How Wischnewsky Dodge Transformed Their Service Lane into a High-Volume Acquisition Engine
Turning oil changes into profitable acquisitions—and cutting auction buys by 70%.
How Wischnewsky Dodge Transformed Their Service Lane into a High-Volume Acquisition Engine
Turning oil changes into profitable acquisitions—and cutting auction buys by 70%.
Most dealerships are still chasing inventory at auctions while their best acquisition opportunities drive into the service lane every single day.
Wischnewsky Dodge took a different approach. By building a dedicated buying center and committing to a consistent, service-first process, they created a predictable way to source inventory, reduce reliance on auctions, and improve cost-to-market—without pressure, guesswork, or one-off tactics.
The one-page success story breaks down the structure, strategy, and results behind their approach. If you want to hear how it works in practice, the interviews below expand on the mindset and execution behind the numbers.
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The videos below dive deeper into how Wischnewsky Dodge approaches service-to-sales, customer relationships, and vehicle acquisition. Each conversation highlights a key piece of the process and offers practical takeaways you can apply at your dealership.
Why We Are Successful – Our Values
By shifting the conversation away from selling and toward the customer’s trade, Wischnewsky Dodge positioned its team as Acquisition Managers focused on transparency and trust. This approach made interactions more comfortable for customers and centered the process on respect and honesty. By leading with integrity and consistency, the dealership built stronger relationships, improved acquisition outcomes, and created a culture that supports long-term customer loyalty—not one-time transactions.
Reach the Customers You Already Have
Rather than chasing outside leads, Wischnewsky Dodge focuses on customers it has already built relationships with over time. By prioritizing the right customers at the right point in their ownership cycle, the team avoids creating false expectations and unnecessary friction. Through consistent communication and thoughtful timing, the dealership stays connected, guides customers through their buying journey, and positions itself as a trusted partner—resulting in stronger relationships and better outcomes for both the customer and the dealership.
Our Process Performs
By placing buyers directly in the service drive, the dealership ensures customers are greeted immediately and treated with respect from the first interaction. The focus stays on quick introductions, smooth handoffs to service, and using real-time data to understand each customer before any conversation begins. By doing the homework first and delivering personalized, one-to-one offers through the service team, the dealership avoids pressure and wasted time—building trust and turning service visits into smarter acquisition opportunities.
Results: Auction vs. Acquisition
In August alone, Colby’s team sold 19 vehicles sourced directly from the AutoAlert platform. With an average age of just 24 days, these acquisitions generated a net profit of $453,000—just from acquisition vehicles. The takeaway is clear: relying solely on auctions means leaving money on the table. The shift toward acquisition-driven inventory has delivered powerful results—boosting profitability, speeding up turn times, and strengthening the entire sales ecosystem.
The Infamously Fast Deal
A customer’s repeated engagement with AutoAlert emails signaled strong buying intent, prompting quick outreach from the dealership. By presenting a simple upgrade option at just $5 more per month, the deal moved fast—17 minutes on the phone and only 20 minutes in-store. The result was a smooth, efficient transaction that generated $3,000 in front-end profit, with an additional projected $3,000 from the trade.
Ready to Build a Smarter Acquisition Strategy?
See how AutoAlert’s Service Lead Management helps dealerships turn everyday service traffic into predictable acquisition opportunities.
Ready to Build a Smarter Acquisition Strategy?
See how AutoAlert’s Service Lead Management helps dealerships turn everyday service traffic into predictable acquisition opportunities.
