So, my 3 cents...
FYI, I have tried this at 4 of my stores that I consult with - the thoughts/comments below are based on what happened and my own opinions of the products.
First - I loved TIM as a concept and was a huge advocate in the beginning... the "idea" of the product got me, and hooked me good.
TIM is all about people and process, which is lacking in alot of stores. If you look at most of the success stories with TIM... those dealers are the ones who had no process for trade-in valuation before. TIM comes in and we train, make them use, and embed it into the process.... are we are surprised when it works!?!? Of course it will, you now have given the salespeople direction and training (which they lacked before). So, if your store has a solid process and the people that execute the process, then there is no need for TIM.
I have heard that TIM under bids for trades. Well, DUH. If anyone is going to guarantee an amount... do you think they will bid high? I also agree that this is one of the main reasons that stores have problems getting people to email/call you back after a online TIM request. The valuation amount is easy to overcome when you TIM a customer on the showroom, but trying to do over the phone/email is just as insane as trying to sell a car over the phone or email. It doesn't happen, or at least very rarely. I believe that is why I like http://www.getautoappraise.com/ tool the best for dealer websites... it "ranges" the trade value, you control the range, and always leaves the customer with a "hope for gain".
Speaking of TIM'ing a customer on the showroom... why in the world would you do this? I can see using it AFTER, and if you are having problems closing the customer. But why create the headache and give the customer more reasons to leave? Which ties into my next point....
I also have a problem with "branding"... my opinion is that you are giving the customer another avenue of shopping in 30-36 months when they are looking to buy again. Didn't know or care about ATC before? They do now... because you just TIM'ed every one of your showroom customers and introduced them to ATC. And, if if they did know about ATC, you have also now just validated the site and the information on it to the customer... so where are they going to start shopping next time - and who becomes the online authority? Shouldn't you be branding yourself? Another reason I like http://www.getautoappraise.com/ - you can remove all the "branding" from the frame-in on your site.
