TTT,

I understand now why you have to cut and paste directly from private emails...your reading comprehension isn't good enough to paraphrase something without getting it wrong. Go read Chip's email again... "eliminating discretionary spending" is not in there.

You probably shouldn't use the TTT moniker unless you actually know how to TTT.

Wow, elimination of "...discretionary spending". Having decimated sales peoples pay plans and raised rates the percentages they have, they've run out of room. Good luck to both of you. In the immortal words of Johnny Cash "I hear that train a comin', it's comin' round the bend"

TTT,

I was going to read Chip's email but figured I'll just wait until you post it here.

Lightnup,

I think you'll be out of a job before me, did you read Chip's email? I think he was talking about you when he said he will eliminate discretionary spending!!!!

Sitting on your computer all day and blogging is not the right way to spend autotrader's money! I'm sure dealers would prefer a small discount in lieu of your bloated salary. You are a known target now, so watch out!!!! it might take them longer to find me!

Many are disgusted with what autotrader has turned into, many are afraid to say anything, many dealers stepping down with product or cancelling, many sales people working twice as hard to earn almost half as much, many mid level execs trying desperately to climb to senior exec level to further seperate themselves from field sales & operations, many good people have departed the company the past year out of frustration, many inside autotrader offices reading this wondering when if ever this thread will ever end.

Lightnup,
The issue at hand is not TTT, its companies like autotrader who feel they can bully dealers and extort money from them year after year.

I agree, he shouldn't talk against a company he works for but maybe he's disgusted with the way autotrader has turn itself into.

By the way, I renewed with AT at the same rate a month ago, this is after I told them to piss off when they presented me with a $2000 rate adjustment.

Chuck.

TTT,

Quit your job yet? Or do you plan to continue collecting a paycheck from the company whose products and management you anonymously ridicule in public forms? What a class act. Your 6-year old must be so proud.

TTT, question for you. If your not an AC and don't report to a DSM, does anyone in district or regional management even remember your name?

@lightnup:
I never Insulted you or called you names, I would appreciate it if you would do the same.
If you have beef with me, why don’t you post your contact info and I will be more than happy to call you. Everybody is tough behind a keyboard, my 6 year old son is tough behind a keyboard, calling me names only shows how immature you are.
By the Way, I'm not an AC and I don't report to a DSM!

Taking actual photos on new vehicles does draw more attention to them on autotrader as many dealerships rely on stock images alone but the activity that new vehicles receive on autotrader compared to used vehicles is pale in comparison, speak to a dealership that has signed on with autotraders New Car Partnership product and see if they thought it was worth the additional ad spend. Autotrader stresses their value in the new car market but you will see much stronger activity from other sources on new vehicles. They've got a huge segment of the online used audience but have not much to offer in the new vehicle customer audience. They might have a product set for new car but no audience.

Question: Has anyone started to post ACTUAL pictures of their new car inventory with sites such as AutoTrader? I know that companies like ATC a really pushing new cars as a part of the classifieds play..... and was wondering if any progressive dealers are seeing results from posting actual pictures of live inventory.

TTT or should I say unethical self-centered jerk?

It takes a truly warped mind to try justifying the posting of multiple private inter-company communications on a public forum as merely stating one's opinion. It's stepping over the line and I don't give a rat's butt what company is involved...AutoTrader.com, cars.com, Radio Shack or Chuckie Frigging Cheese, you don't deserve the paycheck you are receiving from your employer.

It's embarrassing to know that someone with your lack of integrity works for the same company I do. If you are truly pro-dealer, then quit trying to sell them something you obviously don't believe in. Do yourself, your employer and especially your clients a favor and quit your job. Do it today. Do it right now. Make that call. I'm sure your DSM is standing by. Better yet, maybe you'll be revealed and they'll fire your ass. One can only hope.

@lightnup or should I say ATC PR Dept?

I did not create this forum, I am merely stating my humble opinion. In this case I am pro-dealer, get over it !

or this one?

guess lightnup is on the busy side picking up the slack for that other district. We even have the best ATC reps on dealer refresh!

Maybe I should repost my first question?

@Lighntup
is this guy legit? If so maybe I can call and get a price break on that new alpha package?

I am one of those dealers that decided to stop using Autotrader.com after so many years, I thought it was one we had to have but after looking at all of the numbers for the last two years we decided to cancel and move the advertising money to other places, so far we have a huge success with the local "online newspaper" and streaming radio. I really like the streaming radio from the local stations. If you have not checked that out you might find your missing some listeners, cheap to.

