… they were handled.

The fix? Train your advisors to build relationships, not just close tickets.

In this episode, sponsored by DriveSure, Bill Springer sits down with Kieran Stack, founder o...