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Jul 1, 2009

KBB is launching A BRAND NEW INVENTORY LISTINGS PROGRAM, check this out...

http://solutions.800bluebook.com/showcase_inventory.html

Jul 1, 2009

Dear lightnup,

20% is a national number, it was 50% in my district alone therefore the statement I made was correct within my district. I'm not bitter about losing my job for financial reasons, I fortunately have a spouse who makes more than enough. I am bitter because I out performed most of the remaining reps and actually cared about my dealers business. I do agree that the economy warrants the layoffs, but they should have been better chosen and not just the highest paid to save ATC money.

dtg · Jul 1, 2009

Could have switched heads and called it ADP. These are tough times right now. We all have a responsibiity to speak up for car dealer rights. You can start with http://www.hometownautodealers.org/

Good Selling!

DTG

lightnup · Jul 1, 2009

former AT dealer@
Apparently you missed the entire exchange way back in January (although I don't know how you could have missed it) about ATC's sea change and concerted effort to partner with their dealers rather than just be another vendor. Your assertion that this is a sudden change solely because of recent economic events is incorrect.

Former rep@
I feel your pain (been there myself) and can understand your bitterness, but not the overblown hype. Simple math shows that a force reduction of 20% cannot possibly result in "double and triple" the number of accounts for the remaining reps. Example: 4 reps each have 30 accounts - total 120 - and one leaves (a 25% reduction in force), the other 3 now have 40 accounts each, which is not even close to doubling or tripling their account base.

Jun 30, 2009

I am a former employee of ATC who had been with the company for over 7 years and just got laid off. I am so sad because Not only did I love my job and my dealers but I was making an impact in my dealers business. Now that ATC has laid off 20% of their sales staff, the remaining reps are getting double and triple the amount of accounts. Dealers, be happy if you see your reps once a month.

WORST of all, most of the reps that were laid off were the best out there.

Jun 30, 2009

Oh now they want to change course and listen to their dealers concerns and help them, HA!
It only took a significant decline and reduction of their revenue for that too happen.

I haven't used them almost a year now and didn't feel any negative impact from it, but I remember being told that I would be going out of business if I canceled.

Generally companies make these type of announcements when they're bleeding from the eyes and hit defcon 5.

Brian Pasch · Jul 4, 2009

As of today, dealers still can not register. Yesterday Hyundai announced that they will advance their dealers $4,000 for every qualifying CARS sale made before the official NHTSA start around July 24th. Looks like Hyundai has raised the bar and game one. I wonder if any one manufacturers will follow this week with a similar plan.

Jun 30, 2009

Chris - I like people like you!

Jun 30, 2009

Dealers can only register via one website: http://cars.gov or by calling the NHTSA at (888) 327-4236.

Jun 30, 2009

The only website dealers and consumers need to know about is http://www.cars.gov - the only official website for this program which is not called cash for clunkers by the way. Dealers do not need to match the $3500 or $4500 like some websites have eluded too; and those that have decided to advertise they are matching funds $500 and up are making this far more complicated in this already competitive and cut-throat market. SO I get some dealers will sell their cars for invoice, match the CARS money, pass on the rebate and so on? Give me a break...

Jun 27, 2009

Great post. This is the new craze and customers have been talking about it a lot. I think that dealers that promote it will be most successful.

Jun 24, 2009

Looks like Cash for Clunkers is official. Obama signed the CARS Program Legislation today. The NHSTA has 30 days to get all the details together.

Jun 20, 2009

Thanks Thomas. Unfortunately, Hampton is quite a few miles a way from us. If you're with http://www.autodealershipreport.com can you please fix the posting to read "Virginia Beach dealership already marketing cash for clunkers"?

Thanks again! Very cool!

Thomas · Jun 20, 2009

Great post Alex.

I see you made the BIG time with your blog on the AutoDealershipReport.com.

Will you be retiring now?

Thomas

DigitalRalph.com · Jun 19, 2009

ADP Digital Advertising has created online advertising campaigns and deployed them for several dealers already. We have Search Advertising, Display Advertising using BT, RT and Site Targeting as well as Microsites and vanity URL's that are templated and ready to go... You can see an example of a dealership landing page that we modified from a Cobalt GM website, then attached a vanity URL to at http://www.cashforclunkernow.com for Thorobred Chevrolet in Chandler, AZ. And, you can see an example of our animated Flash based display advertising at https://apps.bzresults.net/bcc/adbuilder/previewSwfsForAdSet?adSetId=2236

We are also supporting Brian Pasch's National Cash For Clunkers Dealer Registry by placing his registry's logo on our dealership websites with appropriate links to the CashForClunkersFacts.com registry, as well as sending the dealer's information to Brian so he can list them as a participating dealership. Inquiries about buying leads from Brian's registry site are referred to the designated point of contact. Since this program expires on 10/31/2009, we believe NOW is the time for dealers to get on board and start positioning themselves as the place for car buyers to go and take advantage of the program's limited time and funding.

Jun 19, 2009

Brian - yes it surely was a nail biter. Having support from just one vote made it happen.

I am a huge supporter for all dealers that are reaching out for new marketing ideas.

Will this cause other 3rd party lead providers to start biting their nails?

Brian Pasch · Jun 18, 2009

Yes, Senate Republican almost got the Cash for Clunkers bill taken out of the $106 billion wartime spending bill but ONE vote made all the difference.

Democratic sponsors needed 60 votes to keep the CFC program in the larger spending bill and that's exactly what they got.

Once the bill is signed, it will take about 30 days for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to setup the mechanics.

