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This thread is just the tip of the iceberg.The people ahead of the curve aren't Googling for answers — they're already in here, having the conversations you haven't found yet. DealerRefresh is free.Get the full picture →
Carvana Claims They Offer a New Way to Buy a Car... Hmmm...
I live in central PA so there are no Carvana sites near me. In fact, the closest is near DC, about 90 miles away. I found a 2015 Kia Forte5 SX with the turbo with every option available for that year and under 17000 miles on it on Carvana and I reserved it.. Mind you I was trading in a bottom of the line 2017 Forte with about 11,000 miles on it which didn't even have cruise control, (nor was it available in 2017 on a manual transmission model), so I was impressed that they offered me 13,000 in trade.
I was pre-approved and after sending in the required paperwork, (license, proof of employment/income and insurance), my car was locked down so no one else could get it. I found out it was a Texas car, just off manufacturer lease about 8 weeks prior and was at one of their Texas sites. All this happened within less than an hour. After I chose the site nearest to me, they scheduled a transfer for the next week, and stated they needed 3 days to prep the car for viewing after it arrived in DC and I would be contacted when it was ready to look at. Mind you I had the option of having it delivered or going to a vending machine to pick it up, and of course I picked vending machine.
On the 3rd day after arrival, (you can track the progress of your car when you buy from them, much like you track a UPS package), I got a call from them letting me know it would be ready anytime after 1 that afternoon. It was a Thursday, so I scheduled for Friday. I had my best friend go with me because I wanted his input. He has been working at one of the largest auto auction companies on the East coast for years so he was more versed in used cars than most people.
When we got there. they gave me the keys and asked I be back in 30 minutes to give them my decision. My friend and I drove it for about 20 minutes, tried it on the highway, in traffic, did some high speed traffic maneuvering, both impressed by how zippy the car was in traffic and how well it held the road in turns. It had been detailed immaculately. It looked like new, but what's more, it even smelled like new!
He told me it was in great condition, but he thought the price could be lower. Then I told him that price was inclusive of taxes, prep, tags, title, etc etc plus it came with a 7 year 100,000 mile warranty which covers a lot more than the manufacturers already excellent warranty and a 7 day 500 mile no questions asked return policy ( think of it as a 7 day test drive).. He told me if he and his wife had been looking at a smaller car, he wouldn't have hesitated to buy it.
Contrast that to when I had bought the car I traded in, from the dealer. My test drive was around the block, with the salesman in the back seat, and they lied repeatedly about the best price they could do. I know what you're thinking, new car dealer lie to sell a car? Unthinkable, outrageous, right. But everyone knows they are worse than lawyers when it comes to telling the truth. Anyway, that process lasted an entire week while they 'worked' on getting a better deal. Numerous phone calls and faxes later they finally met my target and I went to pick it up. That in itself took all day too.
Carvana closed the deal within 24 hours, but that was only because I did my shopping at around midnight when I had finally made up my mind. They on the other hand, had called me back with a firm decision at around 9:30 the next morning, so technically they only took 9 1/2 hours (although since they open at 8:00 AM ET, it was in reality only 90 minutes)
Maybe all you haters had a bad experience or maybe your're new car snobs who expect a new car experience for used car prices or maybe, you work for new car dealers and you're giving 'fake news' stories to discredit the competition, This particular site was also the one where a local favorite restaurant was given negative reviews by people who had never even been to it but just because they 'heard' it was a terrible place by competitors- what a surprise there.
I could go on and on about the negatively skewed ratings sites, but here are several things to consider: 1) How do you know if the rater has actually been there, 2) How do you know what the rater is accustomed to, 3) How do you know if the rater has personal reasons to see the rated facility fail or not,
Remember that first and foremost, value is defined as the perception of usefulness in providing a desired item or service. I have a decent job making just north of $30/hour but I'm a twice divorced sexagenarian whose previous spouses decimated any chance of ever having good scores again, and in my instance, Carvana was infinitely better than the alternative buy here pay here rip off joints people in my situation normally are presented with.. They also deliver what they say they will.
If I have any reservation at all about my purchase, it's that the stated color of 'blue' while technically accurate (as defined and listed by the manufacturer), but in person it's more gray than blue. Oh and a 200hp/ 195ft/lb torque engine makes for difficult starts in the winter
But those are most definitely NOT the fault of Carvana.
