Join the Discussion: A Unified Platform for Dealer Inventory Needs

[EpiCar]

In an industry often dominated by giants like Carvana and Carmax, smaller dealerships can struggle to find quality inventory. Our team has decided to address this challenge by creating a platform that unites dealers and provides accessible inventory from private owners for all.

Would a unified platform interest you for sourcing inventory?
What features would make this platform more valuable to you?

We will be grateful for your feedback.

 

[Alex Snyder]

How are you attracting private owners to the platform?

 

[EpiCar]

Thank you for your question. Currently, our priority is to onboard dealers and offer them complimentary registration. Once we've established a solid base of registered dealerships, we'll start granting access to vehicles. Our approach to attracting private sellers involves multiple strategies, ensuring they have a ready market of dealers on the platform for a swift vehicle sale. Building a robust dealer client base is our first step. Additionally, as a value-added service, we will provide vehicle history reports for all vehicles on our platform.

How are you attracting private owners to the platform?

 

[Dinora Robinson]

Is there any information available about the vehicle that has been put up for sale?

 

[EpiCar]

Is there any information available about the vehicle that has been put up for sale?

Vehicles will be followed by comprehensive vehicle history reports!

 

[Ryan Everson]

In an industry often dominated by giants like Carvana and Carmax, smaller dealerships can struggle to find quality inventory. Our team has decided to address this challenge by creating a platform that unites dealers and provides accessible inventory from private owners for all.

Would a unified platform interest you for sourcing inventory?
What features would make this platform more valuable to you?

We will be grateful for your feedback.

Your website is clean, very clean. That puts you in the top 1% of vendors that come here pitching some new idea.

However, you will face the age-old question of the chicken or the egg. Dealers won't sign up unless you have customers. And customers won't sign up unless you have dealers making competitive and guaranteed offers.

 

[EpiCar]

Your website is clean, very clean. That puts you in the top 1% of vendors that come here pitching some new idea.

However, you will face the age-old question of the chicken or the egg. Dealers won't sign up unless you have customers. And customers won't sign up unless you have dealers making competitive and guaranteed offers.

Thanks for sharing your opinion. Could you recommend any other forums or communities where we can ask dealers for feedback?

 

[JDHigginbotham]

Thanks for sharing your opinion. Could you recommend any other forums or communities where we can ask dealers for feedback?

I'd sooner try to win this community over.

 

[Ryan Everson]

Thanks for sharing your opinion. Could you recommend any other forums or communities where we can ask dealers for feedback?

DealerRefresh is the only forum with a significant active user base of dealers, most other online dealer communities are closed Facebook groups where vendors are not allowed.

But, you're going to get this exact same feedback everywhere.

Dealers will be hesitant to sign up for something without an existing customer base. Even if it's free, there's a time and training investment required.

I would recommend piloting in a single market and partnering with a local dealer group who is bought into the idea. Then go from there.

 

[Jon Singo]

I've seen a few companies pitch something similar to your concept. From the acquisition side my main concern is going to be when a dealer purchases a vehicle through your platform and finds out there is something wrong with it that wasn't disclosed by the seller. Who's on the hook? Or is it entirely up to the dealer to perform an inspection at time of purchase? Inspections on purchase would significantly slow down the process, likely upsetting the customer, and also lead to offers being changed once dealer inspections are performed. This leads to poor a customer experience in the customer's eyes.

I generally like the idea of a private party auction space for dealers to buy vehicles from but there are too many variables when it comes to the everyday consumer listing their vehicle for sale.