Used-Vehicle Prices Fall in May: Manheim Index
Wholesale used-vehicle prices declined in May from the previous month, with sales prices at the retail level declining as well, automotive services company Cox Automotive said in a June 6
The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index, which measures pricing
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Motor 1
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Here's Why Mechanics Hate Sending You Videos. And Why They're Wrong
First, it was photo evidence. Then it was inspection reports. Now your car's oil change comes with a bonus feature: a mechanic begging you to approve repairs on camera, like OnlyFans for alternators. Online creator Austin Conroy (@dealerplateguy) flexes his parody chops in a recent TikTok video that paints a picture of how unenthused and checked-out repair technicians can be, especially when forced to make a video detailing needed repairs on a vehicle. "I did recommend some things on your vehicle. If you could just go ahead and buy those because that's really the only reason I'm gonna get paid to do this," Conroy deadpans, looking and sounding like a hostage reading from a script in the video that's been viewed more than 600,000 times. "On first inspection, your car is blue," he says. "I did note that your tires are black. There was definitely some oil in your car.' Why Do Technicians Have to Do Videos Now? Comedy aside, Conroy's clip is a deadpan roast of a very real industry trend: the rise of service inspection videos. Once reserved for high-end dealerships and overly suspicious customers, these short clips are now popping up everywhere . Industry leaders like Cox Automotive say the videos help to improve trust and transparency, which has been on the decline for customers in recent years. In theory, a technician records a quick walkaround of your car, highlighting any worn brake pads, cracked belts, or mysterious leaks. It's like getting a FaceTime from your mechanic, while also getting pitched on a new air filter. The goal is to help customers understand (and approve) recommended repairs without the usual suspicion that comes with a paper estimate. For years, Cox has seen the use of video as a best practice for dealerships that want to perform well in the digital landscape. The reason why is simple: visuals sell repairs. Instead of trusting the advisor's pen-and-paper estimate, customers can see the questionable brake pad wear or stray oil leak. Data show that attaching video to multipoint inspections results in a 70% lift in revenue per repair order and fosters 53 percent greater customer loyalty. Analysis from Affinitiv emphasizes that videos are incredibly persuasive. By giving customers visual proof, shops sidestep the usual 'yeah, but do I really need it?' skepticism, turning hesitation into approval. Behavioral science teaches us that processing fluency—how easily we understand something—influences how much we trust it. Studies show that smooth visuals, clear annotations, and confident delivery can amplify perceived credibility. That means a well-shot video with a friendly tone may feel more trustworthy, even if it's still a marketing pitch at heart. The inspection trend took off during the pandemic, when contactless service became the new normal and dealerships needed ways to sell repairs remotely. Tools like Xtime Engage, AutoVitals, and Uptake now allow mechanics to shoot, annotate, and send short inspection videos as part of a 'digital-first' customer experience. 'Oh, I'm Sure the Techs are Loving This lol' But as suggested via Conroy's comedy work, not every technician signed up to be a brand ambassador. Many are flat-rate employees, meaning they only get paid for billable repairs, not for time spent filming monologues about your cabin air filter. As the automotive-minded folks on Reddit have noted, that's more free work without any guaranteed benefit. Conroy's clip was heavy with commenters bemoaning the trend, including repair techs who see them as added free labor. 'Video inspections are the worst thing to come to the industry as a tech,' one wrote simply. 'I just record the car for 5 seconds and call it a day,' added another, showing there's a lot of box-checking and little oversight going on. But one supporter saw the videos as a plus for his employment: 'As a tech, THIS IS AMAZING!!! you can speak and persuade the customers in the videos more than the advisor who has never worked on a car, I can't tell you how many upsells I've had from videos, maybe make better persuading videos and yall won't hate them.' Motor1 reached out to Conroy via direct message for comment. Now Trending 'Big Gap Here:' Man Buys Hyundai Elantra. Then He Realizes Newer Models All Have This Design Flaw That Leads To Rust Enterprise Customer Skips Protection Fee on 2025 Toyota Corolla Rental. Then She Gets the Bill Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Epoch Times
a day ago
- Epoch Times
Used-Vehicle Prices Fall in May: Manheim Index
Wholesale used-vehicle prices declined in May from the previous month, with sales prices at the retail level declining as well, automotive services company Cox Automotive said in a June 6 The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index, which measures pricing
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Fear of Trump's tariffs sparked a rush on used cars—now prices are easing
Used car prices ticked down slightly last month in spite of uncertainty around tariffs, but buying a new old whip still costs more than it used to. Supersonic air travel gets green light in U.S. after 50-year ban lifted Why you're catching the 'ick' so easily, according to science How to Watch George Clooney's Broadway play 'Good Night, and Good Luck' live for free In April, the average cost for a used vehicle shot up as consumers raced to lock in purchases ahead of potential price hikes driven by President Trump's ongoing trade wars. The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index from Cox Automotive, which tracks used car sales in the U.S., showed a 1.4% drop in prices last month, but prices are still up 4% compared with the same time last year. In April, used car prices saw their biggest spike since October 2023. 'While the market continues to digest the impact of tariffs, we could see a bit higher levels of wholesale depreciation over the summer,' Jeremy Robb, Cox's automotive senior director of economic and industry insights, said in the report, while noting that low inventory could act as a counterbalance, driving prices back up. Compared with a year ago, luxury cars saw the biggest price increase at 6.5%, with SUVs close behind with a 5.2% year-over-year increase. Electric vehicle prices were up 3.1% compared with the same time last May. Used car prices in the U.S. have been a telling indicator of market forces in recent years. In the pandemic's early days, supply chain issues constricted the availability of new cars, driving more buyers to the used vehicle market. That demand sent used car prices up, and they mostly stayed that way. In March, Trump announced a 25% tariff on imported cars and car parts, sowing fresh inflation concerns and sending supply chains into chaos again. Trump later eased tariffs for vehicles assembled in the U.S. using foreign parts—a reprieve intended to give U.S. automakers a break while they scramble to determine the feasibility of building domestic supply chains to replace parts sourcing abroad. This post originally appeared at to get the Fast Company newsletter: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
