My Mother: My Locator

"Mom! Mom! Mooooooommmm!??!.......Babe....Babe.....Honey....Where's my-?" How often do we hear these words? As moms, it seems we are often the keepers of tissues, car keys, eye glasses, wallets, kids stuff and more. Over the past few weeks I've been working with my 11 year old on him keeping track of his own basketball bag when we are at tournaments and games. This has surely been an undertaking. I can't even convince him to bring his own water bottle without me reminding him 500 times! 

He is still the sweetest boy ever. And, with Marcus about to start traveling   (he is heading to N.A.D.A. School this year), I'm having a hard time keeping up with him and all of his stuff. (*Fingers Crossed we will have our new big superstore soon!!!*)

We have scaled back our retail operation while my husband and business partner, Marcus, completes General Manager training. Our hope is to have bought or opened a New Car Franchise by 2014. Bob Stallings Auto Group has already put a store under contract. In the meantime, the Used Car Dealership needs to be smaller and more manageable. So, yes, I'm back to doing more locates.

What is a "locate"? It's me being crazy trying to take on the job of finding MORE THINGS for OTHER PEOPLE! Actually, it is fulfilling my passion for finding the best luxury or budget vehicles. When we told our VIP clients that we were not carrying cars in stock anymore most of them were disappointed. Marcus has such a passion and talent for finding the best used cars available. Even though we aren't going to keep our warehouse stocked, we are deciding to keep our resources available to the public. 

Just this week, I was contacted by an old high school friend named "Daniella" asking if I can still help with credit problems. Once we were able to submit her credit application to our Specialized Lenders, we were able to find just the car that she needed. We were able to get her approved on a late model, reputable brand with a manufacturer's warranty and less than 40k MILES! 

This is what makes us different! This is a "locate"! Sure, our specialty is Mercedes Benz AMG, BMW M Series and other unique luxury cars. But, my favorite thing to do in business is to help out friends with financial struggles. How awesome! I know that if "Daniella" went to another dealership or 'tote the note' lot, she either wouldn't be approved or her down payment would have been way too high. We were able to keep her payments around $250 with just $1,000 down! 

Ask me to:
Locate Your New or Used Car
Appraise Your Trade In or Buy Your Car
Get You Approved or Visit The Payment Calculator
Just Talk (E-mail Me)
Connect on LinkedIn
Join My E-mail List

(Enjoying our Sponsorship at the Dallas Margarita Society Ball)

*The Dirty Deets of Our New Company*

I know some might be visiting this blog just to find out "an inside secret" of what's going on  with our new business. Marcus is in General Management training, working hard for a new manufacturer's dealership. We can't announce anything publicly other than that. In the meantime, we are still open at BobStallingsCars.com. The majority of our retail operations have stopped. But, we are still carrying a small amount of specialty cars in stock. And of course, if you read the above, we are still doing locates. All of our relationships are still in tact with lenders, banks and financial institutions. We are still ready to provide our talents to our clients! As soon as we can say more, we will! 

Join Our Company E-Mail List Here

How to Summerize Your Car

Women's Car Care Clinic: How to "Summerize" Your Car 

It's 107 degrees, the warm Texas sun is shining brightly. You've just located your car in the parking lot of the supermarket. The trunk is filled with frozen foods that are melting by the minute, a pint-sized dictator refuses to buckle the seatbelt despite various threats including, "no tv time" and, another usually-cute court jester has just smeared his melted chocolate all over your car window to "practice drawing his name." 

 




Although you thoroughly enjoyed doing your hair and make-up this morning you now look like something akin to Raccoon/Peg Bundy. You're sweaty, your hair has frizzed up, your eye makeup is smeared but, somehow you've made it passed the part where you return your grocery cart to the cart return. Anxiously awaiting getting the heck out of the hot sun, you hurry back to your car. You know with every ounce (err pound) of woman that you are that once the crisp, cold blast of air hits your face you won't feel like crying any more. You sit down, burn your backside on the scorching leather, bite your lip and let out a little eek. In just literally 4 seconds until you'll make it to the air conditioned bliss that you've grown to require in the summer time. The keys are in the ignition, you turn the starter and- nothing. Flabbergasted, you try again and again and again. Your car has broke down in the middle of summer...now what?

