Alex, I remember you and I having many conversations over this service. You went full on with online advertising. I remember you having the Checked Flag guy sitting in bed in his PJ's "you can now Buy your next vehicle in your PJ's" ...or something like that.
I wasn't and I'm still not a fan of the "virtual negotiation" platforms. I have yet to see one work. However, I'm totally on-board with offering a full shopping cart like experience, allowing the customer can do just about everything online but pick up the car. Most people are not ready to make a full transaction of the magnitude completely online but many like to step through the process of the shopping cart experience with out having a sales person breathing down their neck.
How many times have you configured your next Mac on their website, only to step into the Mac store to make your purchase. Pure Bliss!
Each and every time you can get a customer into the "shopping cart", engaging them while in there - that's a win. Just as you said Alex, not a lot of people completed the purchase but the consumers that would actually go through many of the steps enjoyed it. It provided them an experience like they had never had before. That alone was enough to earn the customer business.
Ive been working with Motorize for quite some time now. They offer a "Buy it Now" service that plugs into the dealership website. Not a lot of consumers completing the purchase but we do have people using the shopping cart like process. Great time to offer products as well.
I think what finally did My Live Offer in was when there was some internal changes and they renamed it to "skootz". Ha! I think of a dog riding their ass across the carpet every time I hear that word.