Longtime BHPH Dealer, Michael Brill of B&B Automotive has spent 36 years in the Buy Here, Pay Here business. During that time, he has watched dealership technology evolve from the early days of starter-interrupt to the GPS solutions that many dealers rely on today.

He has also seen the market evolve as a whole. More providers have entered the space; dealers gained more choices, more pricing options, and more reasons to compare vendors carefully.

Brill’s experience offers a clear lesson: when you’re choosing technology for your Buy Here, Pay Here Dealership, sure, price matters, but reliability, support, and the company and the people behind the product matter much more.

From Starter Interrupt to GPS Tracking

When Brill first was exploring technology to assist him in keeping track of his assets, GPS wasn’t yet the standard technology for dealers.

When Brill first was exploring technology to assist him in keeping track of his assets, GPS wasn’t yet the standard technology for dealers.

"When I first got in the business, it was all about starter interrupt. GPS didn’t come until later on."

As the need for technology became apparent, Brill chose PassTime.

"I finally went with PassTime. Such a great decision."

That relationship became an important part of his dealership’s operations. But as the market grew and more competitors entered the space, dealers were faced with an increasing number of alternatives.

And over time, price became harder to ignore for many dealers.

When a Lower Price Becomes Tempting

Some time later, Brill found himself facing a situation that many dealers encounter: more providers competing for the same business, and price had become a major differentiator.

"There were so many competitors, and it was all about price."

Despite his positive experience with PassTime, Brill decided to make a change.

"I screwed up. I got seduced by the price attraction."

He left PassTime for another provider because of a lower price. Brill was careful to point out, that this wasn’t an obscure company or obviously risky choice.

"It was a good competitor. I mean, they were very well known."

On paper, the move may have seemed reasonable.

In practice, it did not work out that way.

"But it was a mistake."

What Happened After Leaving PassTime

Once Brill made the switch, the problems began to accumulate.

"I had so many issues with it."

Over time, those issues changed the way he looked at the decision. What had initially seemed like a way to reduce costs began to feel short-sighted.

"I found out even then that I was being so shortsighted."

His staff reached the same conclusion.

"My staff was telling me, 'Michael, we’ve got to get back to PassTime'".

Eventually, B&B Automotive did exactly that.

"We’re so glad we did, and we haven’t left them since."

For Brill, the experience became a firsthand lesson in the difference between choosing a provider based on price and choosing one based on long-term confidence.

Coming Back to PassTime

Returning was not something taken lightly.

Brill had established a good relationship with PassTime before leaving, and he admits that going back felt uncomfortable.

"I was almost embarrassed to go back to PassTime, because I had established a nice relationship with them."

The response he received wasn’t one of frustration or resentment. Instead, the message was simple.

"They were so forgiving. I mean, they didn’t have to forgive me. But they said, 'Mike, we’re glad you came back'"

That response became another reason Brill valued the relationship. Not just because of the technology but because of the people behind it.

Why Support Matters for BHPH Dealers

For Brill, one of the clearest differences has been knowing that PassTime will be there when he needs support.

"They deliver what they promise."

That consistency extends beyond the products themselves.

"They’re always there when you need them. That’s the thing."

When an issue comes up, Brill says he knows he can reach someone.

"There’s an issue, you call them up; they’re always there."

For a Buy Here, Pay Here dealership, that matters. There are already enough moving parts involved in running the business without having to wonder whether a technology provider will respond when help is needed.

Listening to Dealers and Improving the Product

Brill also credits PassTime with listening to the dealers who use their technology.

"They listen to dealers, and they develop their product to be better all the time."

He specifically points to PassTime found and CEO, Jake Frank and the PassTime team as being exceptional.

That willingness to listen is important in an industry where dealer needs, vehicle technology, and customer expectations are constantly changing.

For Brill, staying with PassTime has not simply been about returning to a familiar product. It has been about working with a provider that continues to improve while maintaining the quality product and level of support he values.

Plenty of GPS Providers, but More Than Just Price Matters

Brill does not dismiss the competition.

In fact, he openly acknowledges that dealers have many good companies to choose from.

"There’s a lot of great people out there. There’s a lot of great companies offering GPS, offering starter interrupt."

But having choices can also make it easier to focus too heavily on certain factors, particularly the factor of price.

His own experience taught him to look at the bigger picture. Thinking about what makes dependable vendors especially valuable.

"There are so many complications in this business of running Buy Here, Pay Here. – You try to find vendors and people who stand behind them, so you don’t have to worry about it anymore."

That is ultimately what Brill found when he returned to PassTime. That peace of mind of not having to worry about it anymore.

One Less Thing to Worry About

Brill’s story is not simply about choosing PassTime once.

It is about choosing PassTime, leaving for a lower-priced alternative, experiencing the consequences of that decision, and then returning with a much clearer understanding of what he valued in a technology provider.

Since coming back, he has stayed.

His conclusion is straightforward.

"That is PassTime. Give them your business, and you don’t have to worry about it anymore."

That confidence extends to the technology itself as well.

"They’re going to have the latest technology. It’s going to operate efficiently."

And it extends to the support behind it.

"They’re always going to be there when you need them."

For a Buy Here, Pay Here dealer managing an already complicated business, that kind of consistency can make a meaningful difference. Brill’s experience is a reminder that the best value is not always the lowest price for a device. It can also be a provider that you know you can depend on over the long-term, like PassTime.