Forget "Summerizing" I just want a new car...visit my website

Avoiding the Auto Repair Shop Blues

Prep the Cooling System If the pavements feels hot enough to cook an egg, then your engine is likely hot enough to roast a pig. During the summer, your engine can reach temperatures well over 200 degrees, which is why a proper-working coolant system is important. Inspect your radiator and hoses for any cracks, tears or strange lumps. Next, check your coolant levels and add antifreeze if they appear low. Even if levels are normal, consider adding fresh antifreeze since old coolant has the ability to create an electric charge that will corrode your radiator and engine. 

If you still find your engine’s temperatures rising to high levels as you’re driving, remember to turn on the heat (yes, the heat) which will suck out the hot air under the hood and help cool your engine. 

Check the Air Conditioner When you don’t treat your car right during the summer, be prepared to face its revenge when the air conditioning cuts out on the hottest day of the year. The key drivers of your car’s A/C are the belts that move the compressor, so examine them for any visible signs of wear.Also, the A/C won’t work properly if the vents are clogged by debris like leaves and dirt left from winter. Lastly, have your refrigerant (coolant) checked out by a professional.


Change the Battery Wandering the streets of an unknown town begging the locals for a jump isn’t a great summer activity. On average, car batteries generally don’t last beyond three years. If your battery is older than that, it’s time to consider getting it changed. Once your battery starts losing power, it becomes harder to turn the alternator and start your engine, leaving you stranded.


Take a Look at the Brakes If you plan on traveling this summer somewhere with many hills or stormy weather, you could find yourself reenacting an action movie as your brakes go out. Steep inclines will wear down your brake pads, while wet brakes are slower to respond; not to mention the havoc caused by high temperatures on your brake system. However, brakes are better off in the hands of a mechanic who can accurately tell you how much life they have left.

and this one will be hilarious to watch the husbands attempt....

Check the towing capacity You’re already hauling your kids and a trunk full of luggage around the country this summer, so why not add a boat or a camper? The reason not to is because it could be illegal, and stupid. If you plan on towing anything this summer, you need to review your gross vehicle weight, which is the top weight for your automobile, trailer and load. You don’t want to find out on the highway that your car can’t tow a yacht.

When towing, it’s important to distribute the weight by balancing it among the hitch and the axles. The hitch should carry only nine to 11% of the weight. In addition, the weight on your trailer should be split with 40% in the back and 60% in the front. Also, double check to ensure safety chains around the hitch are secure.

Check the Windshield Wipers The weather is very active in the summer months, so be sure to avoid driving with your head out the window because you neglected to replace your windshield wipers. Your wipers get assaulted by rain, snow and sleet, as well as ultraviolet rays from the sun that deteriorate the rubber. In fact, it’s a good idea to replace them twice a year, even if they appear to be in fair condition. Thankfully, windshield wipers are one car part that are relatively inexpensive to replace.

At BobStallingsCars.com we can do a "Summerize" Check Up on your car for FREE if you're a fan on FACEBOOK. Call 972.248.2277 or email the Dallas Car Wife for more information. 

Check out my sales and specials on our website...

SUVS

Sedans

Coupes

Patience and Purging...Spring Organizing for your Car

Spring's Buzzing...both at work and home. I'm sure for most of you, with youth sports and all of the other Spring activities your car can sometimes become disorganized. One way I've tried to help is by offering car detail coupons for BobStallingsCars.com VIP clients. It's easy to sign up...just become a facebook fan.

But, this week while I got a chance to do about 10 minutes of reading, I came across a good article in Experience Life magazine. This is a good reminder of how to keep our sanity through the Spring and Summer months. A good way is to feel good about the car you spend so much time in.

