Uncle Joe's Makeover Diary 2.0

[Todd Thompson]

I agree, while I've never done a US to Canada consumer sale, I've been at dealerships that have stores in both countries and move vehicles around, or buy inventory from Canada import it to the states. I also didn't realize you were in Canada and that's how it looks for you. When I think about "who I would limit from viewing my dealership website", random countries like Somalia, Yemen and Moldova come to mind.

Exactly. We have 9 locations in Texas and the rest up in Canada. Just dumb

 

[joe.pistell]

Compare this:


...to this


COVID is over ppl! New car inventory on select units are 'age-ing up' fast. Dunping cash into ads that drop shoppers into a stock photo carousel is weak sauce.

Dealers that want to take share, take REAL photos

Selling cars is a zero sum game*. PIONEERING dealers know the VDP is where the battle to convert is won or lost.

*Buyers have to chose one dealer, so, one dealer's sale is another dealer's loss.

 

[joe.pistell]

I'm prototyping a Features/Options auditing tool. Post a VDP link of a well equipped car and I'll run the audit and see what we've got.

 

[craigh]

Is it auditing against a database of what you expect the features to be, or just whether or not it includes key features at all?

 

[joe.pistell]

Craig, good question. The tool will audit dealer VDP vs HOT options seen on OEM build sheets.

 

[joe.pistell]

2020 Lincoln Aviator Reserve: Master List vs. Dealer's List

Statistics	Value
Total Features on Master List	33
Features Found on Dealer's List	24
Features Not Found on Dealer's List	9

Of the 9 missing features, 4 have high shopper value:

1. Adaptive Cruise Control W/Stop-and-Go
2. Rear Cross Traffic Alert
3. 360 Aerial View Camera
4. Automated Parking Assistance

Master List Feature	Found in Dealer's List?
Power Sunroof (1st & 2nd-row )	Yes, "Power moonroof: Panoramic Vista Roof"
Roll-up Cargo Cover	No
Pristine White Metallic Tri-Coat	No
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto	Yes, "Smart device integration: SYNC AppLink/Apple CarPlay and Android Auto"
Wi-Fi Internet Access	No
GPS Navigation	Yes, "Navigation system"
Bluetooth	Yes, "Wireless phone connectivity: Bluetooth"
SiriusXM Radio	Yes, "AM/FM radio: SiriusXM"
Rear Audio Controls	Yes, "Rear audio controls"
Ventilated Driver and Front Passenger Seats	Yes, "Ventilated front seats"
Heated Steering Wheel	Yes, "Heated steering wheel"
Heated Rear Seats	Yes, "Heated rear seats"
Third-row Seats	Yes, "3rd row seats: split-bench"
Memory Settings	Yes, "Memory seat", "Audio memory", "HVAC memory", "Head restraints memory", "Steering wheel memory"
Interior Color: Roast	No
Heated Leather Power Seats	Yes, "Heated front seats", "Power driver seat", "Power passenger seat"
Remote Start (App & Fob)	Yes, "Remote engine start: keyfob and smart device"
Proximity Keyless Liftgate	Yes, "Power liftgate", "Trunk/hatch auto-latch"
Rear Climate Control System With Separate Controls	Yes, "Rear air conditioning", "Rear dual zone A/C"
Lincoln Co-Pilot360 - Auto High Beam Auto High-beam Headlights	Yes, "Auto high-beam headlights"
Heated Mirrors	Yes, "Heated door mirrors"
Auto-dimming Driver Side Mirror	Yes, "Auto-dimming door mirrors"
Collision Emergency Braking	Yes, "Forward collision: Lincoln Co-Pilot360 - Automatic Emergency Braking mitigation"
Rear Camera With Washer	Yes, "Exterior parking camera rear"
Lane Keep Assist	Yes, "Lane departure: Lincoln Co-Pilot360 - Lane Keeping Aid active"
Adaptive Cruise Control W/Stop-and-Go	No
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	No
360 Aerial View Camera	No
Lincoln Co-Pilot360 - Active Park Assist 2.0 Automated Parking Assistance	No
Blind Spot Monitor	Yes, "Blind spot: Lincoln Co-Pilot360 - Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) warning"
All Wheel Drive	Yes, "Drive type: all-wheel"
Roll-up Cargo Cover	dupe

 

[craigh]

I'm very excited for this project. If there ends up being an accurate source for this data, that be tracked down by Style ID or VIN, that would be huge. We have never been able to find reliable build sheets or feature lists that end up being accurate to the vehicle on the lot.

 

[joe.pistell]

@john.quinn & I were talking last week about how AI will blow shit up.

GET READY TO FREAK THE F*CK OUT. AI as a sales person, talking to a Tesla car shopper*
Endrit Restelica on LinkedIn: #ai #artificialintelliegence #machinelearnig | 639 comments

AI is a baby, kinda like Google in 1998. Disruption will come everywhere you look. Where ever there is friction. Gone.

*Powered by: https://www.air.ai/ ​

Introducing the world's first ever AI that can have full on 10-40 minute long phone calls that sound like a REAL human, with infinite memory, perfect recall, and can autonomously take actions across 5,000 plus applications. It can do the entire job of a full time agent without having to be trained, managed or motivated. It just works 24/7/365​

 

[craigh]

GET READY TO FREAK THE F*CK OUT. AI as a sales person, talking to a Tesla car shopper*
Endrit Restelica on LinkedIn: #ai #artificialintelliegence #machinelearnig | 639 comments

This really is incredible, but they need to get that delay down further. The awkward silences were still too long to sound natural. Aside from that.. we're getting really, really close.

There's going to be (probably already is) an entire industry of people who have an expertise in just training AI models for various businesses. I already see companies hiring "prompt engineers" as a full-time job.

Will be very cool to watch this develop.

 

[joe.pistell]

There will be epic demand for digital domain specific experts damn near everywhere. These are large language models, they often make mistakes. The gold rush will be to make them domain experts.

Someone had better tell the CEOs of AutoTrader, CarGurus, Cars.com Edmunds, TrueCar, etc that they're toast. One of the big dogs will build a personalized car shopping app that will vaporize car shopping as we know it. This one page mock shows how it's a google killer too. (i.e. Why Google at all?)

Where ever there is friction. IT's GONE.