I was pre-approved and after sending in the required paperwork, (license, proof of employment/income and insurance), my car was locked down so no one else could get it. I found out it was a Texas car, just off manufacturer lease about 8 weeks prior and was at one of their Texas sites. All this happened within less than an hour. After I chose the site nearest to me, they scheduled a transfer for the next week, and stated they needed 3 days to prep the car for viewing after it arrived in DC and I would be contacted when it was ready to look at. Mind you I had the option of having it delivered or going to a vending machine to pick it up, and of course I picked vending machine.
On the 3rd day after arrival, (you can track the progress of your car when you buy from them, much like you track a UPS package), I got a call from them letting me know it would be ready anytime after 1 that afternoon. It was a Thursday, so I scheduled for Friday. I had my best friend go with me because I wanted his input. He has been working at one of the largest auto auction companies on the East coast for years so he was more versed in used cars than most people.
When we got there. they gave me the keys and asked I be back in 30 minutes to give them my decision. My friend and I drove it for about 20 minutes, tried it on the highway, in traffic, did some high speed traffic maneuvering, both impressed by how zippy the car was in traffic and how well it held the road in turns. It had been detailed immaculately. It looked like new, but what's more, it even smelled like new!
He told me it was in great condition, but he thought the price could be lower. Then I told him that price was inclusive of taxes, prep, tags, title, etc etc plus it came with a 7 year 100,000 mile warranty which covers a lot more than the manufacturers already excellent warranty and a 7 day 500 mile no questions asked return policy ( think of it as a 7 day test drive).. He told me if he and his wife had been looking at a smaller car, he wouldn't have hesitated to buy it.
Contrast that to when I had bought the car I traded in, from the dealer. My test drive was around the block, with the salesman in the back seat, and they lied repeatedly about the best price they could do. I know what you're thinking, new car dealer lie to sell a car? Unthinkable, outrageous, right. But everyone knows they are worse than lawyers when it comes to telling the truth. Anyway, that process lasted an entire week while they 'worked' on getting a better deal. Numerous phone calls and faxes later they finally met my target and I went to pick it up. That in itself took all day too.
Carvana closed the deal within 24 hours, but that was only because I did my shopping at around midnight when I had finally made up my mind. They on the other hand, had called me back with a firm decision at around 9:30 the next morning, so technically they only took 9 1/2 hours (although since they open at 8:00 AM ET, it was in reality only 90 minutes)
Maybe all you haters had a bad experience or maybe your're new car snobs who expect a new car experience for used car prices or maybe, you work for new car dealers and you're giving 'fake news' stories to discredit the competition, This particular site was also the one where a local favorite restaurant was given negative reviews by people who had never even been to it but just because they 'heard' it was a terrible place by competitors- what a surprise there.
I could go on and on about the negatively skewed ratings sites, but here are several things to consider: 1) How do you know if the rater has actually been there, 2) How do you know what the rater is accustomed to, 3) How do you know if the rater has personal reasons to see the rated facility fail or not,
Remember that first and foremost, value is defined as the perception of usefulness in providing a desired item or service. I have a decent job making just north of $30/hour but I'm a twice divorced sexagenarian whose previous spouses decimated any chance of ever having good scores again, and in my instance, Carvana was infinitely better than the alternative buy here pay here rip off joints people in my situation normally are presented with.. They also deliver what they say they will.
If I have any reservation at all about my purchase, it's that the stated color of 'blue' while technically accurate (as defined and listed by the manufacturer), but in person it's more gray than blue. Oh and a 200hp/ 195ft/lb torque engine makes for difficult starts in the winter
But those are most definitely NOT the fault of Carvana.
Dominion contracts CRMSuite (formerly iMagicLab) as CRM solution
Richard Keith Latman of CRMSuite
Dominion has struck a deal to license the CRMSuite product from Richard Keith Latman. Does this mean Autobase is going away?
Read the press release from Business Wire
Dominion Dealer Solutions announced today the launch of its new CRM, Dominion VisionTM. The most advanced automotive CRM in the market today, Dominion Vision combines the most intuitive CRM interface in the market with customized reporting and consumer-focused communication tools to create an easy-to-use CRM that will satisfy customers, sales reps and management. Powered by CRMSuite, Dominion Vision is the result of a business partnership designed to integrate CRMSuite’s state-of-the-art CRM technology with Dominion Dealer Solutions’ portfolio of high-performance digital marketing and data-mining software offerings.
