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Autotrader.com for sale? Not anymore - is that too bad?

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#41
I heard of new magazines starting up all over the US independantly... soon to be ex-employees are wanting to capitalize on the solid lead results dealers have with print only.
Targeted free print works very well if it's done right. The leads are worth it, and there's a definetely a niche in any market for a print book.
 
#42
More and more dealers have websites that are able to index their inventory on Google. As internet awareness increases as it relates to searching for vehicles there is a chance that this could have a major affect on companies like Autotrader in the near future. We debate this all the time but it's possible that one day it may be normal for a consumer to type in "long tail Keywords" especially as it relates to used cars. If this does happen Autotrader and others who use their model will be in trouble. I do believe the reps provide quality service, however my belief in the pricing structure and their business model decreases on a monthly basis.
 
#43
I have been selling internet advertising to dealers for the past year. The GM's number one complanit was Auto Trader and Auto Trader.com. They knew that the name was out there for Auto Trader and everyone knew them this is why the company that owns Auto Trader started buying up the companies that sell the picture taking and window lables. So they can keep charging the dealers outrages prices.
Good luck Auto Trader the dealers are catching on now you might be hurting one day.
 
#44
The fact that ATC was pulled off the market only is indicative that the company needs to enhance their curb appeal before Cox can reap the true value of the ATC. Right now ATC is saddled with a dinosaur from the past, Autotrader magazine. The have recently closed the magazine and tried to integrate some employees into ATC. The are currently working in teams comprised of an ATC rep, and a magazine rep to convert as much magazine business as possible to the ATC side of the house. Once this is done, it makes the purchase of ATC much more streamlined.

One hurdle that Cox has to look very closely at is how ATC employees, predominantly managers were compensated. A part of the compensation plan are LTIP’s (Long Term Income Plan) these are tied to the overall value of the company, which as of January 08 was $4.3 billon as confirmed by independent auditors. Currently Cox owes million’s of dollars to managers. To off set this possible back breaking pay out Cox and ATC have very quietly begun to rid themselves of long terms managers for what ever cause they can find. If the manager is terminated for cause, then Cox does not have to pay the LTIP‘s. Some people have questioned this practice of terminating proven successful managers, as it is not in the best interest of the company.

However the fact remains, Cox saves millions, and if the company is sold it is no longer Cox’s problem. The fact that Cox as sold almost all of its newspaper business ( save for 4) the infusion of cash that the sale of ATC would bring would be quite welcome. This is a big departure from the overall corporate philosophy that has served the Cox family well over the years. Cox valued employees and fostered a feeling of family in the various corporate entities. That has changed over the last few years as the presidents of the individual divisions have been given carte blanch to do what is necessary . Sandy Swartz the author of the (fire experienced manager plan) and president of Cox Autotrader announced generous severance packages for long time trader magazine employees they received one ( 1) week. The is not the way the Cox family as done business in the past. The trend does not bode will for current and future Cox employees, with hatched men like Swartz around. This once proud Company that was founded by James M. Cox over a hundred years ago lists as one of its company values :

Our employees are our most important resource. We encourage entrepreneurship and initiative. We recognize and reward achievement.

Well if employees are like a natural resource’s and conservation of those resources means thinking “Green” then the future of Cox is decidedly not green nor environmentally friendly.
 
#45
Well said Former ATC Employee. Anyone still with them in management for over 4 or 5 years with any LTIP "shares" better put on armor to stop the knife in the back. I have heard of a couple folks I've known who this has happened to in the past year also, so it's totally believable. I've also spoken to a couple magazine reps who are pretty much expecting to be let go in about three months, once their relationships are milked over to ATC with new business contracts.
 
#46
Former and Ex-ATC, it definitely all falls in line with what's been going on lately. Just about everything you hear in rumor these days is based in fact. A former co-worker and I started hearing bits, pieces, and rumors, and we predicted, EXACTLY how the demise of Cox Auto Trader/Auto Mart was going to go down, and we got it down EXACTLY, even to the utilizing of the print reps to convert revenue before they ditch them, which, mark my words, is the plan. Why do you think they are only giving them a $25,000 base as opposed to the $40,000-$45,000 starting base all other advertising consultants make. They are looking for a low-cost solution to converting dollars. Sure, they are paying them some heavy commissions up front (200% on converted print revenue), but in the long run, they overall value of the upsell is worth more.
It's all way too transparent.
 
#47
(I am, 20yrs car guy, 10 on my own,$34million sals in 2008) ATC is expensive, but so is a Duramax Diesel, ATC gets the job done.===Real issues==Dealers aren't using the tools they have to be effective. I've seen dealers with partnership packages that still have dealer specialties to come take 9 pics....they pay for 27 but only use the 9...they have the best placement on ATC and have lame descriptions, I'm sure that's a good indicator on how they handle the customer when they call in.........

They billboard at Times Square is expensive....but you never see it blank...or with some corn-ball hokie ad.....or half used.....

Dealers right now are targeting ATC as a big ticket expense to cut....they should train staff instead....that's what I do now....there is a great need for it...
 
#49
Have you looked at the Vehix website lately? It is a much nicer site than Autotrader. It looks like the code was written in the last decade, not 1999 like ATC. Very nice filtering options, although sadly they still don't enforce consistency in the listings (if you don't put trans type in a listing, a shopper can't filter for it).

AT website is a PITA to navigate and looking for specific vehicle characteristics is useless. They don't seem to be putting any money into IT and development; could it be they are trying to cut expenses to make it attractive to a buyer?
 

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