Auction rings up sales for auto dealers

MOLINE, Mich. (WOOD) - Welcome to the Tuesday night sale at West Michigan Auto Auction in Moline, a place where the ding of the bell means a sale -- something that's hard to come by these days when talking automotive.

"We try to call it the light for the dealers. We try to be the light for them. A lot of guys aren't selling a lot on the lots so this is an alternative place for them to sell their cars," Troy Rubey, the manager at the auction.

He said tough economic times and the struggling auto industry have changed the scene a bit for used car sales at their shop.

"On average, we're 50-60 percent. With the economy, we're getting an increase in cars to the sale attending and then a decrease on cars sold."

About 30 percent sales on Tuesday night, he said. And a different sort of night it was, as it was just dealers in attendance.

"We used to carry around 100 cars, 50 on each lot. Right now we're carrying 25-30 on each lot and we'll probably go down to 20 on each lot for the winter, and hopefully things will pick back up in the spring," said Ross Riemer of Ross's Auto Sales in Rockford.

Riemer has been selling used cars in the area since 1979. He says now you have to cut down to stay in business, and fresh faces are always best, hence turning vehicles over at the auction.

The reality of the times, he says, was evident Tuesday with the closing of Classic Chevrolet in Wyoming.

Riemer said they have had a long association with the dealer.

"Today we called for parts and they recently made a recording that said, 'Thank you for your past business, however we've ceased operations.'"

Scenarios like this are where Rubey says they like to step in.

"Whether they use us...we'll try to help them, that's for sure," said Rubey, and try to expedite a sale.

Ross said he is anxious to see the fine print of the potential auto bailout deal in Washington, D.C. He, like many others 24 Hour News 8 spoke with the past few days, said we can't wait too long or it will simply mean more hurt.