Car Selling Secrets

Tom and Doug are joined in studio by MN House of Representatives member Pat Garofolo. We dive deep into a discussion of the MN budget in light of the Corona Virus and his views on the Governor's stay at home order. Along the way Pat talks about getting fired as a young man as a result of calling into the KQ morning show in the 90's and blowing off Frank Sinatra. Never a dull moment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom and Doug are joined in studio by Mick Sterling who has been a band leader in the Twin Cities for 40 years. In addition, for the past 11 years he has headed the 30 days Foundation which helps people in need by covering utility bills, car repairs etc in an effort to help working people stay out of what can be a downward spiral. To learn more about the foundation, https://www.the30-daysfoundation.org/about-us With everyone tired of talking about Covid 19, Tom, Doug and Mick talk music both local and national. Minneapolis is an amazingly small town and even though we've never formally met, it turns out we were at many of the same parties and concerts. Most don't know that James Brown played at the Cabooze on the west bank in the late 70's. Doug and Mick were at the show. Tune in next week when we interview Tesla driving Republican Minnesota House of Representative, Pat Garofolo. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom and Doug are joined by the wizard of the ST. Paul Saints, Mike Veeck. It's a show all about baseball and a welcome respite from Covid 19. Mike is a 3rd generation baseball owner and regales us with some of the worst failures of his marketing career including but not limited to getting thrown out of pro ball for 10 years after blowing up a pile of disco records at Comisky stadium. He talks about donating Saints marketing funds to local businesses during the crisis. Then we take a trip into baseball history talking about how is father signed both Satchel Paige and Larry Doby (first black player in the American league) to pro contracts. Mike is a great story teller and his skills are on full display here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom and Doug are joined by Walser's SVP of Minnesota Operations, Charlie Swenson. The show starts out with Charlie talking about some incredibly bad decisions made by teen age boys, learning how to drive a Semi at 90 miles per hour, at night, while his dad takes a nap and growing up in Robbinsdale. Along the way we discuss 'Walser to You' and how a customer-centric business model has allowed some success in these most difficult of times. Tune in next week when Mike Veeck, the mad scientist behind the ST. Paul Saints will be our special guest. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A guest free episode with Tom, Doug, Melissa and Andy. We talk about Melissa's experience with Walser to You (which was excellent)  and the refunding of the payroll protection program. Tips on how to care for your car while working from home, All State insurance rebates, Honda's program for first responders and Health care workers. It devolves into a discussion of 70's late night AM radio and Tom gives tips on how to get fired as a 20 year old DJ with a 19 market share. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We were excited to have Andrew Walser on, but unfortunately he had to cancel at the last minute.  It had to do with the Federal Payroll Protection Program which we discuss at length.  Cash for clunkers was a 3 billion dollar program; the Payroll Protection is 350 billion.  We also discuss the success of 'Walser to you'.  Finally, long time listener and guest Officer Dave calls in to discuss the dramatic drop-off in crime, the insanity of the Seattle, Washington police chief, and the possibility of fan-less major league baseball. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a special episode of Car Selling Secrets where we've collected the stories of politicians, comedians, radio stars and their families, church ladies, ad executives and cops talking about their very first cars. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom and Doug are joined in studio by Sarah Sprinthall and Colton Ray. Sarah starts out with her Francis McDormand influenced story about her 1985 Mitsubishi Mirage. Then we get down to brass tacks and talk about how Walser is dealing with the Corona virus outbreak. Colton Ray, Walser Automotive Marketing Director, talks about their brand new service, “Walser to you” which allows customers to purchase vehicle from the comfort of their homes. When Andy and Melissa discover it also includes free service pickup, we book our first two “Walser to you” service appointments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We do our first ever live remote from the Twin Cities auto show. Doug is joined at the show by Mary Velline, who is in charge of the show, and Walser General Managers Brycen Eberwien from Subaru; Andy Swanson from Hyundai; Jason Loechler from Coon Rapids Nissan and David Berwald from Burnsville Mazda. We actually spend most of the show talking about product (for a change) with some fun stories thrown in on the side. Join us next week when John Kriesel will be our guest. John barely survived an IED attack while serving in the Minnesota National Guard in Iraq and then served in the Minnesota Legislature before launching a career as an author and motivational speaker. It should be really interesting as John even has his own Wiki page. