DealersGear
My Car Buying Experience
One of my first jobs out of high school was selling cars and I have worked as a vendor with a CRM company in the industry for 7 years. I enjoy working in the auto industry and take pride in helping dealerships be more successful either through the products I sell or through the processes I teach from my experience.
About every three years, I find myself as a customer in the market for a new vehicle. Recently, that time had come and I was looking for a new vehicle. I am not loyal to a particular dealership, but I usually buy my cars from the dealership that has the vehicle I want, and at the best price. Since I am only in this situation every so often I thought it would be wise to document my experience, with the hope that dealers and industry specialists could use it to improve their processes.
I sold my car to a private party and needed to buy a vehicle within the next day or two. In deciding my next vehicle, I did my entire search online. I looked at manufacture websites, read reviews from Car & Driver and other respected publications. I searched videos on YouTube and jumped on vehicle-specific online forums where I could read what owners of the vehicle had to say, both positive and negative.
Once I knew the vehicle I wanted I went back to the manufacture’s website and built that exact vehicle. An inventory search showed that five dealerships within a 50 mile radius had the exact vehicle (model, features, packages, MSRP).
The Phone Up
I began calling these dealerships, asking if I could get some numbers. I knew that they would have to work on the numbers so I gave them my cell phone number and told them to call me back. I was surprised by the following:
Dealership 1: Called me back two hours later.
Dealership 2: Called me back in twenty minutes.
Dealership 3: Called me back an hour later, only to ask what vehicle I was looking for again.
Dealership 4: Gave me my numbers over the phone.
Dealership 5: Never called me back with an offer!!!
It just amazes me that there are salespeople who don’t call customers like me back! What also makes me concerned is that not one dealership that gave me pricing has called me back since to follow up.
One dealership I called answered with an automated service, telling me that “the call might be recorded for quality assurance”, only to ring to another automated service “call is being recorded” two more times! By the time I got someone on the phone I was pretty sure I wasn’t talking with anyone at the dealership, but to someone at a call center. I gave my information to them, only to be transferred to the actual dealership where I had to give all of my info again.
The Deal
I ultimately went with the dealership that offered me the best price, which happened to be located an hour away from my home. An hour before I got off work, I told the salesperson at the dealership that I was going to come up that night. He told me that he was leaving early but to talk to his counterpart in the internet department. When I got off work I called and told him that I was planning on driving up and that I would have my two kids with me (3 year old and 8 month old). I asked if I could give my credit info over the phone to get all of the paper work started, so my wife and I didn’t have to spend all night there with our kids. I told him to also make sure I qualified (credit) and everything was good before we drove up.
We got the kids all ready and waited for the call. An hour and 15 minutes later he called me to ask if I own a similar make product: No. If I am currently leasing a vehicle: No. If I am active Duty Military: No. Then he says to me that the original salesperson misquoted me and included all of those rebates in my price he gave me. Now my lease payment would be $120+tax more a month! This was higher than two other dealer’s quotes I had received.
I understand mistakes happen but I think the lesson I learned is about managing customer expectations. If he originally told me a fair payment I would have been happy with it. Instead, he quoted me a very low price and got me to expect a low payment just to get me in the store, and then at the last minute the price changed. Now this may have been a mistake, but it also sounds like it could have been a dirty business tactic. I was shocked to say the least. I was sure glad I called ahead of time instead of driving all the way there with my kids only to find that the deal was too good to be true.
I ultimately had to call the manager at the dealership. I felt uncomfortable by putting the dealer in this position but it seemed as though the dealer could honor the misquoted price and have a happy customer or not honor it and have an unhappy customer. Unfortunately, it was only after a heated discussion, that the manager was willing to work with me. We eventually meet at a price we both felt comfortable with and I picked up the car.
Looking back, it was an interesting experience. One I hope that by sharing others can improve their processes. I still am surprised, it’s been 5 days and I still haven’t received a follow up call from the dealership.
Hunter Swift is the Business Analyst at DealerSocket and specializes in Automotive/Dealership processes that help dealerships become more effective by maximizing their opportunity to improve all aspects of the sales cycle, including: driving traffic, marketing, proper sales, and demonstration techniques. He also specializes in helping dealerships increase their customer satisfaction, reduce their web-lead response times and to improve accountability. Follow Me: @HunterSwift
DealersGear
My Car Buying Experience
One of my first jobs out of high school was selling cars and I have worked as a vendor with a CRM company in the industry for 7 years. I enjoy working in the auto industry and take pride in helping dealerships be more successful either through the products I sell or through the processes I teach from my experience.
