Jan. 6, 2026

The Margin Problem Dealers Rarely Audit: Credit Cards (And 3 Practical Fixes) | Eric Cohen, CEO at Merchant Advocate

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The Margin Problem Dealers Rarely Audit: Credit Cards (And 3 Practical Fixes) | Eric Cohen, CEO at Merchant Advocate

Today I’m joined by Eric Cohen, CEO at Merchant Advocate.

We break down why credit card processing is one of the most overlooked expense lines in dealerships, how 60–70% of stores are overpaying, and which “non-negotiable” fees are actually negotiable.

Eric explains where the hidden charges live, how to audit statements properly, and why transparency matters more than ever in a largely unregulated space. The payoff: real strategies dealers can use to reclaim margin without cutting people or growth.


This episode is brought to you by:

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3. Merchant Advocate - Merchant Advocate saves businesses money on credit card fees WITHOUT switching processors. Find out how they can help your dealership with a FREE analysis. Click on @ http://merchantadvocate.com/cdg for more.


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Topics:

00:14 What are the top dealer concerns today?

04:43 How do credit card processing fees work?

07:44 What are the best optimization strategies?

14:03 What are the most common hidden fees?

16:56 What is the Merchant Advocate's unique approach?

21:40 What is your most impactful client success story?


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