#426 - AI Bots in the Dealership: How to Use Them Without Losing The Sale

About this episode

The episode discusses the effective use of AI bots in dealerships while maintaining human connections in sales.

In this episode of the Independent Dealer Podcast, Jeff Watson and Luke Godwin sit down with Maggie Pugesek, Partner at C&M Coaching, to talk about one of the most misunderstood tools in the dealership right now — AI bots. From lead response and after-hours coverage to the ways salespeople are accidentally killing bot-set appointments, this conversation breaks down how to use AI as a sales asset without losing the human connection that closes deals. What You'll Learn: Why AI bots are a game-changer for after-hours lead response and appointment setting — and where they fall short How salespeople are undermining bots by telling customers "that was just a bot" — and how to stop it The right way to train your team to work with AI instead of against it How to use bots to handle low-level follow-up so your best personalities can focus on building relationships What the future of the dealership floor looks like when AI handles the process and people handle the rapport If you're a buy here pay here or independent dealer trying to figure out how AI fits into your sales process without costing you deals, this episode is your starting point. Support the businesses that support…

People in this episode

Hosts: Jeff Watson, Luke Godwin

Guest: Maggie Pugesek

Topics covered

• AI bots
• dealership sales
• lead response
• appointment setting
• human connection
• sales training
• BHPH dealers

Keywords

• AI bots
• dealership
• sales process
• lead response
• appointment setting
• sales training
• BHPH
• customer management

Sponsors

Buckeye Risk Services, BlytzPay, Ituran GPS

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: C&M Coaching

More episodes of The Independent Dealer Podcast

• #435 - How One Dealership Saved $55,000 a Year in Collector Salary · June 11, 2026 · 35 min
• #23 - Monday Minute | Random Process, Random Results · June 8, 2026 · 4 min
• #434 - The 2-Week Job That Turned Into 30 Years | The Bill Hancock Story · June 4, 2026 · 41 min
• #22 - Monday Minute | The Last 10% That's Costing You the Sale · June 1, 2026 · 4 min
• #433 - What If You Don't Train Them, And They Stay? · May 28, 2026 · 40 min
• #21 - Monday Minute | The $10 Flashlight Costing You $100K · May 25, 2026 · 5 min