AutoTrader.com Agrees to Buy HomeNet Automotive

[Larry Bruce]

@jeff ha! as I have said many times "You know there is truth in the room when you start seeing people attack others personally and getting upset."

When I clicked the link these cars were not the dealers but fine you take that away that really was pretty minor.

All these searches were performed on a 2003-04 Honda accord non geo location specific.

Jeff any time you would like to go head to head on conversion opitimization tactics and strategy just bring it.

Before you you make statements about someones credibility perhaps you should be educated on the topic.

 

[[email protected]]

Mr. Bruce,

With all due respect, you’ve also misrepresented facts about vAuto. You state “…dealers price has been automatically adjusted by VAuto to the dealers determent”. vAuto has never had the ability to change a dealer’s price. It is only an authorized user that can make and save a price change. You further say “…and we’ll leave that at that”. No, we are in fact not going to leave it at that. It’s simply not responsible or professional to make blatantly false statements and then say we’re going to leave it at that.

Also, I’ve read your bio, and it is clear to me that you have your own agenda to promote as the founder of a company selling Microsite landing pages. I can now see your motivation for bashing AutoTrader. Mr. Bruce, I’m sure that the industry community on Dealer Refresh would appreciate it if you would be more careful and respectful of people and facts.

 

[Jeff]

Larry,

You actually performed a search 100 miles from Houston, not non geo specific as you had said. I have performed the same search that you performed 5 times and found only Honda Tower ads. Not sure exactly why you were seeing Ford because it's pretty obvious that Honda had purchased national ad space there and as you said on your Ebay slide, that shouldn't be a distraction because it's a used Honda search.

 

[Larry Bruce]

@Dale no your right we won't leave that at that. Dale as I states in earlier comments VAauto software like all software can be very beneficial or it can be ver detrimental of coarse the dealers telling me this approved a group of vehicles to be price adjusted and the settings that doesn't change the detrimental nature of what could happen if you arent careful with anyones software.

Dale, you and I have met one time for all of 5 minutes, to be honest it is unprofessional of you to pretend you know anything about me or my motivations from a 5 min conversation and a bio read.

If you took to read the earlier comments you will see I have been questioning 3rd parties in-between the dealer and the customer since 99 long before there was an AutoTrader online. So perhaps you should do me the courtesy of a conversation about why I think what I think before you start questioning my motivations as I have done you in these comments.

 

[Rob Fontano (blog)]

What would really make this discussion interesting is if it were more focused on the dealer and less on vendors throwing shit at each other.

None of what is being currently discussed has anything to do with the original article. "AutoTrader.com Agrees to Purchase Auto Inventory Solutions Leader HomeNet Automotive, How do you feel about it?" So, how do you feel about it? Do you think that AT will use the acquisition to improve on their product? Will they add it in and raise their prices? Will they make it a part of an added value proposition?

Funny how when a couple of vendors start arguing the dealers all leave the room. If I’ve learned anything from the last several posts, It’s how obvious that the dealer is not your number one priority. Anyway, it rained this morning so I’ve got some grass growing to watch.

 

[Larry Bruce]

@Jeff I'm not privy to ATC algorithms that serv ads so I don't know why I am seeing for ads either I have never even searched for a ford on ATC before so I don't think it would be in the cookies. The fact that it a ford is bad from a relevancy stand point but whats worse is the placement and the frequency

These banners show up in the listing. Jeff if you were a dealer contributing content to a site and paying to contribute that content at the levels ATC is charging would you want that much distraction in your listings?

ATC make claims that only a low amount of visitors will convert online or call yet is distracting a large number of visitors with all these banners. Then want us to believe that visitors won't convert well I'll bet any amount of money you want if we split test those pages without banners there will be a large number increase in conversion and that's just the lowest hanging fruit in conversion optimization for these pages there is a lot more that could be done.

Any geo location isn't going to remove the banners, that's just nit picking at things, please.