Dominion Vision CRM eliminates conventional CRM thinking by combining ease-of-use functionality with user-tailored dashboards. Intuitive technology erases the need for traditional action plans and lineated work flows. Dominion Vision learns about your customers and their preferences – helping your sales people connect with prospects using the best possible method at the best possible time. With real data at your fingertips, Dominion Vision is a true business intelligence tool. Mobility for all users is available via both a tablet-friendly interface and a downloadable mobile app.
“There are many CRMs in the marketplace but Dominion Vision is truly different. From our rich CRM legacy with AVV and Autobase, Dominion has always been committed to the dealer – using the latest technology to build simple and elegant solutions,” says Jack Ross, president of Dominion Dealer Solutions. “Now all of our tools, from DMS to CRM, equity mining to digital products, can work together to help car dealers sell more cars.”
Dominion Vision also includes proactive communication using machine learning to track consumer communications preferences in the form of a virtual, personal assistant, “Olivia.” No longer will customers fall through the gaps. This feature will scan the customer database on a regular basis and communicate via email, text or voicemail with prospects who have not been contacted. Customer responses will be forwarded to the salesperson to re-initiate sales and service communication.
Get a firsthand look at our NADA Booth #3716C. To schedule a presentation of Dominion Vision, please call 877-421-1040 or visit www.transformyourcrm.com.
About Dominion Dealer Solutions
Dominion Dealer Solutions improves dealers’ lives by developing advanced technologies including: reputation and social media management, responsive websites, digital advertising, SEO, SEM, multi-channel marketing, and custom market reports. Coupled with award-winning lead management, inventory merchandising, equity mining, customer relationship (CRM) and dealer management (DMS) solutions, Dominion redefines automotive retail by delivering first-class customer experiences for today’s automotive dealerships. Based in Norfolk, Virginia, every OEM and more than 10,000 U.S. dealers depend on Dominion’s foundation of innovation, integrity, excellence and teamwork to provide them with results at every turn. For more information, visit our website, like us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Youtube, or follow us on Twitter.
About Dominion Enterprises
Dominion Enterprises is a leading online marketing and software services company offering client solutions across multiple business verticals. Our B2B cloud SaaS solutions directly support clients in establishing their online and mobile brands, generating leads, and managing customer relationships. Our B2C web and mobile portals serve the housing, franchise and travel markets and include popular sites such as Homes.com. Dominion Enterprises is headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia and has offices across the U.S.
Who? How? A Closer Look at Inquisitive Paid Search Traffic
One of my favorite techniques when auditing automotive dealers’ paid search spending, is to compare the search queries to keyword purchases. The search queries are the exact phrases that visitors are typing into Google (or other search engines). I find it useful to compare the search queries to the actual keyword(s) the dealer is purchasing. For instance, if the dealer is purchasing “Toyota Tacoma”, but the consumer is searching for “Toyota Tacoma stuck in mud videos", then I want to help the dealer avoid paying for those clicks.
I find far too many dealers with runaway paid search campaigns, where the dealer has asked to rank high for various search queries, yet no one is paying attention to what the person is searching for, or what happens once the user clicks to the dealer’s website. Far too often, the paid search agency is presenting high level campaign results that can mask poor performing keywords or keyword groups.
As you’ve read from my prior articles, dealers truly need to start their search-engine marketing with a strong list of keywords and phrases they would like to rank for. They also need to massage that list with a strong negative-keyword list that will make sure their net is not cast too widely.
Dealers may know the keywords they want, but they also need to know what types of searches they need to exclude. Many times, they will want to either exclude vehicle make/model/years of vehicles they do not sell, or instead change their search-terms to more long-tail searches. For instance, instead of purchasing “Toyota Tacoma” they are purchasing “2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro” (directed to an appropriate model landing page, or VDP).
A great way to start building a strong negative keyword list and learning more about the type of questions consumers have, is scouring for “inquisitive search terms”. What are inquisitive search terms?
