Comments on: AutoTrader.com and Cars.com Each Rank Highest in Satisfying Dealers according to J.D. Power http://www.dealerrefresh.com/autotradercom-and-carscom-rank-highest-in-satisfying-dealers-according-to-jd-power/ Obstacles, Observations and Opinions of an Automotive Internet Sales Manager Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:21:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tom White Jr. http://www.dealerrefresh.com/autotradercom-and-carscom-rank-highest-in-satisfying-dealers-according-to-jd-power/comment-page-1/#comment-2936 Tom White Jr. Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:54:52 +0000 http://dealerrefresh.groovecommerce.com/?p=419#comment-2936 "The strong performance of AutoTrader.com for two consecutive years is founded on its most notable strengths -- the quality of leads and the amount of contact with the dealership -- both of which are especially important to dealers." The quality of leads provided by AutoTrader are not statistically different from any other legitimate lead provider in my opinion. I measure quality on relevance of the data submitted and NOT the final outcome of the lead. As long as I have valid contact information from a lead, the rest of the equation is up to my process and people. The amount of contact between AutoTrader and my dealership is minimal and absolutely worthless. My account "manager" has little bearing on my success with the platform. I certainly wouldn't include contact with AutoTrader as one of my bell-weathers on happiness with the product. JD Powers is an antiquated beast we have to put up with, but I would caution everyone to think about your own situations before giving much weight to anything they have to say (unless, of course, they run your SSI/CSI programs). For the record, I use both AutoTrader and cars.com and have success with both. I believe that my success is more about my pricing models and quality of my inventory listings than anything the two platforms provide (other than reach). “The strong performance of AutoTrader.com for two consecutive years is founded on its most notable strengths — the quality of leads and the amount of contact with the dealership — both of which are especially important to dealers.”

The quality of leads provided by AutoTrader are not statistically different from any other legitimate lead provider in my opinion. I measure quality on relevance of the data submitted and NOT the final outcome of the lead. As long as I have valid contact information from a lead, the rest of the equation is up to my process and people.

The amount of contact between AutoTrader and my dealership is minimal and absolutely worthless. My account “manager” has little bearing on my success with the platform. I certainly wouldn’t include contact with AutoTrader as one of my bell-weathers on happiness with the product.

JD Powers is an antiquated beast we have to put up with, but I would caution everyone to think about your own situations before giving much weight to anything they have to say (unless, of course, they run your SSI/CSI programs).

For the record, I use both AutoTrader and cars.com and have success with both. I believe that my success is more about my pricing models and quality of my inventory listings than anything the two platforms provide (other than reach).

]]> By: Bob C http://www.dealerrefresh.com/autotradercom-and-carscom-rank-highest-in-satisfying-dealers-according-to-jd-power/comment-page-1/#comment-2935 Bob C Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:19:13 +0000 http://dealerrefresh.groovecommerce.com/?p=419#comment-2935 How did JD Power go about determining these findings? Who did they actually survey? Does anyone know? I do put stock in JD Power studies. They administer all of our OEM CSI surveys and we live and die by those results. But I know who get those surveys. How did JD Power go about determining these findings?

Who did they actually survey?

Does anyone know?

I do put stock in JD Power studies. They administer all of our OEM CSI surveys and we live and die by those results. But I know who get those surveys.

]]> By: Bob C http://www.dealerrefresh.com/autotradercom-and-carscom-rank-highest-in-satisfying-dealers-according-to-jd-power/comment-page-1/#comment-2934 Bob C Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:16:44 +0000 http://dealerrefresh.groovecommerce.com/?p=419#comment-2934 How did JD Power go about determining these findings? Who did they actually survey? Does anyone know? I do put stock in JD Power studies. They administer all of our OEM CSI surveys and we live and die by those results. But I know who get those surveys. How did JD Power go about determining these findings?

Who did they actually survey?

Does anyone know?

