What Is a Buyback Campaign?
A buyback campaign is a targeted SMS outreach to customers who own vehicles your dealership wants to acquire. The AI identifies high-value targets based on:
- Vehicle year, make, model that aligns with your inventory needs
- Mileage and age sweet spots for your market
- Customers approaching end of warranty or financing term
- Service customers with vehicles in good condition
How the SMS Flow Works
1. Target selection. Upload your customer list or connect your DMS. The system identifies ideal buyback candidates. 2. Personalized outreach. AI crafts messages specific to each customer's vehicle. 3. Photo collection. When a customer responds with interest, the AI asks for photos of their vehicle via MMS. 4. Preliminary valuation. Based on photos and vehicle details, provide a ballpark offer. 5. Appointment booking. Schedule an in-person appraisal for serious sellers.
Example Buyback SMS
AI: "Hey Dave, this is Lisa from Capital Chevrolet. We are actually looking for 2021-2022 Silverados right now and I see you have one. Would you be interested in hearing what we could offer for yours? Even if you are not ready to sell, it is good to know what it is worth. Reply STOP to opt out."
Dave: "Sure what are you offering?"
AI: "Great! For a 2022 Silverado LT with typical mileage we are seeing values around $38,000-$42,000 depending on condition. Could you send me a couple photos? One of the exterior and one of the odometer would help me get you a more accurate number."
Dave: *sends two photos*
AI: "Thanks Dave! That looks like it is in great shape. Based on what I am seeing I would estimate around $40,500. Would you like to bring it by for an official appraisal? We could have a number for you in about 20 minutes and there is no obligation."
Why SMS Beats Traditional Buyback Methods
- Direct mail costs $1-2 per piece with 1-2% response rates - Email gets 15-20% open rates and 1-3% click rates - Phone calls go to voicemail 80% of the time - SMS gets 98% open rates and 30-45% response rates on warm audiences
Results from Canadian Dealerships
Dealerships running buyback campaigns with RefireLeads typically see:
- 25-35% response rate from existing customers
- 8-12% willing to discuss selling their vehicle
- 3-5 acquired vehicles per month per 500 contacts reached
- $2,000-4,000 savings vs auction per vehicle acquired
Getting Started with Buyback Campaigns
The fastest path is exporting your service customer list and filtering by vehicles that match your inventory needs. Even a list of 200 targeted customers can yield 5-10 serious conversations in the first week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I collect vehicle photos over SMS?
Yes. RefireLeads supports MMS receiving, so customers can text photos directly. The AI will guide them on what to photograph for the best preliminary estimate.
What if a customer is not ready to sell right now?
The AI notes their interest level and the system can follow up in 30, 60, or 90 days automatically. Many customers say no today but yes in a few months.
How do I decide which vehicles to target?
Look at your lot gaps, your most popular used models by days-on-lot, and what sells fastest in your market. RefireLeads can help filter your customer base by vehicle type.
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Start reactivating your dormant CRM contacts with AI-powered SMS.
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