Reconditioning cars shouldn’t feel like solving a mystery, but for many dealerships, it still does. Between tracking down cars, chasing vendors, and digging through paper notes, the recon process can be a serious bottleneck.

That’s where Own A Car Fresno found themselves. Selling between 250–400 cars a month, they were running a high-volume operation but still relying on deal jackets to manage everything. We spoke with Mahde Jawad, their General Manager, who walked us through what changed when they decided to ditch the manual chaos and adopt Cartuul.

 “Cars Were Getting Left Behind”

Before Cartuul, Mahde’s team used handwritten notes to track reconditioning needs. “We were using deal jackets to keep notes on what was needed on vehicles,” he explained. And while that may work for smaller lots, at their scale, it led to cars falling through the cracks.

“The biggest struggle was cars getting left behind,” he said. “Cars would go three weeks before being moved or realizing, hey, this has been at the body shop... he hasn’t even started the job.”

There was no clear way to monitor status. “The guys would basically come in, go through the notes, and try to figure it out. Go to one shop and ask, ‘What do you have for us?’ Then go to the next shop.”

It was inefficient, frustrating, and costing them time—lots of it.

A Software Built to Work With You

They’d seen other reconditioning platforms before, but none felt like the right fit.

“We had been presented with reconditioning software in the past, but we never made the jump due to its complexity.” What made Cartuul different was its simplicity. “Cartuul simplified the process for us. It wasn’t nerve-wracking to get started.”

The team took a phased approach, which Mahde said made a big difference: “We started with the basics and kept layering in more steps as we got comfortable.” And the best part? “It required very minimal input and attention.”

Clear Tasks, Better Days

With Cartuul, recon became structured. Instead of chasing updates or relying on someone’s memory, there’s now a clear workflow.

“The recon process has become more streamlined. It's not about the recon manager’s convenience or the drivers’ attitude anymore. It’s a task list—and it needs to get done.”

Team members now start their day with a clear plan. “They know where to begin, where they’re going to end, and what their day looks like.” That clarity translates to less confusion, fewer delays, and real accountability.

And it’s not just internal communication that has improved. Cartuul also helped the team coordinate vendor movements in a smarter way.

“I don’t think Cartuul makes vendors work faster,” Mahde admits, “but it makes us better at coordinating and making the right calls.” If one vendor is backed up? “We can send it to another shop or knock out a different task while we wait. That way, nothing’s sitting around.”

Real-Time ROI

Since switching to Cartuul, Own A Car Fresno has cut their average recon time by a full week.

“Cars aren’t sitting around anymore. And when they do, that downtime kills recon time.”

Not only are they getting cars frontline-ready faster, but Mahde personally gained several hours back each day. “I can now evaluate a trade-in without having to walk the lot or touch the car. Just log into Cartuul, see what recon is needed, and know if we made a smart deal.”

He added, “It’s been a big help. I’ve got better insight into the kinds of vehicles we’re taking in.”

Less Stress for the Team

Mahde said it best: “They’re more on a mission now, not just wanderers.”

His recon staff used to show up unsure where cars were or who had what. Now? “They log into Cartuul and everything’s right there. They’re not anxious, not stressed, just clear on what to do.”

The software has turned guesswork into a step-by-step process. “It’s more streamlined. They can see their next task and move on to it. It’s made the job easier—and honestly, better.”

Getting Over the Fear of Change

We get it, letting go of old habits can feel risky. But Mahde wants other dealers to know: it’s worth it.

“I was worried about the hiccups and the change, but it’s paid off faster than we expected.” He estimates Cartuul is saving him personally around 15 hours a month—time that used to be spent going back and forth between vendors, lots, and team members.
That time? It now goes toward higher-value tasks like inventory sourcing and strategy.

Bottom Line

Own A Car Fresno’s story proves that reconditioning doesn’t have to be a maze. Cartuul gave their team visibility, structure, and peace of mind, all while speeding up turnaround times and saving them days in recon.

If your dealership is still stuck in manual mode, Cartuul might be the clarity you didn’t know you needed.