The only reason to prevent dealerships from going outside the pr-approved vendor list would be control, in my humble opinion and even if they give you a choice of 100, if all the software is outdated and none of them meet the performance guidelines set up by Google, does it really matter?
Yes, I agree on the one hand it would cost you millions and on the other hand it wouldn't be worth it because at any moment they could decide to go in-house with everything!
Dealerships are in trouble and if the OEM's get to hurting they can force inventory onto the dealerships and the dealerships onto their own platforms and if its too much for the dealership and they go out of business there are less people to fight them going direct to consumer!
Hard to beat the price, however your giving someone else total control over your business!
Third‐party websites have become extremely influential in the used car market. and their “control” isn’t about owning the cars or setting prices, but rather about shaping how buyers and sellers interact and how information is shared.
They are the:
- Information Gatekeepers: These platforms aggregate listings, vehicle histories, pricing data, and consumer reviews. As many as 80–90% of used car buyers begin their search online, so the way these websites present information can greatly influence consumer decisions.
- Price Benchmarking: Tools that compare prices or offer “fair market value” estimates (as seen on sites like CarGurus or Edmunds) help set expectations and can indirectly affect negotiations between buyers and sellers.
- Transparency and Trust: By providing detailed vehicle histories (CarFax) and comprehensive reviews, these sites have built significant trust. Their data-driven insights are now often the reference point for both consumers and dealers.
If OEM's let them start selling new cars it could be the end of the dealerships as we know them!
However trying to compete with established used car platforms like AutoTrader, Cars.com, CarGurus, Edmunds, and CarFax would be a significant challenge due to their entrenched market positions, high traffic, and brand recognition.
And Overfuel's website suffer from the same performance issues, coding probblems, and compliance issues as all the others.