One of the authors in the magazine talked about how organizing is a constant thing. The second she organizes her purse she remembers that the silverware drawer needs to be vacumed.

It’s about this time that I realize I need to do some serious decluttering. So I get up a little early and clear off the top of my desk. (I feel unexpectedly better.) Over the weekend, I fold and put away a big pile of laundry. (My cortisol levels drop, and I find I can breathe a little more deeply.) I file my paperwork and put a vase of flowers on the dining-room table where the giant pile of mail used to be. (Ah, my life once again seems manageable.) I toss out crusty old toiletries and take a load of not-often-used stuff to Goodwill. (I drive home with a renewed sense of vigor and purpose.)

There is also a great little slideshow with before and afters of how to keep your car organized....

With a little bit of patience every day when you get home, keeping your car clean and simplified can be done! But, when you get tired just remember-our husbands may invision our car washing labor like this:

But really, we all know that too many chores for us really make us this tired, old, crabby, wife:

If you start feeling a little too much like the tired wife instead of the bikini wife-just hit up our facebook fan page and I'll send you some detailing coupons.

At BobStallingsCars.com we strive to simplify your life by offering luxurious amenities to our clients just like the big dealers do. Whether you've spent $15,000 or $50,000 on a vehicle with us-we offer luxury services like free loaner cars, discounted auto detailing, deeply discounted service, maintenance and body work and a executive level concierge staff that can facilitate it all. Ok, the executive concierge level staff is pretty much all me and Stefanie (our office manager). But everyone knows how sweet we are, right?



Stop Praying? Advice from a fellow Car Wife

Stop Praying?

 

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2 (NIV)

This verse seems so easy to follow. It's non-controversial. Democrats and Republicans don't argue over the constitutionality of it. It applies to Christians, athiests, sinners and saints alike. It doesn't just say be humble sometimes or when we have to buy a Hyundai instead of the Mercedes of our dreams. It doesn't say that we only have to be gentle when we tuck our kids in at night. It doesn't mean we only have to be patient when our husbands are communicating with us or when we aren't 15 minutes late to go somewhere. In fact, it reminds us that sometimes we are "bearing" others and their behavior. It also reminds us that we are bearing with one another. I interpret this as that we area all bearing each other from time to time.

Running a dealership and being a wife and mom doesn't allow me much time to read but, this week I did have a few minutes to read a couple of interesting articles. This week, a friend and fellow car wife shared this amazing blog about how to stop praying about your husband, rather for your husband on facebook.

God wasn’t looking for me to be a “fix him” wife.

God was looking for me to be a “love him” wife.

I needed to stop praying. At least, I needed to stop praying the way I had been. Yes, there were things my husband needed to work on. But nothing good was happening when all I did was complain about him.

I needed to be a wife daring enough to ask God to reveal to me how to love him. And I needed to ask God where I was going wrong—where I was being selfish—where I needed to work.

When I shifted my focus on letting God change me, that’s when I started to see real progress.



Achieving that progress in all areas of my life is a daily marathon for me. A client was talking with me yesterday about what it's like to wake up, go to work, and go home at night with my husband. This client had caught both of us on a good day. :) I told her there are days when we disagree or are really impatient with each other. But, for the most part we are very respectful of each other. Our used car dealership is filled with humor throughout the day. When we do have those arguments, we try our best to leave them at work. Finding balance, forgiveness, patience, humility and simplicity brings so much peace... when I can remember to find them all. Be patient...with our children, with our finances, with our work endeavors, with our husbands and ultimately be patient with ourselves. Sometimes we need to change how we pray. This was a great reminder. Thanks LK, for this share on facebook.

 

Navigating the Finance Road

Navigating the Finance Road

Being in the car business, I see many types of people and deal with multiple personalities (sometimes within just one client). The vast majority of my clientele is extremely happy with their experience at BobStallingsCars.com. This is easily proven on various websites where we are rated:

            Cars.com

Facebook

Dealer Rater

After dealing with a customer today whose entire family was rude, I started wondering if this teenager would ever get the chance to value what I do for a living.

