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    Used Car Optional Equipment

    @ Mike (mcampo2501): Yes, I've actually brought up your exact issue a couple times previously on these forums...here are those threads: http://forum.dealerrefresh.com/f14/vin-explosion-frustration-oems-give-us-data-1053.html...
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    AVA (Automated Virtual Assistant): anyone used it?

    Katie: AVA actually has nothing to do with phone calls, inbound or outbound. It is strictly an email followup and customer engagement tool. When a customer responds to AVA ("Jenny" in our case), it can "read" the customer's email to determine what work track course to go down next....or...
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    AVA (Automated Virtual Assistant): anyone used it?

    We are a single point dealership and up until very recently have run a traditional cradle to grave internet team. I started using AVA about a year ago or so to supplement our lead followup process and have been extremely impressed with the results over that time. The word tracks that AVA...
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    Anti-Dealer messages on websites run by Cars.com

    Ooops! :) Before Jeff gives me grief as well, I take back that comment. Ha. On a serious note, yes I really do care about the perception of our industry as a whole. I've been in the business now around 10 years and in that time I feel there's been a pretty large shift in consumer attitude...
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    Anti-Dealer messages on websites run by Cars.com

    Great to hear some feedback from others on this, particularly the thoughts from Jeff and John. Was surprised that I seem to be in the minority opinion, but definitely understand the other perspectives. Am I being a bit thin-skinned about the whole thing? Perhaps....I am a younger fellow in...
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    Anti-Dealer messages on websites run by Cars.com

    Yep, thanks for digging on that. Classified Ventures is Cars.com. CarPriceSecrets.com is theirs as well. Disturbing even further in my opinion that they are trying to really hide the connection. In case anyone is wondering, I came on to this because I received an AutoBytel lead that we had the...
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    Anti-Dealer messages on websites run by Cars.com

    Correct, they don't have any Cars.com branding on the site intentionally because of the nature of the sites. I was told directly from my Cars.com rep that they own and run these sites. Call your rep and they will confirm the same thing.
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    Anti-Dealer messages on websites run by Cars.com

    Hi All, Some of you may be aware of this already, but for me it was a shock recently to come across the following two websites which are owned and operated by Cars.com: whypaysticker.com carpricesecrets.com Both websites are used as part of their New Leads Plus program (basically a lead...
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    VIN Lookup Database for all Brands?

    We use IOL as well....remember my eagerness for 2.0 and the comment builder? :) Probably 5-10% of the time IOL is not able to figure out the trim. And it knows what factory installed options/packages were available, but obviously can't tell you which ones are actually on each particular...
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    VIN Lookup Database for all Brands?

    Joe -- Used vehicles, both when doing appraisels and marketing vehicles accurately online. As a single point family run store I've never been part of a large dealer group (and never will be). But I'm guessing if you work at a Toyota dealership for a dealer group that also owns a Mazda...
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    VIN Lookup Database for all Brands?

    Thanks for that link, Joe. Not a bad idea if need be to walk through that process of elimination.....but what a shame that we have to go through that to figure things out. Makes me jealous of the big dealer groups that would have access to VIN info on all the different brands...certainly an...
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    VIN Lookup Database for all Brands?

    Hey everyone, One of my greatest pet peeves, which I've posted about before, is the lack of a centralized VIN lookup system across all brands for dealers to use to determine correct trims and factory installed options. We are a Chrysler Jeep Dodge and Kia dealership and anytime we appraise a...
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    Vin Explosion Frustration: OEMs, give us the data!

    Joe -- I'm blushing....thanks for the kind words. :) Just read through your powerpoint and almost felt like I met my soulmate! Don't tell my wife... Seriously though, the presentation hit it right on the head...you were obviously way ahead of the curve on this stuff. Guess I owe you a big...
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    Vin Explosion Frustration: OEMs, give us the data!

    Joe -- Thanks for the replies and very interesting points. Definitely hadn't thought about things this way. At least when it comes to the 'options SNAFU', I still think there is a much larger upside than downside in having the complete/accurate vehicle features online. As you discussed in...
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    Homenet Headache

    Was very surprised to read this post...definitely sounds like a one-off issue and hopefully a resolution has been achieved. While the overall customer service at most of my venders is pretty good, the support folks over at HomeNet are the best and it's not even close. Super friendly...
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    Vin Explosion Frustration: OEMs, give us the data!

    Joe -- not sure I understand why this would create any problem or hurt the dealers. All I want is to have the VIN specific vehicle information automatically populated online (into our inventory mgmt tool, and then exported out to our various websites, etc.). Because I do spend the time editing...
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    Vin Explosion Frustration: OEMs, give us the data!

    As anyone who has ever spent time editing their new and/or used vehicles can attest, there is nothing a whole lot more time consuming than clicking one by one to add the correct trim, transmission, and vehicle options to each fresh car in inventory. This is a job that I have held for nearly...
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