I do put stock in JD Power studies. They administer all of our OEM CSI surveys and we live and die by those results. But I know who get those surveys.

]]> By: Mitch http://www.dealerrefresh.com/autotradercom-and-carscom-rank-highest-in-satisfying-dealers-according-to-jd-power/comment-page-1/#comment-2933 Mitch Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:18:10 +0000 http://dealerrefresh.groovecommerce.com/?p=419#comment-2933 I don't put any stock in what the lower 99% of this industry thinks/says about vendors, and I don't think anyone on this board should either. I don’t put any stock in what the lower 99% of this industry thinks/says about vendors, and I don’t think anyone on this board should either.

]]> By: Glen http://www.dealerrefresh.com/autotradercom-and-carscom-rank-highest-in-satisfying-dealers-according-to-jd-power/comment-page-1/#comment-2932 Glen Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:45:45 +0000 http://dealerrefresh.groovecommerce.com/?p=419#comment-2932 Cars.com overtakes Autotrader on the used side of the satisfaction game and Autotrader takes the new side. Anyone ever spoken to a customer who bought a vehicle strictly off of a JD Power reccomendation? Case closed, it's all PR. I can smell the ink drying as we speak on the new Autotrader lit & ads in the trade rags promoting their new car position w/this, same old song & dance if you ask me. Cars.com overtakes Autotrader on the used side of the satisfaction game and Autotrader takes the new side. Anyone ever spoken to a customer who bought a vehicle strictly off of a JD Power reccomendation? Case closed, it’s all PR. I can smell the ink drying as we speak on the new Autotrader lit & ads in the trade rags promoting their new car position w/this, same old song & dance if you ask me.

]]> By: Steven Isakson http://www.dealerrefresh.com/autotradercom-and-carscom-rank-highest-in-satisfying-dealers-according-to-jd-power/comment-page-1/#comment-2931 Steven Isakson Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:38:46 +0000 http://dealerrefresh.groovecommerce.com/?p=419#comment-2931 If autotrader is the best in new vehicle satisfaction and results, then I would hate to see the worst. Does anyone have any success with new vehicles via the internet except with their brand sites? If autotrader is the best in new vehicle satisfaction and results, then I would hate to see the worst. Does anyone have any success with new vehicles via the internet except with their brand sites?

]]> By: Jennifer Schrader http://www.dealerrefresh.com/autotradercom-and-carscom-rank-highest-in-satisfying-dealers-according-to-jd-power/comment-page-1/#comment-2930 Jennifer Schrader Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:15:48 +0000 http://dealerrefresh.groovecommerce.com/?p=419#comment-2930 I agree with Alex! I agree with Alex!

]]> By: Billy http://www.dealerrefresh.com/autotradercom-and-carscom-rank-highest-in-satisfying-dealers-according-to-jd-power/comment-page-1/#comment-2929 Billy Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:05:03 +0000 http://dealerrefresh.groovecommerce.com/?p=419#comment-2929 Guess that $100M spent over 3 months was for new cars? Nice post! Guess that $100M spent over 3 months was for new cars?

Nice post!

]]> By: Wei Yang http://www.dealerrefresh.com/autotradercom-and-carscom-rank-highest-in-satisfying-dealers-according-to-jd-power/comment-page-1/#comment-2928 Wei Yang Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:37:07 +0000 http://dealerrefresh.groovecommerce.com/?p=419#comment-2928 Well, that headline certainly got my attention. I can't help but think J.D. Power is now like the Olympics gymnastics judges... Well, that headline certainly got my attention. I can’t help but think J.D. Power is now like the Olympics gymnastics judges…

]]> By: Alex Snyder http://www.dealerrefresh.com/autotradercom-and-carscom-rank-highest-in-satisfying-dealers-according-to-jd-power/comment-page-1/#comment-2927 Alex Snyder Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:23:34 +0000 http://dealerrefresh.groovecommerce.com/?p=419#comment-2927 I love starting the morning with humor! I love starting the morning with humor!

]]>