Thoughts and questions about TDDS 2.0 (Toyota Dealer Digital Solutions)

[Rick Buffkin]

Ok guys....

Can any of you guys confirm for me that I understand this correctly.

If you're a Toyota dealer, in order to use any of the providers thats on the TDDS 2.0 list (website providers, Chat providers, Service Appt Scheduler providers, etc.. ), you (the Toyota dealer) have to enroll in the TDDS 2.0 program. The provider will not provide services to Toyota dealers that are not on the TDDS 2.0 program.

Did I hear that correctly???

 

[kevinfrye]

It appears that is correct, and looks like I will have to pay about 4x more for the same thing that I already have with my current provider with "Shift's negotiated rates"

 

[Ryan Everson]

It appears that is correct, and looks like I will have to pay about 4x more for the same thing that I already have with my current provider with "Shift's negotiated rates"

Same here. Just wait until Saatchi takes over your paid search with their new Synergize program.

 

[mikesayre]

It appears that is correct, and looks like I will have to pay about 4x more for the same thing that I already have with my current provider with "Shift's negotiated rates"

Well to be fair Shift needs their 30% fee to pay for their valuable expertise. I'm also super excited about their upcoming recommendations to just buy MORE stuff and spend more, all the time... yes the strategy is buy more stuff and spend more.

BTW what happened to Toyota smart path (DR) where to continue using the program, you had to choose a pre-defined CRM provider? I guess that didn't go over well with the dealer body? Imagine that.




Edit: Just wanted to add there's no negativity here in this thread, just a driven passion to win with Toyota and do the best we can. Sometime's that passion fuels dialog regarding business decisions which might be perceived as negative, it's absolutely not though. Having uncensored open dialog is crucial, if we can't talk about it, we won't grow or learn, we'll kid ourselves into mediocrity.

 

[Alex Snyder]

I hear regional Toyota reps have found this thread and are bullying participants to remove posts.

 

[kevinfrye]

Not the case for us - our reps have been very supportive and are working with us. In fact, of all our OEMs, Toyota has historically been the most progressive, attending conferences with us, etc. This appears to be a top-down program being driven out to the dealers

 

[Jody G]

Here's what I've heard...
- Shift Digital gets paid by each vendor per month per dealer serviced
- Shift Digital gets paid by the dealers/OEM?.
- Shift Digital decides which vendors they let in (if the vendor doesn't pay, they don't get in... not based on best vendor for the dealer)
- Dealers no longer have the freedom to do business with the vendors they prefer/gives them the best results.
- Shift goes so far as to threaten dealers with withholding inventory if the dealer doesn't comply with using only "approved vendors".
- Because Shift Digital charges the vendor a fee and the OEM/dealers, the actual cost is higher than if the dealer had the freedom to choose for themselves with no middle man service like Shift Digital involved. What's the benefit??

If this is all true, it's a little scary. This post is also rather enlightening:
https://www.drivingsales.com/rico-olinger/blog/dear-shift-digital-we-dont-need-you-in-canada

 

[Tarry Shebesta]

Here's what I've heard...
- Shift Digital gets paid by each vendor per month per dealer serviced
- Shift Digital gets paid by the dealers/OEM?.
- Shift Digital decides which vendors they let in (if the vendor doesn't pay, they don't get in... not based on best vendor for the dealer)
- Dealers no longer have the freedom to do business with the vendors they prefer/gives them the best results.
- Shift goes so far as to threaten dealers with withholding inventory if the dealer doesn't comply with using only "approved vendors".
- Because Shift Digital charges the vendor a fee and the OEM/dealers, the actual cost is higher than if the dealer had the freedom to choose for themselves with no middle man service like Shift Digital involved. What's the benefit??

If this is all true, it's a little scary. This post is also rather enlightening:
https://www.drivingsales.com/rico-olinger/blog/dear-shift-digital-we-dont-need-you-in-canada

Very sad if true as I never dreamed Toyota would succumb to this model, especially in a time when auto sales are starting to slow.

 

[Brian Tucker]

Has anyone actually launched a site or product under the TDDS 2.0 program? I'm still in pre-production with my legacy site.

 

[Lunchbox]

Did this ever turn into the Armageddon everyone claimed it was going to be? It appeared to be a lot of speculation and the sky was falling, but a year later I see nothing about it. Was this as bad as everyone made it out to be?