AutoTrader.com being SUED for Inflating Views

[jimbell]

Dealer Claims Autotrader Inflated Views of Vehicle Listings

"The law firm representing dealers in lawsuits against TrueCar and Carfax filed suit in federal court last Wednesday against Autotrader on behalf of a dealer group that operates two franchised dealerships and a used-car lot in the Bronx and Westchester counties. The complaint alleges that the lead-generation site inflated page views the group’s vehicle listings received by 50% to 100% ore more over a five-year period."

What do you all think of this?

http://www.fi-magazine.com/news/sto...51020&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Enewsletter

 

[Bill Simmons]

I will bring this thread back to life with the lawsuit filed yesterday against ATC. What are you all's thoughts on this?

http://www.fi-magazine.com/news/sto...51020&utm_source=Email&utm_medium=Enewsletter

I'm not sure the dealership has a case on VDP views alone. ATC provides higher "placement" on the higher priced packages, which doesn't necessarily equate to VDP views. Many things determine VDP view count, pricing, merchandising etc.

 

[Chris Leslie]

Page loads = Pageview regardless of scroll depth. So you could be getting a ton of cars showing up on page load but, depending on how many results you ask the thing to return they could be way far down. Still counts though.

VDP's don't have pagination and are unique to the car so are a bit harder to fudge.

 

[Jeff Kershner]

“My law firm has a low tolerance level for third-party vendors who operate more as parasites than dealer-partners. These vendors have very little skin in the game but are happy to inject themselves into my dealer clients' businesses and profits by trying to be relevant,” - Bellavia

Daaaaaannnggg!!

This could be a tough one to prove out.