Frank! Thanks for posting this here. You and I have went back and forth on this subject which now is a very touchy one!
Thanks again it is appreciated!
Thanks again it is appreciated!
-
This thread is just the tip of the iceberg.The people ahead of the curve aren't Googling for answers — they're already in here, having the conversations you haven't found yet. DealerRefresh is free.Get the full picture →
I'm hoping my competition continues to use Cobalt wesbites. They are ineffective in converting customers and have weak tracking/reporting. I have the free site (with no $299/mo advocate support) so I get links from chevy.com. The only 2 problems I have with the whole deal, is not getting a link to my own wesbite and I'm competing with Cobalt PPC campaigns driving the bids prices up.
I can understand why GM started the program in the begining, but by now any dealer that would not be able to adequately handle theirselves with an online presence probably won't ever be able to. Why not let them weed theirselves out? I have a deep seeded loathing for Cobalt, and want to pull my hair out everytime I have to call ECare for anything. We have so much trouble with our Cobalt sites.. All of the cars were marked with manual transmissions for awhile, we changed the company that sent the feeds for our inventory, and it took two months for everything to show up properly. One hand has no idea what the other one is doing!!! I do miss having an advocate to make changes for me, but I just couldn't see paying $900 a month for something I can do myself....
How does Frank Davis sit down?
Seriously.
Think about it for a second.
How do you sit down with balls the size of spring ripe southern Canteloupes?
You know those big ones the grocer adds another 30% price too from standard, anyway... i digress.
Everyone thank Frank for being upfront and sharing his knowledge which is extremely valuable for us all.
Frank's the man.
Seriously.
Think about it for a second.
How do you sit down with balls the size of spring ripe southern Canteloupes?
You know those big ones the grocer adds another 30% price too from standard, anyway... i digress.
Everyone thank Frank for being upfront and sharing his knowledge which is extremely valuable for us all.
Frank's the man.
I think it is good for the OEMs to mandate certain things on a dealer's website.
But I think this is best done the way Toyota, Honda, Nissan and others do. They review the sites based on certain requirements and the dealership gets in trouble if their site does not comply. They don't FORCE any particular vendors or special secondary websites.
But I think this is best done the way Toyota, Honda, Nissan and others do. They review the sites based on certain requirements and the dealership gets in trouble if their site does not comply. They don't FORCE any particular vendors or special secondary websites.
Just stumbled on this post and thought I'd chime in with some of my own comments.
First off, I think its an enormous mistake to punish dealers with ambitious internet programs. Clearly, Cobalt's solution was to get dealers on the internet. However, if you're serious about your internet program you realize that Cobalt can only get you so far.
And it's not just GM. Scion has an agreement with Reynolds. Chrysler has a deal with Dealer.com, etc., etc.
These companies can't be everything for everyone. A dealerships internet program requires a great deal of attention that Cobalt, Dealer.com, nor Reynolds can handle.
Things will move to the edges a bit more and I think the overall shopping experience will improve for consumers online.
First off, I think its an enormous mistake to punish dealers with ambitious internet programs. Clearly, Cobalt's solution was to get dealers on the internet. However, if you're serious about your internet program you realize that Cobalt can only get you so far.
And it's not just GM. Scion has an agreement with Reynolds. Chrysler has a deal with Dealer.com, etc., etc.
These companies can't be everything for everyone. A dealerships internet program requires a great deal of attention that Cobalt, Dealer.com, nor Reynolds can handle.
Things will move to the edges a bit more and I think the overall shopping experience will improve for consumers online.
- Apr 14, 2009
- 41
- 0
- First Name
- Justin
Great post. I liken this to going into a Chevy dealer tomorrow and all you can choose from is the Malibu. They stopped making every other vehicle because GM felt that was the best choice for customers. You can complain about it all you want but you'll still end up driving home in a brand new Malibu. Just hope they made it in multiple colors!
You can add Volkswagen and Audi to the list of manufacturers who require their dealers to have a Cobalt web site in order to receive leads from the manufacturer.
The manufacturers should worry about their own web sites and allow their dealers to be creative with their own. If someone goes to audi.com and asks for a quote, that quote should go to the nearest dealer regardless of what web site provider he has chosen to do business with.
I suppose that a few years ago when we all started to realize how important a web site would be, it perhaps made some sense for the manufacturer to want to dictate dealer web site content and appearances...after all, the manufacturer had more money and resources to make good decisions on behalf of their dealers.
Today, though, I think I can make the case that perhaps most dealers are smarter than GM, Ford, Chrysler etc., all of which are setting new records for poor performance.
Maybe the dealers are actually capable of making their own web site decisions now?
The manufacturers should worry about their own web sites and allow their dealers to be creative with their own. If someone goes to audi.com and asks for a quote, that quote should go to the nearest dealer regardless of what web site provider he has chosen to do business with.
I suppose that a few years ago when we all started to realize how important a web site would be, it perhaps made some sense for the manufacturer to want to dictate dealer web site content and appearances...after all, the manufacturer had more money and resources to make good decisions on behalf of their dealers.
Today, though, I think I can make the case that perhaps most dealers are smarter than GM, Ford, Chrysler etc., all of which are setting new records for poor performance.
Maybe the dealers are actually capable of making their own web site decisions now?
I want to thank everyone for all the positive responses and support you all are a huge part of the automotive marketing world we all live and play in. I received an e-mail from GM today which wants me to push that much harder, I believe most of you realize the importance of what I have been talking about in regards to the monopoly and the direction we are headed as having rules stuck in front of us and not being able to make the choices we see best for our dealers etc. Here is part of the e-mail I received minus the name of course.
Frank,
I have ran this issue down through both Cobalt and the Director of the IMR program at GM. The bottom line answer is that IMR program will continue to include the Cobalt website and a basic level of paid search advertising for that site. Modifications to those offerings will not be allowed under the IMR program.
I understand this not the answer you were looking. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. However, I have received very clear direction from Detroit on this matter and do not expect a change.
I have done my best to inform and give my best analogy of the situation I see as detrimental not only to our advertising but our actual ability to make choices that effect the way we make a living.
Frank Davis
918-520-6777
Frank,
I have ran this issue down through both Cobalt and the Director of the IMR program at GM. The bottom line answer is that IMR program will continue to include the Cobalt website and a basic level of paid search advertising for that site. Modifications to those offerings will not be allowed under the IMR program.
I understand this not the answer you were looking. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. However, I have received very clear direction from Detroit on this matter and do not expect a change.
I have done my best to inform and give my best analogy of the situation I see as detrimental not only to our advertising but our actual ability to make choices that effect the way we make a living.
Frank Davis
918-520-6777
