[Jeff Kershner]

This question made it's way into my inbox and I got me questioning as well...

"I'm asking about Autobytel the lead source provider and wondering how it works for dealerships. Have any of you had experience with them and are you happy?"

IS anyone using Autobytel with success anymore?

What about their Myride.com? Anyone advertising on this website with any degree of success?

I know Autobytel had been really touting Myride.com there for awhile but It seems to have died down quite a bit. The title tag has always amused me - "Cars for Sale, New Cars, Used Cars, Car Reviews and Dealers | MYRIDE.COM"

I actually posted something about this over a year ago when Autobytel sold AVV Webcontrol to Dominion.

So back to the main question; IS anyone using Autobytel with success anymore?

[AndrewDiFeo]

For the "big 3" third party lead providers , looking at 2009 YTD stats, Autobytel is closing at 2%, Autousa at 5 %, and Dealix at 4%. We added Zag to the mix in February and are closing at 8% since starting with them. Surprisingly, our Hyundaiusa.com leads for the year are closing at 11% so far, which is holding strong from 2008. KBB leads (from our website as well as the dealer showcase program) have been closing at 9%. And our own dealership website, I am sad to say, has closed at 6%.

So to answer your question, Jeff, no, we are not having overwhelming success with Autobytel leads, and they always seem to be the vendor that has the most duplicate leads sent to us.

[Alex Snyder]

We haven't used Autobytel in years, but when we did they were always the lowest in closing ratio and the highest in time wasted.

Andrew - do you think your site's closing ratio is because you're a brand new Hyundai point with a new name that hasn't been saturated in your market yet?

[AndrewDiFeo]

Could be Alex. I think some of it comes from the fact that a lot of our leads are from the Jacksonville area (40 to 70 miles away) and people just want to make sure they are getting a good price in Jacksonville.

[Indie Results]

The real solution here is generating your own leads. You should be able to use PPC and a few custom landing pages to generate your own leads at under a $20.00 CPA and they close at a much higher percentage because they are actually expecting to hear from your dealership.

3rd party leads are dead.

[Alex Snyder]

Originally Posted by Indie Results

3rd party leads are dead.

I'm not sure that day will every fully come, but dealers can definitely do more on their own to make it so we don't have to rely on them as much.

Jeff, David, Jennifer, and I will be going over some ways to get that done next week: http://forum.dealerrefresh.com/calen...=2009-4-28&c=1

[Jeff Kershner]

How Ironic!! I found out a few days ago this was going down but here is the official word.

TRILOGY ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCES CASH TENDER OFFER FOR AUTOBYTEL

AT $0.35 NET PER SHARE

AUSTIN, Texas, April 20, 2009 — Trilogy Enterprises, Inc. (“Trilogy”), a provider of technology powered business services to the automotive industry, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Infield Acquisition, Inc., has commenced a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq: ABTL) for $0.35 net per share in cash.

The offer represents a 32% premium over the trailing 30-day average closing price of Autobytel’s common stock.

“We are pleased to offer a significant premium to Autobytel’s shareholders, “ stated Sean Fallon, Senior Vice President of Trilogy. “The automotive industry is experiencing an unprecedented decline and we believe that Autobytel must take steps now to ensure its shareholders receive the highest value. Given the significant risks of this business and the Company’s history of operating losses, we believe the premium offered is very attractive.”

“As Autobytel’s second largest stockholder and the beneficial owner of approximately 7.4% of Autobytel’s outstanding common stock, we have studied this business carefully. We have concluded that Autobytel’s ability to execute a turnaround and realize significant value for its stockholders is subject to significant and unacceptable risk. We believe that a high-premium, all-cash tender offer is the most effective way to maximize value for all stockholders. As a result, we have determined it is necessary to take the offer directly to our fellow stockholders in order to deliver significant value to them as expeditiously as possible,” added Mr. Fallon.

“We are confident our fellow stockholders will find that this compelling offer reflects a superior value for their shares, both in light of Autobytel’s current and recent trading history, as well as any realistic near or long term assessment of Autobytel’s prospects. We are committed to completing this offer and remain willing to work cooperatively with Autobytel,” concluded Mr. Fallon.

The tender offer is scheduled to expire at 12:01 A.M., New York City time, on Tuesday, May 19, 2009, unless extended. The tender offer documents, including the Offer to Purchase and related Letter of Transmittal, will be filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Autobytel’s stockholders may obtain copies of the tender offer documents when they become available at U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Home Page). Free copies of such documents can also be obtained when they become available by calling Morrow & Co., LLC, toll-free at (800) 662-5200.

