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  1. jssimonton

    Latest GM iMR Approved Turnkey Vendor List

    GM dealers have access to this information in Dealer Vendor Advisor within GM Global Connect.
  2. jssimonton

    Review Management Stress Test

    This is exceptional advice. Sometimes we forget the consumer in the process of developing plans to reach consumers. Thank you Ryan!
  3. jssimonton

    Cobalt and Chevy Lead Forms

    Based on the GMeSummit presentations which recommended simplified forms, I suggest that the beta testing Cobalt is currently doing on forms will become the standard soon. You can see what that beta looks like here: 2012 GMC Canyon for sale in Saginaw - 1GTH5MFE5C8161464 - McDonald GMC Cadillac
  4. jssimonton

    OPINION: CARFAX is extorting my dealership

    While AutoTrader and Cars.com are easy targets based on how much we pay them, it's worth noting that a wide range of classified sites from Dealix to AolAutos appear to be exclusive with CarFax. In fact, AolAutos even has a search option to see "Only Listings with Free CARFAX Report" next to the...
  5. jssimonton

    OPINION: CARFAX is extorting my dealership

    For the record, the GM Certified Pre-Owned program allows for either AutoCheck or CarFax vehicle history reports.
  6. jssimonton

    Good SEO graphic from searchengineland

    Sometimes, a picture is worth way more than a thousand words. Very useful image.
  7. jssimonton

    OPINION: CARFAX is extorting my dealership

    Consumers seem to accept AutoCheck as a valid vehicle history report. The bigger issue is the marketing advantage Carfax has created by investing in an exclusive partnership with AutoTrader and Cars.com to essentially extort dealers through a modern day protection scheme. By excluding...
  8. jssimonton

    OPINION: CARFAX is extorting my dealership

    I recommended the change from Carfax to AutoCheck at my previous dealer group and we currently use AutoCheck at our dealership. The issue has never been customer interest in a Carfax; when handed an AutoCheck report, customers are fine. The real issue is that because Carfax has an exclusive...
  9. jssimonton

    Looking at Recycler.com as an alternative to Dealix used cars and need some perspective

    I need some perspective from the forum. In front of me is an opportunity to list my vehicles with Recycler.com (by way of the local cable company.) The cost is $500/month. This would list our vehicles on a bunch of websites including usedcars.com, automotive.com, kbb.com, yahoo, bing, and a...
  10. jssimonton

    Is the Internet Department Getting It's Share of the Advertising Budget?

    Once upon a time, traditional media told people what to do and they did it. Now, traditional media identifies an opportunity and people go shopping... online. The question isn't whether your customers are internet customers, 90% of them are, the question is what drove them to shop for a vehicle...
  11. jssimonton

    Ignore your Manufacturer website(s)? Why??

    Dealers should assess all of the options available and, in my opinion, NEVER ignore their OEM site. I never said that dealers shouldn't use a second website. What I thought I clearly stated was that vendors mislead dealers by identifying OEM site problems as being inherent to their design with...
  12. jssimonton

    Ignore your Manufacturer website(s)? Why??

    Since I realize that my exchange with Yago is simply offering him a platform to add different intentionally misleading commentary, I shall return to the original post. While huge dealers don't find a website to be a significant line item, many dealerships find a $2,000 a month website to be a...
  13. jssimonton

    Ignore your Manufacturer website(s)? Why??

    Yago, that is specifically the misleading information to which I was referring. Specifically with GM/Cobalt sites, the "OEM package" has a few requirements on lead routing and some elements, but the site itself can be modified extensively. This requires effort, and perhaps that is why it is not...
  14. jssimonton

    Ignore your Manufacturer website(s)? Why??

    Yago, the generalizations you make about templates are misleading and unfair. I'm sure your products are good enough to stand on their own merits without twisting reality about OEM sites. Cobalt does have an official Cadillac template, but Cadillac dealers are not required to use that template...
  15. jssimonton

    Ignore your Manufacturer website(s)? Why??

    In answer to why manufacturers get involved, I will suggest that they are trying to compensate for the large number of dealers who don't get it, and there are lots of them. Of course, you don't find those dealers online reading this forum. Since most dealerships are independent businesses...
  16. jssimonton

    Looking to make a change

    From my marketing position at my previous store, the DMS was one of the few technology systems I did not admin. That said, we did transition from Reynolds to ADP with only minor issues. Months after the switch, there was a general consensus that it was a good move. One interesting advantage to a...
  17. jssimonton

    A New Low for DealerRefresh?

    I believe Mencken's quote referred to the "intelligence of the American public." That's not well connected to the Soylent Green concept... ;)
  18. jssimonton

    Value of Predicting New Car Sales Volume

    The answer would appear to be that TrueCar has an ongoing campaign to be mentioned in the media. This guess may seem silly to anyone who understands the business, but to a media person (who likewise promotes a 7-day weather forecast as useful) this is advance knowledge so they can be "first at...
  19. jssimonton

    Edmunds as 3rd-Party Lead Provider -- Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?

    In our area, the unsold new GM brand leads submitted on Edmunds appear to go to Dealix ($22) and then to the GM 3rd Party lead program ($16) before going directly to the dealer (free). That just seems like a penalty for playing. As a bonus, Edmunds encourages customers to submit their leads to...
  20. jssimonton

    Asleep at the wheel!

    How does an owner ever go to a 20-group meeting with financials and not notice this kind of crisis? What I noticed most was the strong anti-dealership commentary following the story. Some people are just mad at the world!
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