So I guess you missed your $5k DAR goal for the month also?

C'mon guys, grow up.

1. The way you're carrying on, you'd think you've stumbled on some deep, dark insider secrets: "...Wait until the end of the month, threaten to walk, bring up their competitor..." Oh boy, those sure are some new ideas...NOT. Whether it's AutoTrader.com, cars.com, your credit card company or every single one of your dealerships,threatening to take your business elsewhere and mentioning the competition's prices, rates, offers, is as old a tactic as there is. You think cars.com won't make a better offer when you turn in your cancellation? Think again. Considering that car dealerships are best known for chasing after the prospect as he/she leaves the showroom, offering one last "best deal if we can do business today," I wouldn't be quite so smug about pricing integrity.

2. The sales manager's email to his/her staff doesn't sound any different than many of the sales meetings I had to endure when on the retail floor and we were behind target. So what. It's a slow month, anyone other than a complete moron knows that the economy isn't exactly booming, there are quotas to hit and middle management is getting heat from upper management. Tell me you don't get the same thing from your sales management when the dealer principal or GM is unhappy that your numbers are way behind projection for the month. I've been in dealership meetings when GMs have yelled and screamed and thrown whatever is handy just to make the point that the sales staff needs to get back on track. This is business, not a fraternity.

3. Looking for new employees? Yup. So what? How many of your dealerships have the never-ending "Salespeople Wanted" ad in your local paper every weekend to replace the newbie salespeople you blow out as soon as they have sold their relatives and neighbors, or the veterans who can't stand being demeaned by your management any longer? I know in my region/district, they are adding positions and no one has left in the last 8 months. Can you say that about your sales staff?

4. When I began posting anonymously, I was called a coward, my integrity was questioned and I was told how I was doing a disservice to the many fine people who work at AutoTrader.com....and all I was doing was correcting misinformation that others had posted. But TTT, who clearly has snapped under the sales pressure, is given a pass even though he/she shows a complete lack of ethics or morals by posting private company communications (I don't care what company you work for or how disgruntled you are, that's a crappy thing to do) in a public forum? Give me a break. Talk about doing a disservice to the fine people at ATC? TTT wins the prize in that category.

Autotrader has managed to shaft dealer customers along with many employees for so long that naturally it's their time to take the shaft.

looks like this could be a new thread....Jeff can you help us out?
Title the thread:
"Autotrader.com Buying Tips and Secrets."
Looking to buy some online advertising? Want to get an insider's view of what to know before you buy? Come and chat live with "TTT" on Dealer Refresh former ATC field rep as he shares his extensive knowledge and experience, giving you the ins and outs, tips and
secrets to purchasing your next Autotrader.com advertising package.
.....sorry I have some free time it's raining here

"and most importantly, if they threaten to raise your rates, cancel. Trust me, they will come back"

of course they will, with many markets already so saturated with dealers signed on they will have to.

Wait until the last week of the month to hold out on a price, you should at least be able to half any increase they are throwing at you.

So many good people have left this company in the past 2 years

How to get Better Deals:

1- Be friends and respect your ATC rep
2- Never tell him business is good
3- Dont use ATC's 800#
4- Always mention downgrade or cancelling
5- Always compare them to cars.com's price
6- Always pay your bill on time

and most importantly, if they threaten to raise your rates, cancel. Trust me, they will come back.

Spotlight Ads, ha ha ha , where should I start???

The retail price is $150 a piece; the actual cash value is about $5 a piece. About 60% of dealers don’t even use the spotlights they are allotted.

The person who invented spotlights is a genius, they actually increase exposure but the extent of their effectiveness is yet to be gauged. I would compare spotlights to the Google sponsored results, they show up on top but most people phase them out and look below them. At the end of the day if a car is cheap enough, it will sell anyways, spotlighted or not.

On paper the number of times the spotlights showed up is impressive, but how many people clicked on them??? Autotrader will never show you the click through ratio of those spotlights, it’s probably less than the regular ads, which is about 5%.

If you have any questions for me, post them on this forum.

TTT

Yes they do give them away when it comes contract time but they only last for a few months but if want to buy extras they come up with some crazy price.

Spotlight ads are free, didn't you know that? LOL! Just use them as "giveaway bait" next time your contract comes up for renewal!