Podcast
Dealer Talk With Jen Suzuki
Hosted by Jennifer Suzuki, eDealer Solutions · EN
Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki is an Automotive Sales and Service Podcast and is a free educational series for Dealers, Managers, Sales Teams and anyone in the Auto Industry that has a desire to obtain information that will propel growth, lead the auto industry and invoke progressive strategies. We will educate on staying relevant, offer ways to improve vehicle sales and service, CSI and retention. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki is an Automotive Sales and Service Podcast. Use #DealerTalkWithJen
59episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
From Technician to COO: Mitch Kudler's Playbook for Fixed Ops Growth
May 1200:45:50Tap to summarizeIf you're leading a service department or responsible for fixed ops performance, this is one of those conversations you don't skip. In this episode, I sit down with someone I've known and respected for years, Mitch Kudler, COO of Simms Auto Group… a guy who didn't just study the business, he lived every role in it. From technician to advisor to GM to executive leadership, Mitch brings a perspective that most leaders simply don't have. We dig into what most GMs misunderstand about service, why retention is the real game (not transactions), and the small decisions that quietly cost dealerships millions, like losing tire business or failing to create a real first service experience. Mitch breaks down the importance of transparency, why MPIs and video are still wildly underutilized, and how culture inside your store directly impacts customer trust. This conversation also hits leadership hard, how to unify sales and service, why most managers don't actually understand their numbers, and the simple but powerful act of walking your store and listening. If you want stronger retention, better CSI, and a team that actually works together… this one will stay with you. And personally? This one meant a lot. Mitch is one of those people I've always admired from afar—and every time we talk, I walk away better. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | 🎧 https://apple.co/38lmHM1 🎧 https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 | Jennifer@edealersolution.com | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx 🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥 LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals.|
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Clean Notes. Faster Approvals. Bigger Paychecks. | Bad Notes Cost Money, Here's How to Fix It Fast!
May 600:13:57Tap to summarizeIf your write-up is weak… your paycheck is leaking. Period. In this episode, I'm going straight at one of the most overlooked, but most expensive breakdowns in your service department: the quality of your RO write-up. We're talking about the real impact of vague notes, rushed conversations, and missed questions and how they quietly destroy technician productivity, create comebacks, slow down approvals, and chip away at your income. I break down exactly how to level up your write-up process, what questions actually matter, and how to position yourself as the translator between your customer and your technician. This is one of those "simple but not easy" skills that separates average advisors from top earners. Better notes = faster diagnosis, smoother workflow, stronger trust, and more money in your pocket. If you're ready to clean up the chaos and take control of your lane… this is your play. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | 🎧 https://apple.co/38lmHM1 🎧 https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 | Jennifer@edealersolution.com | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx 🔥Check out our sponsors🔥 LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals.
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Competitors on Paper, Teammates in Reality: Jen Suzuki & David Kain Get Real
May 500:39:53Tap to summarizeIf you've been in automotive for any amount of time, you already know the name David Kain and in this episode, we're going way beyond the highlight reel. This is a real conversation between two people who've been in the trenches, on stages, inside dealerships, and yes… technically "competitors" for years but never felt like it. We talk about what actually drives performance today (hint: it's not just AI), why most dealerships are still missing the basics, and how the best operators separate themselves through urgency, storytelling, and human connection. David breaks down his concept of "visual voicemail," why speed to lead is still wildly misunderstood, and what's really happening inside top-performing stores versus the ones just getting by. We also get into the truth about AI, where it helps, where it hurts, and why human intelligence still wins deals. If you're leading a team, working internet leads, or trying to stay relevant in a fast-changing market, this episode will challenge how you think about process, follow-up, and leadership. And honestly? It's just fun! Two longtime friends swapping stories, strategies, and a few laughs along the way. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | 🎧 https://apple.co/38lmHM1 🎧 https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 | Jennifer@edealersolution.com | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx 🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥 LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals.
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ASOTU CON 2026 | Stop Sitting Through Conferences. Start Participating.
