The Silverado Ranch used car lot is located along State Highway 22, three miles south of Wells and three miles north of exit 138 off Interstate 90.

If you are looking for a different vehicle and the thought of paying for a new car, van or truck has you a little frightened, then the Silverado Ranch might be a place for you to check out.

“We are in our 10th year of business,” Ken Schroeder, owner of the Silverado Ranch, says. “The business has been good to us.”

The ‘we’ Ken refers to includes his wife, Tina.

“I do most of the detailing on the cars,” Tina comments. “But, I also do some sales.”

Anyone who spends some time with Ken and Tina can tell they enjoy working together.

“I’m the boss and she’s the bossy one,” Ken laughs. “We have been saying that for many years.”

Ken got his start in the automobile business while working at Bump’s Auto Ranch, which was located in Wells.

“Dan Bump owned the business and his father Pat helped him out,” Ken explains. “When Pat was away I would get to step into the salesman’s role.”

The Silverado Ranch came into being after Bump closed his business.

“In Minnesota, before you can do anything, you have to name your business,” Ken notes. “I had two Silverado pickups sitting in the yard and that is what gave me the idea for the name of my business.”

The Silverado Ranch is located in the country on State Highway 22, three miles south of Wells and three miles north of exit 138 off Interstate 90.

“Our location makes it real easy for people to find us,” Ken comments. “It has worked out very well for us.”

Ken shares he finds most of his cars through online auctions and from dealers.

“We only buy from dealers who are franchise dealers,” he says. “I will also go to some auctions.”

Because he has been in business for 10 years, Ken notes he has developed relationships with many dealers and they know what he is looking for.

“Tina and I are very picky. We look for vehicles we would want to drive,” Ken adds. “We do not buy foreign cars. We stick with Chryslers, Fords and General Motors/Chevrolet vehicles. Foreign cars tend to have a premium price tag.”

When he began his business, Ken shares he was selling used cars in the $5,000 range.

“Then COVID came along and it changed everything,” he comments. “Now, more of my sales are in the $10,000 range.”

Ken knows he is serving a niche market, but he also feels it has worked out well for him.

“We are the largest used car dealer in Faribault County,” he says, smiling. “We work hard to find what people will be interested in buying.”

For the most part, Ken states he feels most people understand they are buying a used car and they do not expect the vehicle to be perfect.

“Every once in awhile someone will complain about a scratch on the vehicle or a different imperfection,” Ken shares. “I gently remind them they are not paying new car prices and the cars may show some signs of being used.”

He offers he and Tina do their best to find cars that are in good shape.

“We try and buy vehicles which do not have rust. Most of the auctions we take part in are within a 500 mile range,” Ken says. “If Tina and I go to the auction, we inspect the cars or trucks ourselves. If we cannot be at an auction, there is a company we work with that does the inspections for us.”

He, or someone from the company he works with, also drives the car, van or SUV before he bids on it.

“Taking a test drive is something everyone should do before they buy a vehicle,” Ken stresses. “I do not care if it is a new vehicle – they should still take it for a test drive. People would be surprised to find out how often there are problems with new vehicles.”

Once he gets the vehicles to Wells they receive further inspection.

“I do not do any mechanic work myself,” Ken says. “But, I have mechanics I rely on to go over the vehicles before I put them on the sales lot. The check engine light cannot be on or the customer will not buy it.”

According to Ken, once they are on the sales lot, the vehicles do not stick around very long.

“Most of the vehicles are sold within 30 days of being placed on the lot,” he notes. “Right now, pickups are hard to find. So, if I find one, it is not on our lot very long at all.”

What are some of his most popular vehicles?

“I sell quite a few Chevy Impalas, although they are getting harder to find. I also really like Buick cars and am selling quite a few of those,” Ken answers. “Chrysler/Dodge minivans are popular and Chevy and Ford SUVs are also in high demand.”

The Silverado Ranch does not normally take trade-ins.

“If I know the person and if the vehicle is in good shape, I might consider it,” Ken says. “But, it doesn’t happen very often.”

Ken also shares that staying educated on various models of cars, vans, SUVs and trucks is a key to his success.

“For instance, certain vehicles are known for transmission problems or reliability issues,” he says. “I stay away from models that are known to have problems. Sometimes it is just certain model years that a person has to be wary of.”

While he doesn’t offer warranties on the vehicles he sells, he also tries to keep his customers satisfied.

“I stand behind the vehicles to a point,” he explains. “If someone drives it off the lot and the engine blows up, I am going to take care of them. But, I do not offer a warranty.”

The Silverado Ranch customers come from all over.

“We have had people make purchases here who were from Arizona, the state of Washington, Michigan, Illinois, the Dakotas, Iowa, Wisconsin and of course, Minnesota,” he shares. “The people from Michigan that purchased a vehicle were in Rochester to go to the Mayo Clinic and they saw my advertisement on Craig’s List. I had something they wanted in the price range they were looking for so they bought it and took it back to Michigan.”

Ken estimates that 90 percent of his sales come from repeat customers and referrals.

“I have one family that has purchased 10 vehicles from me,” he comments. “Many of my sales are for kids getting their first car or kids going off to college. I also do a lot of business with new families and elderly people who are living on a fixed income.”

He does not offer on-site credit but has a company in Albert Lea he works with for someone needing a loan.

“I can do the paperwork right here in my office and we can find out if they are approved,” Ken says. “They have to have good credit. If they are approved, they just have to run to Albert Lea to sign the paperwork and then they are set to complete their purchase.”

Ken and Tina are happy to have found a business where they are able to help people obtain an affordable means of transportation.

“We have never wanted to compete with the franchise dealers who sell newer and more expensive modes of transportation,” Ken concludes. “Like any good business, we know we cannot make everybody happy, but we are sure going to try.”