I just watched Sean Bradley's video posting regarding True Cars new and improved write off policy to further endear them to today's Automotive Dealer. I want to share a Dealers perspective on this post. Mr. Bradley; you state...."And I do not feel True Car is doing ANYTHING wrong with their policy for "Write Offs" on their leads......Mr. Bradley, I as a Dealer, think this way; if True Car gives me a lead on someone that I was already working from my digital marketing efforts, or is a current customer of my Dealership including from my Fixed-ops side, or I got this lead from one of my 3rd party lead providers or my OEM before True Car sends it to me, there is no way they are entitled to a commission, period. I don't allow my other 3rd party vendors to share in a lead commission if they give me a duplicate lead. First in, first paid. Why on earth does True Car think they are entitled to a commission? Just because they may have generated some, in the market buyer contact information, if they can't get it to me first, they should get, as the expression in the car business goes; "AIR". I have experienced their unfair and overhanded write off policy recently, and it boggles the mind on why they think it's perfectly okay to invoice me for leads that I already had from other sources? As an Automotive Sales professional with 25+ years experience, the past 10+ years devoted to online sales, I've recognized; for my continue success in this profession, the importance of getting quality leads from 3rd party sources at a fair and reasonable fee. However, my personal experience with True Car is..........neither.

Being pragmatic regarding this "controversy" seems to be the course of reason. To date, I have not been impressed with TruCar for a simple reason: The impression they leave is that they are more interested in short term profits than they are being a long term vendor/partner with dealerships. I certainly don't rule out that TruCar can change. I hope they do, as they clearly are well financed. It's alright to fail. It's ok to learn lessons. But after a while, everyone's TruColors will come out in the end. If TruCar becomes a viable partner THAT I CAN TRUST, that changes the conversation completely. Right now, what TruCar is missing is that few dealers trust them, regardless of the scope of the services they offer.

First, I truly appreciate everyone's feedback. Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post. Here is the reality: * Dealers do NOT have to sign up for TrueCar, Dealers do NOT need to partner with TrueCar. Dealers choose to partner with TrueCar. It is their choice... * There is a major difference with TrueCar compared to a traditional 3rd Party Leads Source Provider or Aggregator. First and foremost, TrueCar ONLY makes their money from Dealers. Where as most 3rd parties have numerous relationships and diversified revenue models. They practice "CHURNING" leads. They repackage leads, they wholesale leads to anyone, OEM, competitor etc... * TrueCar's model (the one in which the write off policy is centered) is different in the simple fact is that TrueCar offers dealers an opportunity to sell cars with NO Risk... meaning that the Dealer does NOT have to pay for it unless they sell a car. Let me repeat that... Dealers do NOT have to pay per lead, dealers do not have to come out of pocket UNLESS they sell a vehicle. Most leads source providers are approximately $20 per lead. Meaning if you buy 100 leads, it costs the dealer $2,000 and there are NO guarantees. With TrueCar again, the dealer is only charged IF a unit has been sold. *** Here is the reality... I am NOT a TruCar executive, employee or shared. I am not trying to fight for TrueCar. I am not trying to convince Dealers of ANYTHING. I am NOT trying to make Dealers LOVE TrueCar, Use TrueCar etc... My ONLY purpose with the video was to say I DISAGREE with people SLAMMING TrueCar, I disagree with people saying that TrueCar is going to go out of business. I disagree with trainers and consultants taking money from a vendor and telling dealers they are good enough to be a Title Sponsor, good enough for a scholarship... and out of the other side of their mouth, post negative things and perpetuate drama. EVEN SPONSOR Posts on Facebook about the drama. I disagree with people blindly calling people I know for 12 years "A Scumbag". Furthermore, I have personally been immersed in Automotive Internet Sales & BDC for almost 15 straight years. I have personally trained 2,000 Dealer Principals & GMs as well as 5,000 additional Automotive professionals on Internet Sales. I work with National, State & City Dealer Associations and 20 Groups. I have my own Internet Sales 20 Group. All for one purpose... to educate dealers and automotive professionals about EVERYTHING Internet Sales and Business Development. I have dedicated my career to evolving dealerships and professionals to whole other level of success. I say all of this NOT to impress you but to impress upon you my heart and my mind is in the right place. Again, I respect all opinions and all feedback. This is simply my opinion on this matter.

Sean, I respect your time and experience in the industry, and I admire your loyalty to your friend in Tru(e)Car. (Although it isn't uncommon in our industry for good people to sometimes end up working for less than stellar companies. Knowing a couple of good people within the company doesn't change the company if they're shady) I have two questions for anyone who views TrueCar as an above board company: 1. Would there be this backlash against them unless they have merited it for past (similar) behavior? I say, no. 2. If you were to advise TrueCar on how to repair their reputation, what would you tell them to do? My advice would be, and is, twofold. Apologize and withdraw the ill fated (and rash) plan to "limit" returns. And then, be willing to put in the time and give real value to their paying customers, car dealerships. Dare I say it, overreaching businesses come and go. Those that offer real value are the ones that stick.

