skeeve.eth

@unusual_whales So Bob Lazar was right

David Grusch, a former U.S. intelligence official, told a panel in Congress that he is “absolutely” certain that the federal government is in possession non-humans and UFOs. A Pentagon spokesperson have said that Grusch's claims are false. Here they are:

@GuyDealership Key Bank left indirect lending awhile ago but still did floorplans with dealers. They’re now pulling out of that as well. Not an entirely too big of a thing since gold chasers anyways but one less option

CONFIRMED: Fifth Third Bank is shutting off auto lending in select regions. Unclear how widespread this. This specific image *only* addresses dealer partners in Idaho. Another big blow to dealers in an already brutal lending environment 🥵

@GuyDealership Yep, and probably a 300% increase in transport damage / quality control claims. I know that’s what it is here. Getting less vehicles in and more damaged.

The fact that there are 1,000s of Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra Trucks sitting in vacant GM lots right now is not getting enough attention.

@GuyDealership Always though they Ranked #1 in most likely brand to disappear in next few years

Surprising news: Alpha Romeo just ranked as the #1 highest-quality, premium car brand… Out of *all* premium car brands. NUMBER 1 😳 Rethinking my existence right now. (source: JD Power)

@GuyDealership They must have cooled down buying too, wondered why auction prices have been dropping. Actual dealers who don’t have stock market $$ to play with are buyers

Used car market struggle continues 🥵 JUST IN: Sonic Automotive, a Fortune 500 Company and one of the nation’s largest automotive retailers, has “indefinitely suspended” operations at 8 EchoPark locations.

@GuyDealership 4+ years ago if you searched for whatever vehicle you were looking for, eBay motors was a top search spot. Now it’s maybe page 2. Which I’m sure people don’t even get halfway down page 1 now.

Crazy how irrelevant eBay motors has become. They really blew such a big lead.

@GuyDealership Agreed. Noticed they started slacking prior to pandemic and did nothing during it. Views and watches probably down 80-90% from years ago. Use to easily do 30-40% on eBay alone. I know they absolved the “ebaymotors” thing, really only care about parts now it seems

@GuyDealership Yeah but all highway

How hot are work vans right now? 2018 RAM. 515,000 miles. $8,300 🤯

@GuyDealership GMs going same way. Started with Tahoes/Suburbans and now 1500 and 2500. Google based software. All come with google maps. Want to use it? Onstar subscription for $25 a month. Now starting with the EVs. No more CarPlay/Android Auto so no alternative to bypass their onstar shit

Get ready... *Everything* will become a subscription. Mercedes just finalized its "Acceleration Increase On-Demand" upgrade. Basically, performance upgrades as a subscription service. The dystopian future has arrived 🙃 This feature is currently optional and available on Mercedes EQE and EQS models. I can't decide how I feel about this. On the one hand, I'm sympathetic with car manufacturers: cars are becoming commoditized, and they need to find alternative avenues of generating profit... On the other hand, no one wants more subscriptions, which feels like a slippery slope. Today, it's an acceleration upgrade. Tomorrow, it will "pay us XX$/month to use a feature that you've been using for free for the past 20 years" What do you think? (News source: InsideEVs)

@elonmusk @SawyerMerritt Not sure that’s it entirely. I think when people think of Tesla they think FSD then they look at buying one and realize it’s an additional cost (15K at the moment). Then they say “ohhh” and move on. Tesla screams FSD, autopilot etc, but it’s an add. If wasn’t an add, more sales

@SawyerMerritt People still don’t understand the implications of FSD

Welp...

@GuyDealership When you’re using other peoples money it’s easy! What’s the worse that can happen? Another BK? Oops!!

@GuyDealership Had Hertz buy a 17 Sorento w/45K (base AWD no third row) for $18K 2 weeks ago. Could never get that retail

Used car inventories are still falling. We’re now at only ~2M available units on dealer lots across the *nation*. The LOWEST on record.

@GuyDealership Knew this would start happening with Ally. They’re tightening because of Carvana. Little surprised with Capital One and Santander. Those two must be getting nervous from their 2 years of lending which has unknown thousands of vehicles 20-30% above NADA financed now

From a fellow dealer: “Capital One, Ally, Santander and Next Gear Capital have started pulling inventory floor plans from dealers. Some dealers have no availability to grow and very little runway to operate without more lending. Lenders been hurt by companies like American Car Center folding. Next Gear holds 2200 cars tied up in American Car Center BK alone. Seems to me way more to come. Feel free to use the info but please leave me out if you do. I enjoy reading and following you.”

@GuyDealership I wonder if it’s because Chrysler Capital is buying where other banks aren’t. I’ve had people approved through Chrysler Capital (we aren’t linked up with them at this store) at 15-16% but can’t get them bought with any bank we use.

The average monthly loan payment of a Dodge has increased a staggering 47% since 2020 — more than any other vehicle brand.

@elonmusk @iamharaldur The idea behind neuralink and health and healing is great. I’m sure you know what your boundaries are but have to be concerned what happens when you don’t control it anymore

@iamharaldur Those are the right questions to ask. They have been troubling me for many years. Neuralink was created as a possible long-term solution to human+AI symbiosis.

@franchisewolf They have fucking mini hot dogs wrapped in pretzels and I wanted to gag

@franchisewolf Local mall is dead and blows harder than a geyser at Yellowstone. However, I was walking through it as my daughter was at an indoor softball training session and there was a 8-10 person line and tables with people eating, at Annie’s pretzels. I don’t understand.

Auntie Anne's financials from 2022 just came in. Here's the average revenue breakdown by location type: • Malls: $707K • Strip Malls: $792K • Airports: $1,506,362

@iamharaldur 2/2 won’t use AI. The concern is those who go above and beyond using AI “the machine” to assist them and do the tasks. It’s very easy to understand why they would.

@iamharaldur 1/2 The calculator for thinking. The real problem I believe is the people who actively do things and try to solve things now will lean on this. The internet and resources available now, we all know people who still ask things easily figured out by a Google search. These people..

@GuyDealership Not too familiar with other franchises and regions but a lot of GM NE dealers in past 2 years selling to large auto groups/publicly traded groups. As an Indy, I’m surprised you don’t have franchise too

2010s was the decade of the used car dealer. Carvana, Carmax, etc. All now facing immense headwinds. 2020s will be the decade of the franchise dealer. Asbury, Lithia, Group 1, etc. All now supported by massive tailwinds.