Mobile Auctions Expand Reach

Manheim’s fast-growing mobile auction network, now in more than 10 states and expanding soon to Canada, extends dealers' market reach and includes all the excitement of a physical auction − but hosted locally on their own lots.  Participating sellers are finding sales by attracting customers from previously underserved markets – buyers who now have access to inventory in their local area.

“Although we pioneered mobile auctions over 10 years ago, we’re seeing dealer demand for them starting to soar,” said Bonnie Hensler, vice president of Manheim Product Development. “Dealers tell us that this type of sales channel lets independents and other local buyers gain efficient access to their used vehicles, while benefitting from the many services that our physical auctions offer.”

Because Manheim’s mobile auction travels to a dealer’s lot, transportation and travel costs for dealers are reduced. Most mobile auctions are facilitated via a converted RV trailer, using a satellite dish to enable the full Simulcast capability that no other auction company offers. Manheim provides an auctioneer and staff, the dealer supplies the cars and the location. Manheim also provides the support services dealers have come to expect and appreciate, including financing, condition reports and post-sales inspections.  

“When we finally committed to Manheim and the mobile auction, we began to see results immediately,” said Don Allen, vice president at Jerry’s in Weatherford, Texas. “Today, 10 years later, we sometimes need to have two sales per month in order to run all the cars. The partnership we have formed with Manheim has been very beneficial for us. We will sell approximately 200 vehicles at each mobile sale and with Manheim’s help, have very good participation from the wholesale dealers.”

Not only does Manheim bring all the technology and expertise to host an auction on the dealer’s grounds, it also brings the buyers – more than 80 percent local independents; the rest wholesalers or franchised dealers – through a targeted marketing effort. A typical Manheim mobile auction will draw up to 90 live buyers and up to 50 off-site buyers, often international, via Simulcast.

Mobile auctions reflect Manheim’s continued investment in giving dealers more choices as to how they conduct business. The ideal seller candidate for a Manheim mobile auction is a dealer with a minimum of 100 vehicles for sale each month and requires turnover of at least that number 10 to 12 times a year. Manheim’s traditional auction fees will apply.

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