They are the famous: who, what, when, where, why and how. You simply go into Google Analytics, and choose the Acquisition menu on the left. From there you select AdWords (you must have AdWords connected to Google Analytics first). Finally, you should choose “search queries”. The Search Queries are the exact searches that consumers have typed into Google, that resulted in them clicking one of your paid ads. For your Secondary Dimension choose “keywords” so you can compare the search query to the keyword you purchased.
Although it may be frustrating to see the type of traffic you are paying for, it can also be very insightful to see what they are looking for. By comparing the search queries to your purchased keywords, you can get some ideas on future negative keywords to include. At the same time, you may get some ideas on website content you may want to create. For instance, if people are searching for answers on how to properly program their Ford Sync systems, you may want to create educational pages on your site, that also make it easy for the consumer to schedule a service appointment.
Give it a try, I promise it will be insightful, and if used properly will improve the performance of your paid search campaigns. Contact at me if you have any trouble following the instructions above.
I find far too many dealers with runaway paid search campaigns, where the dealer has asked to rank high for various search queries, yet no one is paying attention to what the person is searching for, or what happens once the user clicks to the dealer’s website. Far too often, the paid search agency is presenting high level campaign results that can mask poor performing keywords or keyword groups.
As you’ve read from my prior articles, dealers truly need to start their search-engine marketing with a strong list of keywords and phrases they would like to rank for. They also need to massage that list with a strong negative-keyword list that will make sure their net is not cast too widely.
Dealers may know the keywords they want, but they also need to know what types of searches they need to exclude. Many times, they will want to either exclude vehicle make/model/years of vehicles they do not sell, or instead change their search-terms to more long-tail searches. For instance, instead of purchasing “Toyota Tacoma” they are purchasing “2018 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro” (directed to an appropriate model landing page, or VDP).
A great way to start building a strong negative keyword list and learning more about the type of questions consumers have, is scouring for “inquisitive search terms”. What are inquisitive search terms?
They are the famous: who, what, when, where, why and how. You simply go into Google Analytics, and choose the Acquisition menu on the left. From there you select AdWords (you must have AdWords connected to Google Analytics first). Finally, you should choose “search queries”. The Search Queries are the exact searches that consumers have typed into Google, that resulted in them clicking one of your paid ads. For your Secondary Dimension choose “keywords” so you can compare the search query to the keyword you purchased.
Although it may be frustrating to see the type of traffic you are paying for, it can also be very insightful to see what they are looking for. By comparing the search queries to your purchased keywords, you can get some ideas on future negative keywords to include. At the same time, you may get some ideas on website content you may want to create. For instance, if people are searching for answers on how to properly program their Ford Sync systems, you may want to create educational pages on your site, that also make it easy for the consumer to schedule a service appointment.
Give it a try, I promise it will be insightful, and if used properly will improve the performance of your paid search campaigns. Contact at me if you have any trouble following the instructions above.
[INFOGRAPHIC] How Personal Connections Inspire Trust in the Car Buying Journey
When we talk about 'connected consumers' it's usually in the context of a customer's online presence; how they expect - and in some cases demand - transparency and information, especially when it comes to big ticket items. But giving customers information and the tools they want to comparison shop is one part of the equation when it comes to the idea of a 'connected consumer' because, at the end of the day, consumers want a connection with people as much as they do information.
The fact of the matter is, most customers already know exactly what they're looking for when they visit a lot. Either they've seen an ad online or they've already checked out the online inventory. So when they come in, they're not looking for a car exactly, they're looking to connect with someone they trust before they're willing to fork over a substantial amount of money.
[highlight color="#e2562f" font="white"]>> FREE INFOGRAPHIC: Download the PDF Today
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When customers have already done the research on what vehicle they want, they often turn their attention to researching which dealer they want to work with. 1 in 3 shoppers reported they sought out a specific salesperson within a dealership based on positive reviews. Interestingly, cross-shopping between dealerships has become increasingly common. A Cars.com study found that, even while in a dealership, nearly 30% of customers will
continue to read dealership reviews.
Companies have said for years that people are their greatest asset, but today that adage is more important than ever. In an age where customers can look for - and purchase - cars from dealerships across the country, you need to have more than the right cars. You also need to have the right people and a way for customers to know who to deal with once they know what they want.