While monthly sales numbers have certainly brought good news to retail powersports dealers, there is a flip side to the story. Recently polled dealers who attended a Powersports Business Kenect event shared growing concern about new unit inventory, with 78 percent of respondents noting they were very or extremely concerned. In Q1, 85 percent of dealers said their inventory was too low. With 72 percent of dealers reporting double-digit sales growth in Q1, it appears that the 2021 will be a year spent scrounging for inventory.
We all know that the best option to tackle the inventory shortage is to target the trade-in, but how do you convince people to trade in with you? While stimulus money is easing near-term financial worries for many consumers, much of that money will be targeted toward paying off debt, delinquent rent, and other expenses incurred due to lost employment income. Educate the customer that their trade-in vehicle has value which can be applied toward their next powersports purchase. Contact recent customers and discuss their current situation. Are they using their motorcycle or ATV, or are they contemplating a new side-by-side? Capture details on the trade-in remotely and provide trade-in options that get them closer to the sale.