Apr 2900:33:19Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I sit down with Paul Daly, co-founder of ASOTU (alongside Kyle Mountsier), and let me just say… this conversation is fun, real and relevant. We're talking about what the best operators are actually doing right now… And spoiler alert… it's not chasing shiny AI tools or buying the next "magic solution." It's people. It's culture. It's leadership that actually develops other leaders. Because here's the reality… our industry is losing billions to turnover every year, and the stores that are winning? They are obsessing over their people, giving them ownership, building real career paths, and creating environments where teams actually want to stay and grow. And that's exactly what makes ASOTU CON 2026 (May 12–14 in Maryland) different. https://www.asotucon.com This isn't a sit-and-listen conference. This is where ideas get challenged. Where failures get shared (yes… out loud). Where operators, innovators, and leaders actually collaborate. The theme? Year of the Human. Because while everyone's shouting "AI, AI, AI…" The real question is… who's leading the people behind it? If you're tired of surface-level conversations and ready for something that actually pushes your thinking, your leadership, and your business forward… You might want to be in that room. Check out our sponsors! LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships.ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | https://apple.co/38lmHM1 https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 | Jennifer@edealersolution.com | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx
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The Deal You Missed Wasn't the Lead… It Was the Follow-Up
Apr 2700:11:44Tap to summarizeDealers still ask me all the time, "Jen… what leads are the best?" And I always give the same answer… the ones already sitting in your database. In this quick class, I break down the biggest miss I see in dealerships everywhere. Salespeople are told to follow up… call for referrals… make birthday calls… but nobody really teaches them how to do it without feeling like a nuisance. So what happens? They stop. Here's the truth. The money isn't in the first call. It's in the one nobody makes. Follow-up isn't about checking a box. It's about building a career. Staying relevant. Staying human. And yes… staying in the game long enough to actually win. And here's the part that hit me personally. Just yesterday, while bringing my yard back to life after winter, my neighbor stopped by. We got to talking… and I found out he had once been homeless for two years, living out of his Suburban. What changed his life? Selling cars. That's this industry. It changes lives. It gave me everything. And when people ask me why I have so much energy… it's because I'm grateful. Grateful for the people, the opportunities, and the chance to help others find their path in this business. So if you're ready to stop chasing leads and start building a real pipeline… this one's for you. Check out our sponsors! LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | https://apple.co/38lmHM1 https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 | Jennifer@edealersolution.com | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx
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The Biggest Mistake Salespeople Make on Every Call!
Apr 2200:11:36Tap to summarizeSales teams… this is the moment where deals are won or lost and most don't even realize it. In this episode of Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki, Jen breaks down one of the biggest mistakes happening in dealerships every single day: quoting price too fast. Customers ask for price. You give it. Conversation over. But what if that one moment is exactly where you lost control of the deal? This episode is all about the mindset shift that separates average reps from top 10% performers. You'll learn how to guide the conversation instead of reacting to it, how to redirect price questions without sounding evasive, and how to build value before ever talking numbers. Because here's the truth… fast answers don't win deals. Better conversations do. If your team is constantly battling price shoppers, losing gross, or struggling to get customers to engage… this is the fix. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | https://apple.co/38lmHM1 https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 | Jennifer@edealersolution.com | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx Check out our sponsors! LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals.
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How Brandon Hardison Is Solving the Technician Shortage at Jim Ellis Automotive Group
Apr 2000:31:53Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki, Brandon Hardison, Executive Leader of Jim Ellis Automotive Group shares a powerful, real-world blueprint for solving one of the industry's biggest challenges: technician hiring and retention. With over 22 dealerships and a strong people-first philosophy, Brandon breaks down how proactive community engagement, partnerships with work-based learning programs, and internal development systems can transform a struggling hiring pipeline into a thriving talent engine. From visiting high schools and career fairs to creating dealership-hosted educational events, he reveals how forward-thinking leaders can attract younger talent before they ever enter the workforce. This conversation goes beyond theory, highlighting the importance of coaching, patience, and leadership accountability in building loyal teams and long-term success. If you're serious about fixing technician shortages, strengthening your culture, and creating sustainable growth, this episode delivers actionable strategies that any dealership—big or small—can implement immediately. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | 🎧 https://apple.co/38lmHM1 🎧 https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 | Jennifer@edealersolution.com | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx 🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥 LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. ZukiTalk helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals.
