MattCopley said:

would be good to build in some additional “core brain” alerts for users that are contributing to the forums on where they can add value.

Ok I’ll stop now and go back to the kids table … also emojis no longer render in content

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Give me some more on this "core brain" idea. I think I get what you're saying, but I can take a little more detail.

I noticed the emojis aren't playing as nicely as they did before. They're also looking a little dated. I have some big AWS work coming. Hoping that will help a little.

Also, considering modernizing the emoji.

Alexander.R said:

No, I say please and thank you and gently guide it a proper solution. You won't find me on the Skynet list

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although, in this case, I think the emoji should say "I'm with the smart one."

LOL thats a loaded assed question and a post I hope your tech's never have to know about...

If you have DIVA techs that are super frustrated that's wholly a reflection of leadership, relationships and systems.

If techs are with advisors in a system that sells and is organized and tight, and there's relationships that everyone has each others backs INCLUDING having the stores back, then there are no diva's.

If you have a frustrated team, install more software and watch them get even more frustrated.

Only when this is happening, like at this second

Alexander.R said:

Thank you Alex! Both your comment and Mitch's helped drive this iteration of improvements so thank you for the feedback.

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Agreed, its getting better.

I think the content is still a touch off the mark. It feels like a tv ad instead of a used car value punch up. Too slick instead of punching the facts that add value and then punching out guest experience tips and hand holds telling the customer what's up and what happens when they choose next steps.

There are 2 threads to weave that i think would add value:
1) USED CAR BUYER THREAD.., as a customer, what do i care about. What do I ACTUALLY care about as someone buying this unique one of one used car. Does this video answer that and help this 1 stand out against its rivals in the market today.
2) If im a USED CAR DEALER, what am i trying to build value in? Where this video is distributed does it speak to the audience where they are and is it using that context to elevate the value and really punch what matters in that moment.

A video shown on a screen in the lounge, a video on our website vdp, a video sent as a sales rep to a customer, a video on a 3rd party marketplace all speak to an audience in a place in time on a step of a journey... does this meaningfully move the guest closer to buying from us.

Alex Snyder said:

My CTO (our old buddy Jack) likes to call it a "drolling moron" when it repeats the same mistakes.

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That's perfect. (and that's Jack!)

Nice work Alex and Jeff - Hit me up ... I have an idea.

I'd love if my website would give the options to view window sticker.

One of the most common questions we get on an e-ldea is "please send the window sticker".

tomkline said:

Thanks. I do not remember the exact interaction with the FTC. At that time, what you stated that I said would have been the regulations/guidance at that time. Now things have changed.

Here is an article about what I am seeing and hearing: Auto Dealer FTC Compliance - Better Vantage Point

Hope that answers your question.

If not, let me know and I will be happy to address it.

Here are two (2) other FTC articles which I've written: FTC Compliance for Auto Dealerships - Better Vantage Point

New FTC Compliance Regulations: Small Dealers Are Targets, Too - Better Vantage Point

Auto Dealership Compliance In Today’s Regulatory Environment Can we [...]

bettervantagepoint.com

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I guess you really didn't answer any of my questions. I am not trying to put you on the spot here (although it may seem as if I am).

I want to know what your opinions are. I understand in your profession you don't really get paid for your opinion. That doesn't mean you don't have opinions. You know more about this than anyone I know.

So my question @tomkline , what do you tell your dealers when they argue with you about why they want to ignore the rules? Do you believe the enforcement of the rules is a net positive for the consumer? Do you feel this is needed or warranted enforcement? Do you think us dealers went too far? I value your opinion more than you likely understand. I want to know what your feelings are about this, not your interpretation of the enforcement.

My CTO (our old buddy Jack) likes to call it a "drolling moron" when it repeats the same mistakes.

tomkline said:

Alex, one dealer in Alaska got in trouble because a state regulator came in to buy a car for an advertised price (for himself and not in his official capacity.) When he arrived, the sales agent said to him (and I am paraphrasing), "We don't actually sell the vehicles for those prices. Those are just meant to get people in here."

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I have experienced this myself as a customer. "That's the internet department, we do things differently here on the floor"

joe.pistell said:

If you've ever driven an EV for a few weeks, ICE seems soooo last century.. (kinda like me! hahaha )

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Didn't you and Todd visit DDC Burlington in a Leaf or something god-awful like that way back when? I remember the debate about taking the ferry...

I thought Cox's incentives product was not that cost prohibitive? Has that changed?

I'm working on a new platform and I'm using AI to suggest questions based on a variety of factors (personas, vehicle attributes, then year/make/model/trim combination). This approach is yielding good results so far and it scales well. I'll post more on it soon.

Carvana does this well, and they tie it into their photos. From a merchandising standpoint they're probably the best in the game right now.

CarsonWhite said:

I hate to shameless plug here @darrenstromain & @CarlAutofusion, but we are doing this today with our clients.

