Is a Major Auto Auction Quietly Manipulating the Market?
Mar 24, 2025
Whispers Say Yes… And It Could Cost Dealers Millions
Something isn’t adding up.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been tracking unusual shifts in wholesale vehicle pricing…specifically within the late-model segment of the U.S. auction market. Now, multiple well-placed sources have confirmed what may be one of the most consequential…and quietly implemented…policy changes the industry has seen in years.
According to these insiders, a major North American auto auction chain has recently altered how it calculates its Market Report values… a change that reportedly excludes previous Canadian vehicles from the pricing algorithm entirely.
- No public announcement.
- No documentation.
- No transparency.
Just a silent shift in the data stream that underpins billions of dollars in transactions annually.
Why This Matters
Every dealer knows Market Reports aren’t perfect. But they’ve long been accepted as a baseline pricing tool…used to appraise trades, secure flooring, guide auction bids, and inform third-party valuation platforms.
If Canadian units are now being excluded from certain Market Report calculations…without warning…everything downstream becomes distorted.
Think about it:
Over 300,000 primarily late-model Canadian vehicles are exported and sold into the U.S. market annually…most of them through auctions.
These units traditionally brought slightly less than their U.S. counterparts due to branding, history, or optics…but they were always part of the ecosystem.
Suddenly removing them from the valuation model would artificially inflate Market Report values, making it appear as though vehicles are “bringing more”... when in fact, the measuring stick itself has changed.
In most industries, removing key data without disclosure could be seen as a form of manipulation.
At the very least, it's a breach of trust.
Who Gets Hurt?
- Canadian exporters and dealers now face steep disadvantages. They’re playing on a field where the rules were changed…without being told.
- U.S. buyers may unknowingly overpay, mistaking the inflation for a market spike… when it’s actually a case of selective data pruning.
- Retailers using Black Book or other tools are now making multi-thousand-dollar decisions based on incomplete information.
Here’s the rub:
According to sources, a senior auction GM with extensive previous-Canadian activity confirmed this shift off the record.
His words?
“Yeah, they’ve pulled them out. It’s already causing big problems.”
Big problems, indeed.
My Take (For Now)
I’m not naming names… yet.
But let’s be clear: there are only a handful of companies in this space large enough to make this kind of move.
And if this proves true, it raises serious questions about data integrity, transparency, and dealer trust.
At the very least, this kind of change should come with a clear, public announcement.
Instead, it feels like another arbitrary policy shift…whatever the reason…that leaves dealers in the dark.
And this is exactly the kind of behavior that must stop.
For decades, major auction chains have operated with relative impunity.
The only enforcement body, the National Auto Auction Association (NAAA), is made up of the auctions themselves.
That’s not oversight…it’s self-regulation in name only.
Which is exactly why platforms like AutoAuctionReview.com matter.
- Dealers deserve transparency.
- They deserve accountability.
- And when legacy systems don’t deliver it…we’ll build the tools that do.
Ask Yourself:
- Where was the announcement?
- Why weren’t Canadian consignors informed?
- What happens to auction conversion metrics, fee structures, and lender valuations tied to those numbers?
- Will downstream tools adjust—or will they double down on flawed inputs?
This isn’t a footnote.
This is an existential issue for anyone operating in the wholesale ecosystem.
What Happens Next?
If you’re reading this and you work in the auction space, this is your chance.
Blow the whistle…on or off the record. My inbox is open. No attribution without your sign-off.
Bob Manor
Co-Founder, AutoAuctionReview.com
www.bobmanor.com
