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The Weekly Refresh: Cars.com, Web2Carz.com, AOL and VAST.com, Baby boomers, Dealers ARE tech-savvy

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#11
Ok, um, Alex, I hope your comment on the NADAguides and Jupiter Research report was meant to be a joke. We're supposed to be laughing, right? Did anyone run those numbers - the "in depth study" (as the NADAguides press release calls it) was of 106 retailers. ONE HUNDRED AND SIX! That's it! That is less than 1% of the dealer population! LESS THAN 1%! I am waiting for the correction to be posted on NADAguides that says "Psych - it was really 1006". At least that is 5%. The funny part is they say "28% of respondents spend more than $50,000 on online advertising" - woopy doo, that's 28 dealerships. I am not necessarily commenting on their findings - I just think their sample size is hilarious.

Now, I realize that in medical studies it is always a ridiculously low percentage sampling because there are a bozillion people on earth (yes, I like to make up words - it's fun), but there are only 22k dealers and they are listed, so you can get their phone numbers and call em up and do a survey! It's not that hard - I used to be on the vendor side. Cold calling was my j-o-b. So, NADAguides (who made a not-so subtle reference to their own lead service), next time you're up for doing a survey, give me a holler. I'll call up 94 more dealerships for ya, so you can have an even 1%! ;)
 
#14
In the 8 years of working with dealers and the internet, I have only maybe 3 times come across a customer that said they gathered their new and used car information on KBB.com. KBB is known for their trade-in values and I would venture to say that 95% of consumers that are on KBB.com are getting values for their car to trade and NOT there to search inventory or gather new car or used car information.

What would happen if KBB would remove all of the traffic from dealers? I'm sure they are not doing this when they look at the traffic number.

I'll tell you somethings else that I found was a waste of money..the Kelley Blue Book's regional advertising program with banner ads that show up when someone in your area appraises the like make. Thank got we were not paying much for it! The CTR was pitiful and the conversion even worse.

Jeff
 
#15
kBB is a great company and has a great reputation however they have not been real successful in the transition to the technology solution. This is strange as they have the ingredients however the recipe has not clicked with the consumers.

It may be possible the marriage between these two may produce a vibrent, productive off spring. If it does not, I think it maybe another nail in the Autotrader coffin and with all the issues and set backs they have suffered the past few years, the increase in costs and overhead which they can not or will not control and the changing technology, they can not afford many more nails.

I still believe the only thing Autotrader can do to survive is to move operations off shore, maybe the Philippines or India.
 
#16
HP wrote: "Another episode of musical chairs...but in the end, is there a substantial benefit to the end consumer shopping for a vehicle?"

Well, if you go to the Yahoo! Autos Suggestion Board and read what Yahoo! Autos consumers think of the switch, you'll get a good understanding of whether there is a substantial benefit to the end consumer shopping for a vehicle. Apparently, there is not.
 
#18
54 people have felt the need to complain...wonder how many have said nothing but have just gone away unhappy because they no longer get the choices and selection that they used to.

HP's comment that I was responding to was whether the end consumer was benefitting. Obviously those end consumers do not think they are.

You are certainly free to think that's a silly argument but it's merely real input from actual end consumers in the absence of any evidence to the contrary. (Maybe you could point me to the Yahoo! Autos Suggestion Board with consumers gushing about how great the switch has been for them.)

For my clients, the "product" and the consultation that I provide to them is very well worth the money or they wouldn't still be clients. Sorry if that conflicts with your expert opinion of how things should be but it's a fact.
 
#19
Lightnup - I will never respect a word you say as long as you hide behind a fictitious name. All we know is that you work for Autotrader.com and simply come on here to make excuses for your employer. You really don't add anything to any conversation and actually hurt Autotrader.com with a lot of the things you say to your clients!

You're correct, 54 felt the need to say they don't like change. Whoopty friggin' doo!

Now, please get with your buddies in Atlanta and make your product work again...if you had been doing that all along, maybe you'd still be on Yahoo instead of crying about not being there any more on Dealer Refresh.
 
#20
Lightnup -
maybe i'm mising something. are you with AT? If so, surely you realize that your customers find your company a neccessary evil.. as for the 'consultation': YEAH, MY REPS SUGGESTION THAT WE USE ALL CAPS FOR EVERYTHING WAS GOLDEN !!! I told him I hoped he was telling all of my comeptitors that!
 

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