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom and Doug are joined by the mayor of South Saint Paul, Jimmy Francis, and his grandfather Carl.  Jimmy wins the internet with his 'my first car' story involving a dead deer, a Dodge slant six, and a retired farmer who wants to trade titles at midnight and calls him 'Dutchman' for no apparent reason.  Carl talks about his days as an 80 year old debt collector and the Minnesota polka circuit of 1947. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom and Doug are joined in studio by Eddie Spadino. Eddie is an over the road truck driver with more than two million miles under his belt. We discuss costs, accidents, road hazards and how truck drivers are paid. Eddie also talks about pet peeves. Pro tip, don’t try to cut off something that weighs over 40 tons and also, don’t drive a pickup truck into a semi that’s stopped. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Lambert, President of Minnesota Auto Dealer's Association, join Tom and Doug in studio to talk about the Twin Cities Auto Show. We discuss the new Corvette, Mustang and give away some free tickets to the show. Scott explains what auto dealer lobbyists do and why this work is important. To Scott's mortification, Tom admits to Tesla ownership. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s Car Selling Secrets recaps a week of technical difficulties and tardy guests. First, we interview MSNBC’s Chris Matthews who is on to promote his podcast. Doug completely ignores the purpose and asks Chris about his days speech writing during the Carter administration and being Tip O’neill’s Chief of Staff. Next up we visit with the tardy local music legend Mick Sterling who talks about the charity he started, 30-days foundation, to help Minnesota families in need. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The show is called Car Selling Secrets, but nobody ever said we can't talk about other kinds of secrets.  Eating disorders, for example, are often kept a secret.  Some secrets are worth keeping; that one isn't.  And speaking of confessions, there are almost as many denominations of Christianity as there are people on earth.  Several of those denominations are represented in this room. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You've heard Tom call himself a centrist.  Now hear another Tom call himself a centrist.  This one has proof, because he ran as an independent, and somehow got more than .01% of the vote.  Probably because this was before The Great Fracturing, as we assuming future historians will call what happened to US politics in the past several years. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People often make poor decisions that seem like a good idea at the time, whether they be that first drink leading to 30 years of alcoholism or letting your 16 year old anywhere near a vehicle.  Not to diminish one or the other.  Fewer and fewer 16 year olds are driving anyway, and if you're a parent your immediate reaction is probably "thank god".  Besides, with self-driving cars just around the corner, soon you'll be able to rest easy knowing your teenager got to and from church and nowhere else. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In keeping with tradition, today's Car Selling Secrets is mostly about anything except cars.  We've got comedy, parenting, the evolution of the cell phone.  We even touch on electric cars only to instead delve into the politics thereof rather than the car itself.  We do talk about cars somewhat.  Especially old cars with some very questionable design choices. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a million below freezing, and you know what that means: your tires are low.  Don't make the mistake of filling them up over and over, only to have to let air out when it warms up.  There's a space-age gas called nitrogen that Walser can hook you up with that'll take care of that.  It'll even reduce wear on your tires should you decide to go over a hundred miles per hour.  Disclaimer: Walser does not approve of going over a hundred miles per hour. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost everyone had a first car, at least in America where 50 miles away is "close".  And almost everyone north of the equator who ever had a car has skidded on ice.  It's a lesson you have to learn by doing, but there are some things you can keep in mind to make your first (or thirtieth) skid slightly less damaging.  Doug knows all of them.  He majored in it.  Maybe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The age old battle in the upper midwest is police vs Minneapolis.  Literally Minneapolis, not the people living there.  Word on the street is that the tangled mess of bureaucracy that runs it might not be the most efficient or benevolent.  What does this have to do with cars, you ask?  We have no answer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.