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

[Tony Weaver (blog)]

Yesterday, my Autotrader rep had me update my Autotrader profile, bought me lunch from Panera Bread, gave me a new mouse pad, helped celebrate our several AT sales from last month,-and gave me great customer service!

Where is my Cars.com Rep? Who is he?

 

[Jason (blog)]

T.D. Mac - who the heck are you then? An 'inside' expert? lol You just sound like someone blowing a lot of hot smoke.

In the end, COX is having issues with ATC as well as their other automotive sites under COX Auto Trader.

 

[Jamie (blog)]

Unfortunately he isn't blowing smoke. Even in this economy ATC is up 23%. How many companies can boast that? Imagine the power ATC would hold if they were purchased by Microsoft or Google!!! I think it would be game over for almost all other automotive classified sites. Those are the names that come to mind if ATC were to be sold.

 

[Pete]

ATC and like kind will be around for little awhile longer. The fact is that most outside companies ie Microsoft do not have the stomach or interest to go after the auto industry business. They could knock them out in one swoop. It's hard right now for the good dealer's but it's the best thing to happen in getting rid of the snakes in the grass owners and gain the respect from consumer's and other industries.
If the factories where better at marketing, AT and Cars would be smaller market players.
Why are people searching for certified using At or Cars? I don't know the percentage of certs but why should any dealer have to market outside and not from factory referred.
Sorry for the ramble...All I can say is CARMAX is here and COSTCO CARS is coming sooon.

 

[Alan Bechler]

ATC will be around for years to come in some form or fashion via Cox or someone else. It has tremendous name recognition alone. As for the growth, you have to remember, ATC doesn't soley rely on the auto dealers to grow revenue. Yes, auto dealer sales are down reflective of all advertising, but there are other revenue streams. OEMs, related products, partner contribution, etc. Any smart company is diverse with their income streams. Take car dealers selling parts and service, extended warranties, etc. Their sole income is not just selling cars. It's been a great growth curve and just like any company, there are adjustments made to react to the market.

 

[Stew Pedasso]

Alan ur right, yeah ATC is way too popular to go away alltogether that's crazy!

Jamie ATC being up 23% in revenue for the year is crazy too!
C'Mon, it was an estimate.

ATC being bought by MS or Ggl??
Now that's a stretch.

LOL, Costco Cars??
Will I have to buy a pack of 3?

 

[Cargurrl]

They are up that much. Remember it is ongoing revenue so because in the beginning of the year was up so much it carried them through the rest of the year. Plus the fact that they power the used car site on Edmunds, KBB, NADA Guides and msnautos their traffic also increased. Also, new car is NOT a failure. Maybe you weren't educated the right way. I know a lot of very successful dealers on both Alpha, Tower Ads, New Car etc. There are 2 Honda stores in my market from the same group that have 42% market share (6 in my market all together) and all they do besides having great locations is AT.com and Cars.com. It's all in the education.

 

[Dan F]

COX has their hands in many pots. ATC is one of if not the most profitable of those pots. Print is dying a slow death just like the nightly news due to the internet and all day TV news sources such as CNN, FOX News, and CNBC. If you got your leg chopped off you go to the hospital not the first aid kit. If COX could get a tidy profit from selling ATC to stop ALL the bleeding then they would. Fact is they tested the waters and found no one willing to give them what they wanted. COX made the most profitable choice and kept ATC. Good companies make quick choices. After less than a month COX did what made the most sense and pulled ATC off the block.

To show how smart they are just look at the major restructuring COX did this year. Yeah it pissed a lot of customers and employees off but they really did not cut a lot of employees. COX instead shuffled what they had and cut fat from the top. This is the type of crap the Detroit "SHRINKING Three" should have been doing over the past 30+ years! A smart business makes changes BEFORE a crisis occurs.

 

[Sue]

Cox has their hands in many losing pots also. I would expect some sort of major reorganization at ATC early next year if it hasn't already been started as we speak. One thing is for sure and thats that they better come up with a new amazing product at an affordable rate that seperates them from the competition, otherwise they'll continue to stagnate with what little new business they are signing in this economy right now.

 

[Wolfe]

Autotrader.com is a great idea and will always be a great idea. Their biggest downfall is the lack of organization. Autotrader.com is the most un-organized company that I have ever had the pleasure of working for. I met alot of great people while I was there, but I also encountered alot of people that were nothing more than sneaky snakes. I look for their marketshare to drastically decrease in the near future. Dealers are learning more and more about marketing their own website and you can ask any dealer this question, " Where do you get your most leads from?" I would say that 99% of the dealers would say from their own website. Well Happy Holidays!