Ryan,
We disagree in a few things.
The online world in not the real world. Perhaps in some urban areas of thecountry such as for example NY or LA that may be more true than not, but plentyof dealers outside the metro areas will testify that online is not the end ofthe world. I believe that some areas of our society will become more involvedwith online but I wouldn't say that online is the real world. I don't spend myfree time online, but with my kids in the back yard or practicing at the dojo.My friends are not online, and yours aren't either... people you know for bizare online connections or perhaps old friends from high school. But the friendthat will come pick you up because your car broke down in the HWY is not justan online friend.
Hand written is as valid as online. First of all because anyone can hand writea paper (let's hope so, right?) but also because it still describes arelationship and experience between a customer and a business--and that is what we are looking for. I understand that hand writtenreviews will be mostly positive and that negative ones will mysteriously disappearand never get published but frankly I see the online reviews starting to becomea way to get back at the business in some cases because you just got cold feetand I see tha as an unfair disadvantage for the dealer. So having the balance towards the positive in one area is OK.
I don't believe either that a letter review that I got 15 years ago is aged. A15 years old review shows length of character and roots in the community--bothintrinsic characteristics of good car dealers.
We can fill this board with anecdotes like your father's and the FB analytics,but plenty show in the other direction. Older folks don't need to be the escapegoat and be the only ones that supposedly will use a paper review. Every timewe help set a dealer get the online reputation in check we recommend to have acomputer, to have an ipad, to request it in their post delivery emails,letters, etc but we also provide a paper sheet for the customer to write ifthat is what they choose. I would say that 10% prefer that method. I don't seethe advantage of not offering that just because WE that live out of the onlineworld put more value on the E-world.