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The Retention Mindset That Changes Everything
Apr 1500:16:19Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki, we shift the focus to where real dealership growth actually happens, the service lane. This is a straight, no-fluff conversation about customer retention and why it directly impacts your paycheck, your stress level, and your long-term success. We break down the simple but often overlooked behaviors that keep customers coming back, from how you handle the exit to the follow-up that most advisors skip. If you've been treating each visit like a one-time transaction, this episode will challenge you to think bigger and start building relationships that last years, not just repair orders. This episode doesn't just talk about retention, it shows you exactly how to execute it. You'll walk away with simple, high-impact tactics like how to properly set the next appointment before the customer leaves, what to say during the vehicle pickup to create future value, and how a quick next-day follow-up text can dramatically increase return visits. We also cover the importance of setting clear expectations, giving consistent updates, and using small personalization touches that make customers remember you. These are the moments that turn one-time visits into long-term relationships and predictable income. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | 🎧 https://apple.co/38lmHM1 🎧 https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 | Jennifer@edealersolution.com | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx 🔥Check out our sponsor!🔥 LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. ZukiTalk helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals.
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LotGPT vs ChatGPT: The Inventory Game Just Changed!
Apr 1300:32:53Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki, I sit down with Randy Kobat from LotLinx to break down one of the biggest shifts happening in dealership technology right now. We move past the hype of generic AI tools like ChatGPT and into what actually drives results on the ground. LotGPT is built specifically for dealerships, using real inventory, real market data, and real shopper behavior to deliver precise, actionable insights. We talk about why generic AI often falls short, how data security plays a bigger role than most realize, and what it looks like to treat AI as a true team member with a defined role inside your store. If you want to stop guessing, protect gross, and move inventory smarter, this conversation will change the way you think about AI in your dealership. What's really turning heads is how quickly dealers are adopting this. Over 6,000 dealerships are already using LotGPT, and it's not because it sounds good, it's because it works immediately. Dealers are seeing fast wins like identifying which vehicles are at risk before they age out, reallocating wasted ad spend within minutes, improving VDP performance, and uncovering exactly where the breakdown is between shopper activity and actual sales. Instead of guessing or defaulting to price drops, they're making smarter, more precise decisions that protect gross and move inventory faster. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | 🎧 https://apple.co/38lmHM1 🎧 https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 | Jennifer@edealersolution.com | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx 🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥 LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. ZukiTalk helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals.
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The #1 Communication Mistake Killing Your MPI Approval Rate
Apr 900:15:32Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki, we're getting real about one of the most important numbers in your service department, the MPI approval rate. This isn't just a metric. It's a mirror. If your approvals are low, it's rarely about price, the customer, or the car. It's almost always about communication. Jen breaks down exactly why customers decline recommended work and what service advisors are missing in their conversations. From rushed calls and weak explanations to overusing technical language that customers don't understand, this episode exposes the everyday habits that quietly kill approvals. But more importantly, it gives you a simple, repeatable way to fix it. You'll learn how to clearly explain the job, the risk, and the reward so customers actually understand what's happening with their vehicle and why it matters now. Because when clarity goes up, approvals go up. Bottom line: You don't need better customers. You need better conversations. Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki Podcast | 🎧 https://apple.co/38lmHM1 🎧 https://spoti.fi/3uQ2nd1 | Jennifer@edealersolution.com | 954-873-8029 | edealersolutions.com | Meet me! bit.ly/3J7011t | Loyalty-Based Selling Strategies on CBT News | https://bit.ly/3JlcXAx 🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥 LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability. Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals.
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