I just watched Sean Bradley's video posting regarding True Cars new and improved write off policy to further endear them to today's Automotive Dealer. I want to share a Dealers perspective on this post. Mr. Bradley; you state...."And I do not feel True Car is doing ANYTHING wrong with their policy for "Write Offs" on their leads......Mr. Bradley, I as a Dealer, think this way; if True Car gives me a lead on someone that I was already working from my digital marketing efforts, or is a current customer of my Dealership including from my Fixed-ops side, or I got this lead from one of my 3rd party lead providers or my OEM before True Car sends it to me, there is no way they are entitled to a commission, period. I don't allow my other 3rd party vendors to share in a lead commission if they give me a duplicate lead. First in, first paid. Why on earth does True Car think they are entitled to a commission? Just because they may have generated some, in the market buyer contact information, if they can't get it to me first, they should get, as the expression in the car business goes; "AIR". I have experienced their unfair and overhanded write off policy recently, and it boggles the mind on why they think it's perfectly okay to invoice me for leads that I already had from other sources? As an Automotive Sales professional with 25+ years experience, the past 10+ years devoted to online sales, I've recognized; for my continue success in this profession, the importance of getting quality leads from 3rd party sources at a fair and reasonable fee. However, my personal experience with True Car is..........neither.

Being pragmatic regarding this "controversy" seems to be the course of reason. To date, I have not been impressed with TruCar for a simple reason: The impression they leave is that they are more interested in short term profits than they are being a long term vendor/partner with dealerships. I certainly don't rule out that TruCar can change. I hope they do, as they clearly are well financed. It's alright to fail. It's ok to learn lessons. But after a while, everyone's TruColors will come out in the end. If TruCar becomes a viable partner THAT I CAN TRUST, that changes the conversation completely. Right now, what TruCar is missing is that few dealers trust them, regardless of the scope of the services they offer.

First, I truly appreciate everyone's feedback. Thank you for taking the time to respond to my post. Here is the reality: * Dealers do NOT have to sign up for TrueCar, Dealers do NOT need to partner with TrueCar. Dealers choose to partner with TrueCar. It is their choice... * There is a major difference with TrueCar compared to a traditional 3rd Party Leads Source Provider or Aggregator. First and foremost, TrueCar ONLY makes their money from Dealers. Where as most 3rd parties have numerous relationships and diversified revenue models. They practice "CHURNING" leads. They repackage leads, they wholesale leads to anyone, OEM, competitor etc... * TrueCar's model (the one in which the write off policy is centered) is different in the simple fact is that TrueCar offers dealers an opportunity to sell cars with NO Risk... meaning that the Dealer does NOT have to pay for it unless they sell a car. Let me repeat that... Dealers do NOT have to pay per lead, dealers do not have to come out of pocket UNLESS they sell a vehicle. Most leads source providers are approximately $20 per lead. Meaning if you buy 100 leads, it costs the dealer $2,000 and there are NO guarantees. With TrueCar again, the dealer is only charged IF a unit has been sold. *** Here is the reality... I am NOT a TruCar executive, employee or shared. I am not trying to fight for TrueCar. I am not trying to convince Dealers of ANYTHING. I am NOT trying to make Dealers LOVE TrueCar, Use TrueCar etc... My ONLY purpose with the video was to say I DISAGREE with people SLAMMING TrueCar, I disagree with people saying that TrueCar is going to go out of business. I disagree with trainers and consultants taking money from a vendor and telling dealers they are good enough to be a Title Sponsor, good enough for a scholarship... and out of the other side of their mouth, post negative things and perpetuate drama. EVEN SPONSOR Posts on Facebook about the drama. I disagree with people blindly calling people I know for 12 years "A Scumbag". Furthermore, I have personally been immersed in Automotive Internet Sales & BDC for almost 15 straight years. I have personally trained 2,000 Dealer Principals & GMs as well as 5,000 additional Automotive professionals on Internet Sales. I work with National, State & City Dealer Associations and 20 Groups. I have my own Internet Sales 20 Group. All for one purpose... to educate dealers and automotive professionals about EVERYTHING Internet Sales and Business Development. I have dedicated my career to evolving dealerships and professionals to whole other level of success. I say all of this NOT to impress you but to impress upon you my heart and my mind is in the right place. Again, I respect all opinions and all feedback. This is simply my opinion on this matter.

Sean, I respect your time and experience in the industry, and I admire your loyalty to your friend in Tru(e)Car. (Although it isn't uncommon in our industry for good people to sometimes end up working for less than stellar companies. Knowing a couple of good people within the company doesn't change the company if they're shady) I have two questions for anyone who views TrueCar as an above board company: 1. Would there be this backlash against them unless they have merited it for past (similar) behavior? I say, no. 2. If you were to advise TrueCar on how to repair their reputation, what would you tell them to do? My advice would be, and is, twofold. Apologize and withdraw the ill fated (and rash) plan to "limit" returns. And then, be willing to put in the time and give real value to their paying customers, car dealerships. Dare I say it, overreaching businesses come and go. Those that offer real value are the ones that stick.