Boycott the Third Party Sites like it's 2010!

[DrewAment]

good ideas! If you have 2-3 photos before front line, and you excluded those, you didn't find that slowed your rate?

Not at all - and remember they are still posted on the dealer website, just not sent in the feed to third party sites.

And this kinda proves that merchandising is what sells the vehicles -- price and pictures are what makes the customers click. 2-3 crappy photos VS 20 full market photos - unless you have compelling reason for that customer to buy from you (price?) - they are engaging with the fully marketed vehicles.

Is there outliers?? ie: Jeep Wrangler, etc -- yes, but very rare.

 

[DrewAment]

Also, to add --Most of the time the pre-photo'ed vehicles are priced higher or not priced at all before recon, as recon dollars are unknown and most dealers dont want to take the risk of sacrificing gross.

 

[ChrisR]

Agreed, but we also need to better manage what inventory and/or how we are sending inventory feeds. Esp since those sites charge based on inventory level. Have you reviewed your packages with your vender lately? Still paying for a 100 new car package and only have 20 in stock?

Maximize your USED inventory dollars! Don't be the dealer that tells them you have 120 vehicles, when you actually only have 90 front line ready at any given time. You can change your feeds on used:

- Exclude vehicles with no photos from your feeds.
- If you "pre-photo" with 2-3 before front line for your website, exclude those from feed.
- Have a 140 inventory, but only want to pay for 100 "listing package" - have your provider send the 100 oldest in your inventory, or 100 lowest priced, or ??.
- etc, etc.

Tons of ways to do it. Made some of these changes at a large 10+ store dealer group, around $23K/month saved, and inventory turn/travel rate wasn't affected.

Which feed provider are you using that allows you to filter exports? Just talked to Vin/Homenet, and they said they can't do it.

CG said the only way they can filter on their side is by us changing stock numbers of our inventory all the time, not ideal.

 

[DrewAment]

vAuto and HomeNet have both allowed me to filter inventory.

 

[ChrisR]

vAuto and HomeNet have both allowed me to filter inventory.

I called support & the person at vin/homenet said no.

Will try calling again.

 

[Ryan Everson]

Which feed provider are you using that allows you to filter exports? Just talked to Vin/Homenet, and they said they can't do it.

CG said the only way they can filter on their side is by us changing stock numbers of our inventory all the time, not ideal.

We use DataFeedWatch to ingest our feeds, filter, manipulate, and export back out.

 

[ChrisR]

We use DataFeedWatch to ingest our feeds, filter, manipulate, and export back out.

Thanks!

 

[Rick Buffkin]

@ChrisR, Using Homenet, you can simply set up a data conversion to apply a value in one of the Misc (Miscellaneous) fields (you have up to 20) and then have HN support to create an export filter to specific providers based on the value of that field.

Example data conversion: Used with 10+ custom photos > Place (Whatever value you want) into Misc field 20.

Call support and setup a Export Filter to only send vehicles with your custom value in that Misc field to your specific vendor.

Easy peasy!

 

[Jeff Kershner]

I called support & the person at vin/homenet said no.

Will try calling again.

@ChrisR Did you get through to Homenet with your request? Not that it's needed, but seconding @Rick Buffkin on this. Sounds like you caught a newer support rep that wasn't sure what you were requesting. I've found at times unless you get to the top tier of support, there are many flexible features/functions not every support rep is aware of.

 

[ChrisR]

@ChrisR, Using Homenet, you can simply set up a data conversion to apply a value in one of the Misc (Miscellaneous) fields (you have up to 20) and then have HN support to create an export filter to specific providers based on the value of that field.

Example data conversion: Used with 10+ custom photos > Place (Whatever value you want) into Misc field 20.

Call support and setup a Export Filter to only send vehicles with your custom value in that Misc field to your specific vendor.

Easy peasy!

Will mess with that now, appreciate the insight!

@ChrisR Did you get through to Homenet with your request? Not that it's needed, but seconding @Rick Buffkin on this. Sounds like you caught a newer support rep that wasn't sure what you were requesting. I've found at times unless you get to the top tier of support, there are many flexible features/functions not every support rep is aware of.

I am pretty sure it was a new person, as well. Was going to push my rep to help dig in more than just, "call support."