• This thread is just the tip of the iceberg.The people ahead of the curve aren't Googling for answers — they're already in here, having the conversations you haven't found yet. DealerRefresh is free.Get the full picture →

AutoTrader.com Pricing???

Jump to latest Follow Reply
#151
Frank S:

you said:
"I believe the "psychology" in the consumers mind in using these sites has changed dramatically over the past two year period as internet advertising is always a changing venue"

I think you are right, it has.

Our 3rd, 4th gen Internet car buyers have gained confidence here lately with all their iPodding, blogging, twittering, youtubbing, googling, ebaying, whatelse...myspacing, facebooking, texting, cellphone-camming, and second-lifing.

They weren't really doing all these things 6-7 years ago. They know the game better. They have been 'screwed' at least 10 times throughout their online history. Not just by us.

Do consumers really need the services of third-party (middlemen) anymore? They were surely needed in the past because there was a severe deficiency in dealer websites from '95 - '02. I'm just throwing it out there, I don't know right now. There is still a segment of the market to reach through it, but the watering hole seems to be getting smaller.

Now, our Internet customers have all sorts of confidence and are coming right at us to our dealer websites expecting some personalized services.

They still have a weakness though - they like to have a good time.
 
#154
Anytime you improve and change a product you are bound to have a few people that resist. Roughly 3-6 million car buyers are going to yahoo autos every month and only a handful of people have made remarks. If you look a bit deeper you will see remarks made prior to December 10th.

On February 1st you will see the new car search change!

Nathan
 
#155
Wayne -

Add an analytics (ie: Google's is free, WebSideStory is paid) program to your website and you'll see all the stats on your AutoTrader traffic. (Incoming links, time spent, bounce rate & most importantly, conversion/goal ratios)

You'll know soon enough if your ROI is on target...

Eric
 
#158
I have reduced my auto trader account to the minimum program. I have added my own 800 number to my logo because they pull your number down when you purchase smaller packages. Now the are performing at an acceptable ROI. Get ready I hear they are lifting prices 8 to 30% in March. They may push themselves out of my market in Las Vegas.
 
#159
Just talked to a buddy of mine at Autotrader and was told they’re going to a common renewal date for all of their customers on March 1. I witnessed the same thing happen years ago with TraderOnline and they saw a cancellation/churn rate of nearly 50%. Not sure about all the details, but this is what I’ve heard: My friend says the rates will be going up about 8% so even if a dealer just signed up or renewed their contract last week, they’re about to see another price hike. Seeing the AT.com post still getting comments, I know there are already a lot of people unhappy with their price increases, so if this is true I think it might be “the one” where it hits the fan for Autotrader. I was curious if anyone else heard anything like this?
 
#160
If a dealer just signed up or renewed their contract last week, they are NOT about to see another price increase, because they would have just signed up or renewed their contract at the new rate. New contracts and renewals have been being written at the new rate since before the first of the year. Those dealers are NOT going to see another price increase before the common renewal date of March 31st, as is alleged here.

You have misinterpreted what your buddy at AutoTrader told you. Please call him back, get clarification and post the correction here so that Alex doesn't think I'm posting BS again. Thanks.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply
Jump to latest Follow Reply
Menu