Dealers should start to rev up their marketing engines. Today our traffic spiked and we had a record number of first party dealer contact requests.

It was fun to watch the whole process unfold..it was a nail biter.

Jun 18, 2009

Cash for Clunkers bill is on the way! If I'm reading my emails right, it looks like Obama is the only one left to sign it and not too much has changed.

And thanks for the comments everyone!

Jun 18, 2009

I give all the credit to Brian Pasch on this for leading the market and encouraging all of us to get onboard. Thanks Brian for your invaluable help and assistance!

Brad Burlingham · Jun 18, 2009

thanks alex. great info!!

Brian Pasch · Jun 17, 2009

Thanks Alex for the post. Dealers can get the CFC badge and instructions for the Cash for Clunkers National Directory on this link: http://www.cashforclunkersfacts.com/advertise/dealer-cfc-badge

Brian Pasch · Jun 17, 2009

Alex, thanks for the coverage.

Dealers can get the CFC Participating Dealer badge and instructions on how to be added to the National Directory using this link:

http://www.cashforclunkersfacts.com/bill/dealer-cash-for-clunkers-badge

DigitalRalph.com · Jun 17, 2009

Alex, Thank your for an informative article on Cash For Clunkers. TWITTER: Dealers and other automotive professionals can get up to the minute updates on the Cash For Clunkers Program and dealership best practices by following: http://twitter.com/cashforclunker

Also, I have made arrangements for my crew at ADP Digital Advertising to work together with Brian Pasch on registering dealers who use our services with Brian's national registry.

Alex Snyder · Jun 17, 2009

Even though the Cash for Clunkers Legislation has not passed yet, there is a lot of potential business already circulating around this program. If you're the first on the scene, you can seriously rule your market for anyone trying to find more information about the bill.

First: Build your site and prepare your staff
"This bill is not official", and those should be the first words out of your mouth, followed by a big BUT. "But, when the bill is passed we want to be the dealership that earns your business. Let me tell you a bit about the bill as it currently sits - have you visited the Cash for Clunkers page on our website (Checkered Flag's Cash for Clunkers page)? We are a participating Cash for Clunkers dealership, and ready to help you with the program when it does launch. Basically, the program covers vehicles over X years old with a combined MPG of less than XX..." you get the idea.

Second: Find a site to partner with for better SEO
As this program is getting a lot of attention, chances are you will have a tough time climbing through the Google results and beating all the national news articles about the Cash for Clunkers program (tough to beat CNN). Various sites are selling leads, but one is not only selling leads, it is also helping with some search engine exposure for your own site. That's because Brian Pasch is behind it. The site is http://www.cashforclunkersfacts.com if you want to check it out - the pricing isn't bad at all! If you want to follow on Twitter, go to http://twitter.com/cashclunkers

Brian says:

Lead territories are exclusive and exclusivity is gained on a first come - first serve basis, so hurry to contact Carrie Valentine at [email protected] for signups. You can also reach her at (732) 450-8200. Or you can click here to view the 3 easy steps for setup.

I think most dealers are on the wait and see method right now, but there are a lot of leads to work from customers they never would have seen, even now. I also bet that if the bill fails, manufacturers may come up with their own CFC program because demand will be so backed-up.

Third: This is Temporary
Keep in mind that this program, if it is passed, is currently slated to run through September so we're talking 3-4 months of opportunity. You need to make as strong a run on it while you can! You don't need a long term strategy, you don't need a fancy website, you just need to capitalize on this short opportunity as fast as possible.

Fourth: Continued discussion on the forums
You're more than welcome to comment on this article here, or join us on the DealerRefresh technology forums for further discussion. Cash for Clunkers discussion here.

bpulseadmin · Jun 13, 2009

EL SEGUNDO, CA--(Marketwire - June 11, 2009) - CarsDirect announced today that it is offering free online used car inventory listings to recently terminated Chrysler and General Motors franchise dealers in an effort to help dealers drive sales during the current transition period.

"Many of our dealer partners who have received termination notices aren't simply closing up shop," said Ken Potter, vice president and general manager of automotive sales and industry relations at CarsDirect. "Some plan to change brands, while others are shifting to a used car focus. But the next few months are crucial. We hope this offer helps dealers sell more cars as they work to stay in business and remain fixtures in their communities during the transition."

CarsDirect will provide any dealership that received a termination notice from Chrysler or GM with 60 days of free used car listings on its network of sites, exposing the listings to 25 million monthly online visitors. The CarsDirect network includes listings on the CarsDirect.com Used Car Channel and SellMyCar.com, and targeted syndication of listings throughout the CarsDirect Automotive Network, one of the world's largest collections of auto enthusiast websites.

Dealers are free to post their entire used car inventories, including unlimited photos of each vehicle. They are also eligible for a special rate on CarsDirect used inventory listing products after the conclusion of the 60-day free period.

"Last month, we celebrated the tenth anniversary of CarsDirect, and many of our dealer partners have been with us since Day One," said Potter. "Our dealers helped us achieve the success we enjoy, and we're hopeful that this offer helps dealers sell a few more cars during this uncertain period in the industry. We are grateful for our many strong dealer relationships and look at this as an opportunity to pay our dealers back."

For more details on the no-charge CarsDirect used car listings program, eligible dealers can call (310) 280-4282 or e-mail [email protected].

About CarsDirect
CarsDirect (www.carsdirect.com) is a leading online automotive shopping service and research portal, providing new and used automobiles and related products and services, such as loan and lease financing. CarsDirect is a division of Los Angeles-based Internet Brands (www.internetbrands.com), a leading operator of community and e-commerce consumer websites.

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