Cox Auto Trader Makes Strategic Moves to Improve Online Automotive Advertising Business

[Longtime Cox/Traderpub employee]

Thanks Shelly, yes I might be interested in getting on the train. I will be emailing you again soon.

 

[anyone else having severance withheld]

Just curious how many people r out there in same boat!

Think I should find representation?

 

[Scared ATC employee]

Has anyone heard anything about the current CarSpot Vehicle Photographers being laid off soon ? We have been told that Homenet will be the new platform (replacing CarSpot platform) but rumours have been surfacing that Atlanta home office is having issues getting the CarSpot equipment (camera and DUO) to be compatible with the Homenet platform and most likely ATC will be stopping their photo service to current dealers, leaving us photographers out of a job. Management has been very secretive telling us they are testing equipment in certain regions right now and that they will have training for us soon. A lot of what we are told is that they can't tell us specific things ~ "I wish I could tell you - but I can't. Trust me."
I even heard that someone of importance was answering questions at a training session in Atlanta recently and told the Advertising Consultant's that "CarSpot in no longer. Homenet will NOT be replacing CarSpot...they are two different things. We will not be selling photo service anymore."

I just found this message board and am very nervous now about my job !!! A lot of what I have read I have witnessed first hand (regarding the Advertising Consultants traveling now with former Trader Pub reps to switch the magazine revenue to ATC online) and what I have heard about the layoffs, so I am hoping for a reputable source here.

 

[EX Employee]

Hello!!!!!!!! are you kidding me now they are playing with severance, if your last day was the 23rd of January you should of had your first severance pay on the 13 of Feb. people whos last day was feb 6 should get the first severance check on Feb 27th. My understanding is the person working on our packages was let go also and then they called her back to get Cox thru the transistion of closing automart,autotrader. So I am sure she is not all dedicated to doing so, knowing that her job is done when she is done with that. So hopefully we should get our checks, if not maybe Joe and Ian will hook us up with some cash to get by

 

[Stew Pedasso]

Scared,
Sorry to confirm what you've heard, but I've heard the same that Carspot is going away. I haven't heard Homenet mentioned to replace them though.
I've heard Homenet is handling all the car data for ATC now, but that's it.

 

[OH MYYYYYYYYYY]

Hello out there please someone let me know if they have received their severance, i hope this is not gonna be an issue!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[anyone else having severance withheld]

OH MYYYYYYYYYYYY

most people have received theirs...some of ours are being held. id contact a lawyer than the company. no one will give you answers about anything so be prepared.

 

[Longtime Cox/Traderpub employee]

scared, yes it is true carspot is going away. In fact, it was Carspot that I was working on when i was let go in december. Our city was a test city for running Carpot from the print side. I was offered the position of running it mid last year. Before that, I was in circulation. If I would have stayed where I was, I would have still been working there. Of course that would only have delayed things because the circ people will be going too.

Its funny though, our office went thru a big deal of getting dealers switched over to Carspot. The dealers I had loved it quite a bit and depended on it. Then all the sudden they go back to the dealers and say sorry, we are not doing it anymore so you are SOL. Carspot Pro is still up and running, and all my old dealers can still just go in an upload their own vehicles and it all still exports to where it was. So basically all these dealers are getting the exports etc for free.

Anyway, keeps up posted on this, I am sure interested to see what happens to carspot. I had a feeling something was up with it for several months before I was even told I was getting canned. Have not heard about this homenet thing.

 

[OH MYYYYYYYYYY]

PRINT IS DEAD PAY US

 

[Dedicated]

I dont understand I know i am suppose to get paid Friday I have just one pay ocming as severance do you mean i will not get it, I thought Jim Kennedy and his Mom were all about the working people??????????????