The tender offer was detailed in a letter dated April 20, 2009 from Trilogy to Autobytel’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey H. Coats, and Autobytel’s Board of Directors. The full text of the letter is set forth below.

You can read the official letter and offer to Autobytel here (it's about half way down the page).. http://www.dealerrefresh.com/trilogy...buy-autobytel/

[NealGann]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kershner

How Ironic!! I found out a few days ago this was going down but here is the official word.

TRILOGY ENTERPRISES ANNOUNCES CASH TENDER OFFER FOR AUTOBYTEL

AT $0.35 NET PER SHARE

AUSTIN, Texas, April 20, 2009 — Trilogy Enterprises, Inc. (“Trilogy”), a provider of technology powered business services to the automotive industry, today announced that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Infield Acquisition, Inc., has commenced a tender offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock of Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq: ABTL) for $0.35 net per share in cash.

The offer represents a 32% premium over the trailing 30-day average closing price of Autobytel’s common stock.

“We are pleased to offer a significant premium to Autobytel’s shareholders, “ stated Sean Fallon, Senior Vice President of Trilogy. “The automotive industry is experiencing an unprecedented decline and we believe that Autobytel must take steps now to ensure its shareholders receive the highest value. Given the significant risks of this business and the Company’s history of operating losses, we believe the premium offered is very attractive.”

“As Autobytel’s second largest stockholder and the beneficial owner of approximately 7.4% of Autobytel’s outstanding common stock, we have studied this business carefully. We have concluded that Autobytel’s ability to execute a turnaround and realize significant value for its stockholders is subject to significant and unacceptable risk. We believe that a high-premium, all-cash tender offer is the most effective way to maximize value for all stockholders. As a result, we have determined it is necessary to take the offer directly to our fellow stockholders in order to deliver significant value to them as expeditiously as possible,” added Mr. Fallon.

“We are confident our fellow stockholders will find that this compelling offer reflects a superior value for their shares, both in light of Autobytel’s current and recent trading history, as well as any realistic near or long term assessment of Autobytel’s prospects. We are committed to completing this offer and remain willing to work cooperatively with Autobytel,” concluded Mr. Fallon.

The tender offer is scheduled to expire at 12:01 A.M., New York City time, on Tuesday, May 19, 2009, unless extended. The tender offer documents, including the Offer to Purchase and related Letter of Transmittal, will be filed today with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Autobytel’s stockholders may obtain copies of the tender offer documents when they become available at U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (Home Page). Free copies of such documents can also be obtained when they become available by calling Morrow & Co., LLC, toll-free at (800) 662-5200.

The tender offer was detailed in a letter dated April 20, 2009 from Trilogy to Autobytel’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Jeffrey H. Coats, and Autobytel’s Board of Directors. The full text of the letter is set forth below.

You can read the official letter and offer to Autobytel here (it's about half way down the page).. Will Autobytel Sell to Trilogy Enterprises, Inc??

What do you think about the Trilogy offer???

[bmwbirdman]

I tried Autobytel and Dealix with very limited success on BMW's. It seems like when selecting lead providers you need to see how they do with your particular brand. I am about to sign on with ZAG. You only pay if the lead buys. They are putting their money where their mouth is. Black Book online only charges us $300/mo and we typically sell 1-3 cars /mo. Also consider building a micro-site to drive traffic to your site. You will always get the best closing ratios from your own site.

Originally Posted by Jeff Kershner

This question made it's way into my inbox and I got me questioning as well...

"I'm asking about Autobytel the lead source provider and wondering how it works for dealerships. Have any of you had experience with them and are you happy?"

IS anyone using Autobytel with success anymore?

What about their Myride.com? Anyone advertising on this website with any degree of success?

I know Autobytel had been really touting Myride.com there for awhile but It seems to have died down quite a bit. The title tag has always amused me - "Cars for Sale, New Cars, Used Cars, Car Reviews and Dealers | MYRIDE.COM"

I actually posted something about this over a year ago when Autobytel sold AVV Webcontrol to Dominion.

So back to the main question; IS anyone using Autobytel with success anymore?

We fired autoBytel, We generate our own now, 100% solid leads. googbye bogus leads.