Dead on post, we've just past the 700 DealerRater.com review mark with a goal of 1000 for this year! We've been working on getting more of our people to build their "Digital Footprint" starting with the easy to set up Google Profiles and of course we have salespeople becoming more active of sites like Facebook or Linkedin.

As more of our people leverage the DealerRater.com evidence of the customer experience at Acton Toyota we will see our business continue to grow regardless of economy, recalls, credit,inventory or whatever the new excuse of the week becomes.

This may be a post length comment so bear with me First off Alex I agree with you almost 100%. I hate agreeing with anyone 100% so I only say almost. The almost part is the last paragraph. While the sites and third parties you mentioned have been great at getting the wheels in motion (pun intended) dealerships need to do a better job of capturing customer sentiment and reviews via their own sites and blogs. Third party sites will always be there and dealers will always need to have inventory there but dont put all your eggs in that basket. Create a customer review blog. Drive those comments to places that directly land searches at your site, not 3rd party sites. RSS Feed that blog onto your main site. Create a separate You Tube channel for reviews. Post those reviews and pics on your Facebook page. Dont stop there though. Friend your customers (on your personal or new semi personal page) and tag them in the videos & pics. Let the testimonials spread virally to their friends. The possibilities are endless.

Ghen disallowing Facebook is a bad move in my opinion. Facebook now allows people to comment on posts and inbox messages through their email. Unless you can block your employees personal web based email providers you will never be able to fully block Facebook. Embrace Facebook and you will be embracing the platform that your customers play in on a daily basis.

Facebook specifically has issues. With the ability to allow any application onto your machine there will be repercussions. I disallow facebook mainly for this reason, the apps have too much freedom.

Once Google Buzz gets facebook integration I'll allow that, and tell everyone to check their status that way.. Hopefully there will be better computer control with that software.

Another fine Snyder moment. Love your material Alex! This is spot on.

Keith- assuming this "bake-off" isn't going to happen I would like to see a demo on your product. Shoot me an email [email protected] when you get a chance. Thanks

Hey Alex,

Your 100% right, people have misread this thread terribly. I didn't read anywhere where imagic wants to keep it private, it was a Vinsolutions employee who said that. We even heard from Matt Watson who said that this bakeoff was already done? Sean made a statement, several people questioned it with no response to the questions, and Keith made a challenge and Sean accepted. I don't see how anyone other than the two challengers should be talking about the format.

We all know Jeff and Alex, we joined their forum and read them daily. They offered to help not judge, they also proposed the platform and a solution, they have not set anything yet, they only offered a suggestion on a platform with no response from the other party.

Point is, let the two challengers settle point place and time.

Sorry Alex, I must have misread your post from last night about iMagic wanting to keep it private. I really am interested to see these companies up against each other. Hopefully this will either be put into play or put to sleep and moved on from soon.

I'm not calling anyone here out in particular (Nicki, don't take this as me talking directly to you). But I just want to point out that no rules have been posted on this thing yet. A set of rules for the format have been proposed ONLY to the parties involved. Speculating what you think is going to happen is purely speculation on your part. Ed Brooks has the proper vision for this bake-off.

Sean has not come back to say anything since he publicly accepted this bake-off. A lot of other VinSolutions folks have been vocal, but not the key player.

This comment thread has taken some bad turns, but the one thing it has been is transparent to what is transpiring. I suggest that the dealers and staff of VinSolutions quiet down because you're really not helping their cause. In fact, you're making it tougher for Sean.

Last I checked Presidential debates were live. Not filmed and edited by the 2 candidates to their liking.

And I totally agree Alex and Jeff are stand up guys.

Let's just be clear here: iMagicLab will go anywhere, anytime to do this bakeoff and nothing has been proposed by VINSolutions. No format, no place, no time, no event, no nothing.

The only thing we have heard, and not directly, is that VIN does nor consider us competition so why bother. Why bother Sean? Why back up your words? Why prove that you are years ahead?

It's obvious, you aren't coming because you can't win. Sean I will pay for everything in case you guys are short on funds and that's why this doesn't work, just put your mouth and product up against your words.

If we were on the lot you'd be doing starbucks runs for a long time. Oh, that's right, you've never worked on the lot...... Haha

Ed - you're 100% on the money.

Unless I'm mistaken (always a strong possibility), the idea here is for both companies to have the opportunity to show their strengths side-by-side. Jeff and Alex would act as moderators, not as judges. No "winner" would be declared, but all who view would be able to decide which (if either) product might be right for their dealership.

Think of a Presidential debate; questions come from the moderators and audience, but no winner is declared. The winners are the voters, having been better informed. It is quite possible that two dealers could watch and each walk away liking a different solution because it fit their particular needs best.

Jeff and Alex are stand up guys and I'm sure they would do an outstanding job keeping things fair.

First some of these comments are really un called for. This coversation was started one way, then another person takes it somewhere else? I really learned about some people reading this. Like always Mark Bonfigli the gentlemen, with his product line I am shocked he didn't say more, and Alex and Jeff I couldn't agree with you more. I have seen imagic's product and Vinsolutions does have nice stuff, but grossly oversold. I don't think they are years ahead of anybody. I do think they have a couple of unique features, but doesn't everyone?

I really want to see this happen, then other vendors can match up. Have all their claims and facts checked and then an award given to the winner. I cannot imagine what would be the best form of advertising.

I'm curious why iMagic is wanting to keep it behind closed doors? I would be interested to see both parties strengths.