 

[Joe Pistell]

A Dealer to Vendor warning.

Larry, you're a vendor and you're way out of line. These are YOUR WORDS LARRY:

-”Get out of ATC before you lose more money"

-”The ATC Alpha program is a joke"

-”Drop ATC you are better off taking that money to eBay motors"

-”Dealers need to limit their exposure with ATC"

-”ATC will bring nothing more than higher pricing & little value"

-”Your ATC bill go through the roof and service through the floor"

-”What was the last thing ATC built that was innovative?"

-”ATC is no more than cheap magazine tricks they brought online"

-”Get rid of your alpha program and Autotrader entirely"

-”ATC does not have the footprint they want you to belive"

-”ATC isn’t a technology company, isn’t a web marketing company "

-”ATC at its root a magazine"

-”The fact is ATC is not about a better product or more help"

-”Move some of your budget to eBay"

-”ATC actions say to me they are not trying at all"

-”ATC has no strategy"

-”ATC has no idea what these companies... except raise rates'

-”you are wasting your time if you use VDP as a measurement"

-”Cars and ATC both offer the dealer little..."

-”I’m not privy to ATC algorithms"

-”I could be wrong but not likely..."

Then you follow with:

-"Dale, it is unprofessional of you to pretend you know anything about me or my motivations."

-"Gretchen, posting with such an obvious company line is almost insulting in some ways."

Larry, Your behavior here is clearly irresponsible.

YOU ARE A VENDOR, NOT A DEALER, NOT A DEALER ADVOCATE.

YOU ARE HERE TO PROMOTE YOURSELF & YOUR BUSINESS. Your words about your business again:

-"My new business absolutely could be an alternative to ATC..."

-"I believe a dealership spend with my company would produce more than a spend with ATC"

-"The name of the game here “DERVISIFY”"

Larry, Now I remember why I walked out of your DD9 presentation. Your opinion of yourself knows no bounds and gets in the way of what little knowledge you have.

 

[LarryBruce]

@Joe I am glad you chose to walk out of my session at #DD9 you've demonestrated exactly what Digital Dealer is all about. If you don't agree or like what you here you are free to leave and go to another session that why there are so many, so thank you for acting on your convictions.

Joe you have heard a small part of me speak and you have seen me post some comments so I'm sorry you don't get to tell me what I am, that is your opinion and you're welcome to it as is anyone else.

My behavior here is exactly what I think and my opinion, I didn’t realize Joe you were the opinion police here and that no one was allowed to have one, or is it just vendors you think aren’t allowed to have opinion, or is it just me you think isn’t allowed to have an opinion? I gotta be honest with you I’m confused because there have been a lot of opinions expressed here by dealers and vendors but I seem to the only one you think you need to warn, and BTW who elected you as the guy to warn people?

Joe I wouldn’t believe very much in my own product if I didn’t think it was a good value for a dealer so if you ask me as you did your comment, I’m not going to lie I will tell you yes I think I have a better value proposition than most of what ATC sells now. With that said it's not my opinion that matters that is a decision dealers have to make, they are the only ones who can assign value. I think we know where you value is and that is ok.

Lastly I am a dealer, always have been a dealer and always will be a dealer. So don't you pretend to able to tell me what I am. I would never do that to you, that is unprofessional, giving your opinion has never been unprofessional, its what blogs are for and you are welcome to walk out of this one too.

This will be my last comment on this post clearly we have far over stepped the usefulness to the community.

 

[Jeff Kershner]

Larry, I'm starting to feel bad for you my friend. The perception you give off is not one of great aptitude.

Now that Larry is gone, maybe we can get back on course.

What do you think of this purchase??

 

[JCollins]

So, what does the future hold for ATC and it's recent acquisitions. Nobody really knows and any assessment would have to be deemed speculation. I think we have had enough conjecture from multiple parties. Let's get back to best practices in our space and other topics that we can actually affect change. Merry Christmas to all!!!