Comments on: The Auto Business is Now an Online Business http://thesubprimereport.com/the-retail-auto-business-is-firmly-an-internet-business/ Relevant Topics In Special Finance Sat, 22 Nov 2008 03:51:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Barry Barlow http://thesubprimereport.com/the-retail-auto-business-is-firmly-an-internet-business/#comment-106 Barry Barlow Wed, 01 Oct 2008 21:42:49 +0000 http://thesubprimereport.com/the-retail-auto-business-is-firmly-an-internet-business/#comment-106 I have been a business manager in auto sales for 20+yrs. I am preparing pull bankruptcy filings off the PACER website in order to market fresh bankruptcies and drive new business to my dealerhip. Is there any to obtaing free letters or templates to make sure that that my mail piece/letter is well put together. I am looking to find several different versions of my letter and would like to gather as much information possible to produce something that "works" and is not just viewed upon as another piece of junk mail and thrown in the trash. Any ideas or sample letters/ Thank you. B. Barlow 317-297-9722 I have been a business manager in auto sales for 20+yrs. I am preparing pull bankruptcy filings off the PACER website in order to market fresh bankruptcies and drive new business to my dealerhip. Is there any to obtaing free letters or templates to make sure that that my mail piece/letter is well put together. I am looking to find several different versions of my letter and would like to gather as much information possible to produce something that “works” and is not just viewed upon as another piece of junk mail and thrown in the trash. Any ideas or sample letters/ Thank you.

B. Barlow
317-297-9722

]]> By: VEH http://thesubprimereport.com/the-retail-auto-business-is-firmly-an-internet-business/#comment-75 VEH Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:32:13 +0000 http://thesubprimereport.com/the-retail-auto-business-is-firmly-an-internet-business/#comment-75 I agree that dealer websites leave a lot to be desired. I'm particularly amazed by what appears to be complete and utter ignorance as to what customers want to see--model information (don't make me go back to the OEM site) contact info that's not intrusive (get RID of those damn floating "live online chat now" popups). But one of the stupidest things I see is where online inventory is useless or insulting--dealers that say they have 10 2008 models in stock, but don't tell you what color, trim, engine or trans they are equipped with. Dealers that show you stock photos that aren't colorized. Dealers that show a huge inventory...of all manual transmissions just because that's standard and they are too lazy to put in vehicle-specific information, or list all the standard specifications, like rear wheel diameter/material, that no one gives a crap about. Online shoppers don't like to have their time wasted or their intelligence insulted, and these crappy sites offend on both counts. Too many other dealers have good comprehensive inventory info, and vehicle info easily accessible, and well designed sites. Dealers need to think like shoppers, not dealers. If you go to a store, you expect to see all the shirts in stock, not just sealed white boxes with misleading informaton printed on them. If you don't show your stock, customers won't "contact us", they'll shop elsewhere. I agree that dealer websites leave a lot to be desired. I’m particularly amazed by what appears to be complete and utter ignorance as to what customers want to see–model information (don’t make me go back to the OEM site) contact info that’s not intrusive (get RID of those damn floating “live online chat now” popups). But one of the stupidest things I see is where online inventory is useless or insulting–dealers that say they have 10 2008 models in stock, but don’t tell you what color, trim, engine or trans they are equipped with. Dealers that show you stock photos that aren’t colorized. Dealers that show a huge inventory…of all manual transmissions just because that’s standard and they are too lazy to put in vehicle-specific information, or list all the standard specifications, like rear wheel diameter/material, that no one gives a crap about.

Online shoppers don’t like to have their time wasted or their intelligence insulted, and these crappy sites offend on both counts. Too many other dealers have good comprehensive inventory info, and vehicle info easily accessible, and well designed sites. Dealers need to think like shoppers, not dealers. If you go to a store, you expect to see all the shirts in stock, not just sealed white boxes with misleading informaton printed on them. If you don’t show your stock, customers won’t “contact us”, they’ll shop elsewhere.

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