@CarlAutofusion - here's a commercial example. (click on the "Specs" tab to see the breakdown shine.)

@darrenstromain - here's typical example.

Scroll past the carousel. You'll see where we start. All of it is injected into the pages HTML for SEO purposes

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The commercial example does a good job showing the Ford factory options + MSRP, which is great but it doesn't include information on the Rugby Dump Body Upfit such as the dimensions, features (I see it has a metering gate), etc. This dump body upfit is likely a significant portion of the total price so it would be good to merchandise it.

Darius1234 said:

Thank you, you can zoom in. I guess it works better on Android.

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Yes, you can pinch and zoom on iPhone also, but you're zooming on a 100k (100,000 bytes) photo, which is small today's standards. A thumbnail looks ok at 100k or less, but final images need to be 1/4 megabyte (250K) at least IMHO.

Brian Michael West said:

photographers name is Ethan and he does stellar work!

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ooo... very nice
View attachment 8827

flosho said:

Of all the things dealerships spend superfluous monies on, hiring someone that cares and wants to take pride in their photos and put the best product forward seems like a fair return on investment.

No photobooth needed. In fact, overcast skies or even the right photography equipment in the sun, can make quality photos and many times way better than any dealership's photobooth shoot.

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Brilliant.
#BootsOnTheGround

BillKVMotorCo said:

I definitely agree that great photos sell cars. I guess my question is more "How much more do great pictures sell cars over really good pictures?" No doubt personnel factors in as well. For me, I would have to hire another person to take photos this great and I think we do a good job for what we have available to us (no photo booth). As the 100 pound gorilla in my market as you say, I'm not sure that I need to take on the expense. At this same time, I'm not ready to quit growing either. It's a conundrum to me. Also, I find it ironic that you chose a picture of virtually the exact same truck that I have.

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Of all the things dealerships spend superfluous monies on, hiring someone that cares and wants to take pride in their photos and put the best product forward seems like a fair return on investment.

No photobooth needed. In fact, overcast skies or even the right photography equipment in the sun, can make quality photos and many times way better than any dealership's photobooth shoot.

craigh said:

If you have any local schools, I have seen great success hiring college kids to capture vehicles.
They're often willing to work for X dollars per vehicle, they have random hours around classes and they'll often do a good job because they put it down as professional experience on their photographer resume.

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I like the way you think. We always try to have our pictures for the day done by 4 o'clock the same day they come out of detail, so we would likely have to give a little bit on that.

BillKVMotorCo said:

For me, I would have to hire another person to take photos this great and I think we do a good job for what we have available to us (no photo booth).

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If you have any local schools, I have seen great success hiring college kids to capture vehicles.
They're often willing to work for X dollars per vehicle, they have random hours around classes and they'll often do a good job because they put it down as professional experience on their photographer resume.

I definitely agree that great photos sell cars. I guess my question is more "How much more do great pictures sell cars over really good pictures?" No doubt personnel factors in as well. For me, I would have to hire another person to take photos this great and I think we do a good job for what we have available to us (no photo booth). As the 100 pound gorilla in my market as you say, I'm not sure that I need to take on the expense. At this same time, I'm not ready to quit growing either. It's a conundrum to me. Also, I find it ironic that you chose a picture of virtually the exact same truck that I have.

BillKVMotorCo said:

Your pictures are indeed phenomenal, but the time that it takes to do them is the part that concerns me the most.

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A great response. Lets tear it apart!

• The Shopper says: "Your pictures are indeed phenomenal"
• The Dealer says: "the time that it takes to do them is the part that concerns me the most."
• Ask yourself: "How many sales would you lose of your competitor had photos that good?"

BillKVMotorCo said:

Do I believe that quality pictures help drive sales? Absolutely. But I just wonder if there are some diminishing returns based on the time it takes. Not trying to be negative. Just thinking out loud. Not sure how one could measure it.

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Bill, we're in a zero sum game. There is one ass for one seat. If you're a giant in your community and your inventory is piled high and turning 10+ times, high end photos are hard to create, they're expensive and hard to justify.

But, if your not THE big dog, hi end photos make a LOT of sense. Pictures tell 1000 words and hi end photos communicate not only a high end car recon process, but a high end dealer UX too. How many times a year do we drop $500-$1000 off the retail price to 'find a buyer'? What if the hi end photos could save you a price drop or 2 a month?

BillKVMotorCo said:

Not sure how one could measure it.

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Have you been house shopping lately? Some of these home photos are magazine quality. My son tells me of the times the house looked 100x petter in pics than in real life.

We're retailers. We know what sells cars... don't we? Great photos that are significantly better than your competitors are a FORCE MULTIPLIER. They make everything in the Car dealers machine work better.

Bill,
Look at the other end of the spectrum...
View attachment 8239
This is a dealer's pic of a $70,000 used truck. 5 pics. You can bet that the GM struggles with time and expenses to find people and processes to take great photos. Its NOT easy.