Just to keep everyone up to date on what is going on right now:

Rules for the bake-off have been proposed to all parties. They are up for debate amongst the parties, but one of those *proposed* rules is that the bulk of the questions come from the DealerRefresh community. If that rule is agreed upon by all parties, then a thread will be started on the DealerRefresh forums (DealerRefresh Automotive Dealer Forums) to solicit those questions.

We have heard that VinSolutions would like to do this at the up-coming Digital Dealer event, which is a great idea! However, iMagicLab is not available during the conference. iMagicLab has also requested that this first bake-off remains only between iMagicLab and VinSolutions. Future bake-offs are a different story.

The dates that still work best for DealerRefresh and iMagicLab are March 25-29th.

We are all still waiting on word from Sean Stapleton.

Wow! This string seemed to get a little personal over the last few days! I will stay out of picking sides, even though I am a VIN Solutions client (I'll go ahead and put that out before someone thinks it's a huge secret to reveal) I do believe that VIN is a superior system but I have never seen iMagic CRM. I am not looking to be attacked or start any arguments, my questions are just seeking answers, not challenging anyone over anything.

As a dealer, I find a lot of great information on this site and appreciate it's unbiased approach on things. I understand that many vendors and press as well as dealers find benefit here for many different reasons. I'm not sure what Mitchell (whoever you are) did but thought it was a little abrasive where all this went. Personal information being shared and people telling others that they have no business posting on the site, when let's be honest, that's what this and many other sites are about (not condoning whatever that attack from Mitchell was either though). I personally don't see where any of this back and forth banter has gotten anyone, especially considering it was suppose to be a "bake-off" between 2 CRM companies. Nothing beneficial is coming from all these attacks and insults and I'm sure everyone can agree to that.

I will say that I think if there is to be a competition between the 2 giants that it should be in some sort of live format and not left up to moderators. Let's face it, that's the only way anyone will think it was a fair assessment. Even if Alex and Jeff were to pick 10-12 dealers that had no connection at all with either company to sit in and listen. It's unfortunate but lets all face reality... dealers, for the most part, tend to be very antiquated in their thought process when it comes to technology and software solutions so no matter what 2 moderators (not to be insulting to Jeff or Alex AT ALL. I admire what you guys do and the impact you have on the industry) say dealers won't take any of it seriously unless they feel like some of their own were in the trenches. And after all, dealers understanding and choice is what it all really comes down too anyway, right?

Just a suggestion... once again, not trying to start WWIII or anything!

I won't speak to the products or people referenced in this post to avoid the perception of taking sides, but I can speak to the issues that this post has surfaced -- and it has nothing to do with Vinsolutions or any other vendor that decides to challenge them on what was obviously a subjective comment by a proud employee. I know DealerRefresh, Jeffery Kershner and Alex Snyder to be honorable "car guys" who invest their time to share best practices with the philosophy that a rising tide floats all boats. The challenge that surfaced in this post had all the makings of a perfect opportunity for us all to listen and learn from some established auto industry experts. Instead of learning about their respective platforms we learned that we are our own worst enemies when we attempt to define the competition as the enemy. Auto industry social networking communities such as this have value if they follow the same professional competitive practices that we extend to eachother in person; or at least that we should. The personal attacks that titilated the readers forced the professionals that would have benefitted from the proposed challenge to tune out with less information and time than we started with. I have reviewed most of the vendor applications that were referenced in this post and I can honestly say that I always consider the people before the product or the price so let the indivduals who have commented decide the impression that they have made on me and my dealer clients. I only do business with friends since after sales service is often dependent on the people behind the product who represent the best equalizer for the inevitable issues that will surface on even the best platform. After all, what are friends for!

I am actually just enjoying reading this so much that I am at a loss for words. I actually do not know what to say. However, this cracks me up and is fun to read.

I think we just had this bake-off at NADA on the exhibitor floor for all the CRM vendors that wanted to participate.

Cant we just all get along?

Maybe this will cheer you all up?....

Login to view embedded media View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8rGwsEmRUNg


Enjoy.

-mb

The conversation between VinSolutions, iMagicLab and DealerRefresh has moved offline. We will update everyone when we have a full report to give.

Hahahaha, old news little man that your VIN team tells every dealer before they lose the sale. Thousands of dealers have read the background and still signed up for the winning team.

The only thing I have to say is when will your new boss show up for the shoot off? He won't? He wants to talk about racecars or girls? Haha...

BZ Results lives and it's called VIN Solutions now. The only background that matters is what Wolfington and Company have done to dealers in our space in the last few years. Ask ADP how happy dealers are with his last company.

Let's get this shooting match over so everyone can get back to complaining about AutoTrader.com. (And I still think pistols on the Weehawken Dueling Grounds would be a good time for all!)

Thank god for you! If we didn't have honest people with your incredible integrity in this business where would we be? We should have a statue erected in your honor as the keeper of all things great and desirable! So what that you have a shady past? So what that you are a loudmouth, opinionated EC? So what if the Seattle Times article from 3/06 states that "In April 2001, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Karen Overstreet in Seattle told the Latmans' lawyer that bankruptcy-court protection was intended for "honest debtors," and that in her seven years on the bench she had never seen a case so permeated with "inconsistencies" and "excuses.""

Read whole article


We don't care about any of that. You are now the greatest living person that ever entered into the auto industry arena and we salute you for that.

You see now my Brooklyn is coming out! I've lived in NJ for 20 years but the Brooklyn stays forever!

You opened this mess. I suggest you stop now while you're...

...well you're not ahead but stop anyway!