Another perk about doing what I do: I don't go home gloating over how much money I made. I do go home in awe and gratitude because I was able to make someone's day better. In contrast to my rude customer today, last week I helped a woman buy a car with low income and bad credit. She had financed a car before, 3 actually. She unfortunately had co-signed on cars for 2 of her children who never paid on time. She was in her late 60s and no longer had a full-time job. She cared for her grandchildren every day while her daughter went to work. After pre-qualifying this lady, we realized that she could buy a 6 year old Lexus with less than 100k miles. When she came in to sign her paperwork she literally cried. She told us that she had never bought a used car that was in such beautiful condition before. She told us that because her income was low and her credit was bad, that other car dealers had just delivered her in cars that were dirty and broken. My husband Marcus and I have felt so much warmth in our hearts and gratitude for our opportunites, that we were able to make this woman happy.

          While selling cars, I am able to take a look at many client's credit ratings and reports. So many in the Texas area have been able to maintain employment and keep their debt low. While others have had multiple struggles with employment, late payments and even home foreclosures. This has required us to go out and find lenders that will lend to these lower credit clientele without raking them over the coals.The myriad of lenders that we have partnered with has brought us clientele from throughout the country. With low shipping costs and respectful pricing, customers prefer to do business with us in Texas rather than in New York, Atlanta and California where their dollar won't stretch. I signed up with two new lenders this week so that our clients in Louisiana could buy the cars that they want.

I am looking forward to helping more clients tomorrow...Will you be next?

Now I ain't saying she's a gold digger....

Digging for Gold

I just did a simple search of "car dealer wife" and came up with the article on Cal Worthington's divorce. It is sad! Cal is in his 90s and his wife is in her 40s. Apparently he has even reposessed her Bentley. 

Anna Worthington embodies the stereotypical car wife. She showed up once he had already achieved his success to take a permanent test drive of his bank account.

Although, there are many gold digging car wives, most are not. Most of us are good, honest and loving women who support our husband's desire to support their families the best they can.

I am the luckiest car wife that I know of. One reason that Marcus partnered with my Dad on this business was so that our careers and marriage could both be good for family and our faith. BobStallingsCars.com has made our marriage closer, stronger and ultimately my husband is home for dinner and Saturday youth sports. He isn't out looking for loose women to occupy his need for fun. He is actually able to take the time to cultivate and maintain a loving marriage. Kudos to the many Car Guys in our circle who are faithful to their wives. This group of ladies really deserves to be happy. In fact, I'd say their husbands have struck gold in their wives who have supported them emotionally, spiritually, mentally and more as they were on their way up!

How to be a Dallas Car Wife in a Nutshell: The 4 Basics

How to be  a Dallas Car Wife in a Nutshell: The 4 Basics

When I first began dating Marcus I learned just about all I need to know about how to be a car wife. Wives are judged on the following: How well you raise your children (since you're nearly on your own), how often you complain about the long hours that your husband works, the type of watch that you wear and the type of car that you drive.

The type of car that a "car wife" drives will just about make or break your husband as he tries to gain success in the car business. If you drive a minivan then either you're too wholesome to be a Car Wife or, your husband isn't successful. If you're viewed as too wholesome, the boss will assume that your husand can't make it in the cuthroat car world. Ditto the watch...Not too flashy, not too cheap!

So, let me tell you how I met my husband: he was the manager on my car deal when I bought a minivan. About a year later we began dating and I promptly had to trade my mad mom minivan mobile in for a sedan. By that time, I woudn't have been caught dead driving the van anyway. The glamour of the car business started around that same time: I dreamt of being the "have it all" woman with a luxurious and sleek car.

Who would have ever have thought that in  years I would not only be a real Car Wife but, that I'd also be running a successful car dealership?