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Urban Science — DealerRefresh Vendor Library
Urban Science
Limited discussion
5 DealerRefresh discussions
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About suggest a correction →
Automotive market intelligence and dealer network performance analytics firm.
What you do with it
aggregate leads from multiple sources and route them to franchised dealers at negotiated rates, so they can give dealers access to third-party demand at lower per-lead costs than buying direct
When an OEM wants to centralize and distribute third-party leads to its dealer network
provide market intelligence and dealer network performance analytics, so they can make informed decisions about network structure and competitive positioning
When an OEM or dealer group needs to understand retail network size and market coverage
Community evidence → Stable
Urban Science appears in DealerRefresh discussions primarily as an OEM-intermediary for third-party lead programs — notably for VW and Mercedes-Benz — rather than as a vendor dealers choose directly. The community voices that do surface specific experience with Urban Science's lead products are skeptical or outright negative: one dealer described the VW program leads as 'by far the worst performing lead source,' and a Mercedes dealer expressed doubt about lead quality and digital marketing support under the Omni-Leads Program. Urban Science's market intelligence function (e.g., reporting on dealer network contraction) is cited neutrally as a data source, but there is no community testimony endorsing its value to dealers. Overall, the sentiment around Urban Science's OEM-brokered lead programs is more negative than positive, and the firm's broader analytics capabilities receive no direct dealer evaluation in the available quotes.
OEM-intermediated third-party lead programs3 mentions
Lead quality from aggregated sources (Autobytel, Edmunds, Cars.com, etc.)2 mentions
Lack of transparency in OEM vendor programs2 mentions
Dealer network size and market intelligence data1 mention
5 mentions · 2 negative · Scored from 20+ years of candid DealerRefresh discussion. Scores shift as new conversations happen.
NEGATIVE
"Perhaps it's the same 3rd party partner lead program VW uses which is really from Urban Science? I think the cost is $17/lead. If you don't buy the leads then you have to pay for your VW brand site leads. The 3rd party leads that Urban Science provides VW are from Autointegrity, Autobytel, Detroit Trading and a few others. By far the worst performing lead source we have."
Honda's 3rd Party Lead Program? →
NEGATIVE
"Mercedes-Benz launched the Omni-Leads Program through Urban Science to supply third-party leads from sources like Edmunds and Cars.com to dealers at reduced rates. A dealer with experience at both Mercedes and Acura expressed skepticism, noting that Mercedes historically provided poor quality leads and weak digital marketing support"
Mercedes-Benz Omni-Lead Program with Urban Science →
NEUTRAL
"With companies like Axciom, Polk, Urban Science, etc all out there in the leads game I was wondering how many dealers are currently part of an OEM program by which the OEM sells them 3rd party leads at a discounted rate?"
OEM Lead Programs →
NEUTRAL
"According to Urban Science there are 1065 fewer stores in 2010 than in 2009."
Dealer body shrinks by 1065 stores, thats (8%) →
NEUTRAL
"What do you know about Shift Digital? What do you know about Urban Science, AutoData, and all the other OEM programs? It seems like a lot of it has been hidden behind a curtain with some Wizard from Oz."
OEMs and their lovely programs deciphered - with Zach Hendrix →
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