Auto Remarketing is hosting NADA Used Car Guide for a free webinar to help dealerships smooth out what consumers consider one of most dreaded parts of the buying process.

During the free session titled, “Close More Deals, Negotiate Less,” a pair of NADA UGC experts will ask dealers how satisfied their customers are with the store’s appraisal process and how it compares to recent research.

The Deloitte 2014 Global Automotive Consumer Study indicates that consumer dissatisfaction with the appraisal process is at 79 percent. That’s up from a dissatisfaction rate of 68 percent in 2009.

In this webinar, NADA Used Car Guide experts will identify the factors that are primary concerns for consumers and the actions dealers can take to improve the appraisal process. Managers will learn how to make the process one that consumers can understand, earn their trust faster and close more deals with less back and forth.

Webinar presenters Stu Zalud and Jim Dodd will demonstrate how taking the consumer through the appraisal process from start to finish, showing them everything that goes into the store number and presenting that number in an official appraisal document will close more deals faster, without the back and forth.

The webinar is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Leveraging more than 35 years of automotive retail experience, Zalud brings a dealer-focused perspective and insight to his role as director of dealer services for NADA Used Car Guide. Zalud joined NADA in this position in April 2007 and is responsible for promoting NADA Used Car Guide’s data and services to franchised and independent dealers, presenting at various industry events, and contributing to the development of future products and services to meet changing dealer needs.

Zalud’s previous experience includes 30 years as an Oldsmobile and Pontiac dealer in Cleveland and eight years as a Cadillac dealer in Hilton Head, S.C. In addition, he served on the NADA board of directors, NADA Used Car Guide board of advisors, and as chairperson of both the Greater Cleveland and Ohio Automobile Dealers Associations. He also served a five year term as a member of Ohio’s Dealer Licensing Division of the State.

Dodd joined the NADA Used Car Guide team in 2010, bringing more than 10 years of auction experience and dealer-focused perspective to his role as the account executive for automotive dealers.

At Southern Auto Auction, Dodd held various positions in sales and marketing. As Southern’s director of marketing, Dodd focused on information technology to develop electronic delivery systems that communicate auction information and data to dealers in real time.

Dodd was instrumental in the development and marketing of the industry’s first hand held utility, CarLots-2-Go, allowing dealers to download vehicle lists to their PDA or Smartphone through a WiFi network.

Dodd served on the board of directors for the Connecticut Auto Dealers Association representing the auction industry.

Dealers can complete the registration for the free webinar by going to this website.