UCDP Ep #74 - Modernizing Trade-Ins and Dealer Payments: Tim Zierden, TradePending

In this episode of the Used Car Dealer Podcast, Zach talks with Tim Zierden, Chief Operating Officer at TradePending, to unpack how the company’s trade-in, payment, video, and retention tools are “making automotive simple” for more than 5,000 dealerships. Tim shares what drew him to the role after two decades at Cox Automotive, KAR Global, and Dealertrack, the biggest milestones powering TradePending’s recent expansion, and how real-time data helps dealers outpace tariff-driven price swings. The conversation also dives into AI-lite automation vs. personal video, the rise of CDPs, and the customer-life-cycle tactics that turn online shoppers into lifelong service customers. Whether you’re wrestling with affordability headwinds or hunting for higher-ROI digital retailing solutions, Tim’s insights are a must-listen.

Below are the main questions Zach asks Tim, along with timestamps:

00:37 Q) What pulled you toward TradePending after two decades in auto-tech?
02:52 Q) Beyond the recent acquisitions, which milestone mattered most for the company’s growth?
04:01 Q) How does your “make automotive simple” mantra guide product decisions?
05:21 Q) What’s the biggest thing dealers say TradePending improves for engagement and sales?
08:54 Q) How do you keep onboarding painless and support seamless for new clients?
10:59 Q) How is TradePending helping dealers navigate today’s tariff-driven price swings?
14:49 Q) Which emerging tech or consumer habits will reshape dealerships next?
17:19 Q) What fresh innovations are you rolling out to keep dealers competitive?
19:27 Q) What key factors should dealers weigh when choosing digital-retail and trade-in tools?

Listen to more episodes here: https://www.sellyautomotive.com/podcast
Read the full transcription: https://blog.sellyautomotive.com/blog/tim-trade-pending