Automotive Used/ Pre-Owned Vehicle Buyer

Caldwell Chrysler; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Paid time off

Holiday pay

Career growth

Job summary

Caldwell Chrysler in Columbus seeks an experienced Automotive Used Vehicle Buyer to join our buying team. We value hands‑on judgment over purely algorithmic decisions and rely on local market insight, data, and mechanical know‑how to acquire inventory with real profit potential.

You will evaluate sources, perform smart appraisals, and manage channels while coordinating with service for accurate reconditioning estimates. This is a high‑impact, autonomous role in a dynamic dealership.

Qualifications

• Strong verbal and written communication skills with sales integrations.
• Practical knowledge of vehicle mechanics and common wear items.
• High autonomy to manage daily purchasing goals.
• Proven track record in retail/wholesale automotive environments.
• Proficiency with automotive tech tools including vAuto and Rapid Recon.
• Auction experience is preferred, not required.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Inventory Acquisition: Evaluate, bid on, and acquire high‑demand used vehicles from auctions, off‑lease, rental fleets, and dealer networks.
• Smart Appraisals & Decision Making: Use market tools and judgment to assess retail viability and estimate repair costs.
• Network Building: Develop and expand purchasing channels with regional groups, fleet managers, and commercial accounts.
• Reconditioning Cost Assessment: Coordinate with service to estimate reconditioning expenses before acquisition.
• Market Trend Tracking: Monitor regional sales trends and margins to align inventory with profit targets.

Skills

Communication

Mechanics knowledge

Autonomy

Industry track record

Tech proficiency

Auction experience

Tools

vAuto

Rapid Recon

Job description

This role requires 20-35 onsite hours at minimum to start and at least 20 hours onsite permanently, not a remote position.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced, high-judgment Automotive Used Vehicle Buyer to join our Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram buying team. We are not looking for someone who simply clicks "buy" based strictly on software algorithms or appraisal figures. We need a savvy automotive professional who uses critical thinking, local market awareness, historical sales data, and has hands‑on mechanical sense to acquire inventory that actually turns and generates real profit.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Inventory Acquisition: Evaluate, bid on, and acquire high-demand used vehicles through wholesale auctions, off-lease vehicles, rental fleets, and direct dealership networks.
• Smart Appraisals & Decision Making: Utilize market tools alongside real-world judgment to determine true retail viability, factoring in actual repair costs, turn-time, and local demand.
• Network Building: Actively develop, maintain, and expand purchasing channels across non-traditional sources, including regional dealership groups, fleet managers, and commercial accounts.
• Reconditioning Cost Assessment: Work closely with our service department to communicate about incoming vehicles and monitor reconditioning workflow to accurately estimate reconditioning expenses before acquiring inventory.
• Market Trend Tracking: Monitor regional sales trends, seasonal demand shifts, and wholesale/retail margins to ensure inventory stays aligned with dealer profit targets.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to work seamlessly with sales managers, service department, and schedule timely transportation.
• Practical knowledge of vehicle mechanics, structural inspection, common wear items, and accurate repair cost estimation.
• High level of autonomy with the ability to manage daily purchasing goals independently.
• Proven track record in the retail or wholesale automotive industry (Dealership Buying, Used Car Management, Wholesale Sales, or Appraisals) is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with with technology is required and experience with vAuto (Provision/Appraisals/Valuations) and Rapid Recon or similar tool is preferred.
• Auction experience is not required but preferred. Having an in-depth understanding of digital and physical wholesale auctions is critical to success in this role.

Benefits & Compensation

• Competitive compensation structure (Base + Commission)
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance options
• Paid time off (PTO) and holiday pay
• Clear career growth potential within a high-volume dealership environment