Websites made by a company that doesn't specialize in dealerships?

[craigh]

But that's what they are - prototypes There are many talented people at large industry website vendors that can churn out phenomenal work - but a lot of dealers don't care to pay for this. It's not something dealers are demanding. If eCommerce becomes more important to the industry then this is much more useful. For now, IMO this software/service is DOA.

This does tend to be the case. That said, the right dealership could help to change this. I think we are at the point where it's now about changing consumer mindset - most of my clients are willing to change if we recommend it strongly enough.

 

[Chris Cachor]

A/B Testing, running multiple sites, trying new things.. this is what we do as providers.
If you aren't going to take the risk, make the investment and put in the effort.. who is?

I'm not going to sit around and wait for Dealer.com to decide what's best and then copy that - we shouldn't all make sites that are the same, we shouldn't template all our stores into one standard layout and some CSS color changes and we shouldn't settle for what we have now.

I see far too much stagnancy in this industry already.

For sure, in my previous comment I was referencing custom work on a client by client basis. If you're re-using code across a large client base you could definitely afford to roll out new features and experiment a little. More than what's currently being done. I think DDC has improved quite a bit in this area since bringing Joe on board.

 

[joe.pistell]

Beware. UI design is just one of the tools needed to convert a shopper to an up.

 

[craigh]

I agree - it's not just UI. It's about user flow, getting from one vehicle to the next, educating the consumer with enough information points, making them feel comfortable, making them feel like they understand the value you offer in-store, etc.

UI is just the layer we use to transport visitors through information.

 

[yagoparamo]

I know you have much experience, far more than I do, and I respect that.
That said, I don't understand how you can have this attitude when offering this service to your customers.

A/B Testing, running multiple sites, trying new things.. this is what we do as providers.
If you aren't going to take the risk, make the investment and put in the effort.. who is?

I'm not going to sit around and wait for Dealer.com to decide what's best and then copy that - we shouldn't all make sites that are the same, we shouldn't template all our stores into one standard layout and some CSS color changes and we shouldn't settle for what we have now.

I see far too much stagnancy in this industry already.

Craig,

You got that wrong.

My attitude is that of investing a lot on getting the best to my customers; we invest so much that in fact I question how much can just one store invest on their own as the only client--which I think was the discussion.

 

[Todd Caputo]

Thanks for the feedback on my website. Just got to read this. I agree with some of your comments but not all of them. Used Car King.com performs well above average to most other dealer websites. It may not be perfect but it sells cars.

 

[Jeff Kershner]

A full year later @Todd Caputo ?

 

[Eric Miltsch]

A full year later @Todd Caputo ?

He's busy selling cars from his custom website Jeff, c'mon.

 

[Jeff Kershner]

It may not be perfect but it sells cars.

 

[joe.pistell]

This comment is 100% Todd Caputo "It may not be perfect but it sells cars."

1. He wants the best website money can buy and he sees lots of places for improvement.
2. He's wildly successful so he can't bitch too much (>6k used units p/yr under 3 roofs in a small-ish market)