About every three years, I find myself as a customer in the market for a new vehicle. Recently, that time had come and I was looking for a new vehicle. I am not loyal to a particular dealership, but I usually buy my cars from the dealership that has the vehicle I want, and at the best price. Since I am only in this situation every so often I thought it would be wise to document my experience, with the hope that dealers and industry specialists could use it to improve their processes.
I sold my car to a private party and needed to buy a vehicle within the next day or two. In deciding my next vehicle, I did my entire search online. I looked at manufacture websites, read reviews from Car & Driver and other respected publications. I searched videos on YouTube and jumped on vehicle-specific online forums where I could read what owners of the vehicle had to say, both positive and negative.
Once I knew the vehicle I wanted I went back to the manufacture’s website and built that exact vehicle. An inventory search showed that five dealerships within a 50 mile radius had the exact vehicle (model, features, packages, MSRP).
The Phone Up
I began calling these dealerships, asking if I could get some numbers. I knew that they would have to work on the numbers so I gave them my cell phone number and told them to call me back. I was surprised by the following:
Dealership 1: Called me back two hours later.
Dealership 2: Called me back in twenty minutes.
Dealership 3: Called me back an hour later, only to ask what vehicle I was looking for again.
Dealership 4: Gave me my numbers over the phone.
Dealership 5: Never called me back with an offer!!!
It just amazes me that there are salespeople who don’t call customers like me back! What also makes me concerned is that not one dealership that gave me pricing has called me back since to follow up.
One dealership I called answered with an automated service, telling me that “the call might be recorded for quality assurance”, only to ring to another automated service “call is being recorded” two more times! By the time I got someone on the phone I was pretty sure I wasn’t talking with anyone at the dealership, but to someone at a call center. I gave my information to them, only to be transferred to the actual dealership where I had to give all of my info again.
The Deal
I ultimately went with the dealership that offered me the best price, which happened to be located an hour away from my home. An hour before I got off work, I told the salesperson at the dealership that I was going to come up that night. He told me that he was leaving early but to talk to his counterpart in the internet department. When I got off work I called and told him that I was planning on driving up and that I would have my two kids with me (3 year old and 8 month old). I asked if I could give my credit info over the phone to get all of the paper work started, so my wife and I didn’t have to spend all night there with our kids. I told him to also make sure I qualified (credit) and everything was good before we drove up.
We got the kids all ready and waited for the call. An hour and 15 minutes later he called me to ask if I own a similar make product: No. If I am currently leasing a vehicle: No. If I am active Duty Military: No. Then he says to me that the original salesperson misquoted me and included all of those rebates in my price he gave me. Now my lease payment would be $120+tax more a month! This was higher than two other dealer’s quotes I had received.
I understand mistakes happen but I think the lesson I learned is about managing customer expectations. If he originally told me a fair payment I would have been happy with it. Instead, he quoted me a very low price and got me to expect a low payment just to get me in the store, and then at the last minute the price changed. Now this may have been a mistake, but it also sounds like it could have been a dirty business tactic. I was shocked to say the least. I was sure glad I called ahead of time instead of driving all the way there with my kids only to find that the deal was too good to be true.
I ultimately had to call the manager at the dealership. I felt uncomfortable by putting the dealer in this position but it seemed as though the dealer could honor the misquoted price and have a happy customer or not honor it and have an unhappy customer. Unfortunately, it was only after a heated discussion, that the manager was willing to work with me. We eventually meet at a price we both felt comfortable with and I picked up the car.
Looking back, it was an interesting experience. One I hope that by sharing others can improve their processes. I still am surprised, it’s been 5 days and I still haven’t received a follow up call from the dealership.
Hunter Swift is the Business Analyst at DealerSocket and specializes in Automotive/Dealership processes that help dealerships become more effective by maximizing their opportunity to improve all aspects of the sales cycle, including: driving traffic, marketing, proper sales, and demonstration techniques. He also specializes in helping dealerships increase their customer satisfaction, reduce their web-lead response times and to improve accountability. Follow Me: @HunterSwift
20 Comments
DrivingSales, LLC
I'm totally torn. As new to the industry, I've lived the entirety of my life on the consumer side and this is the exact replica of everything I thought a car buying experience was like. I even worked (briefly) in a car dealership and the sales people I was surrounded by did not do much to battle that perception. Now, being involved in our DrivingSales community, my perception is different. There are so many progressive dealers and dealership people who are pushing the boundaries and actively working to change the car buying experience to a better one. Because of this, where my initial reaction a year ago would've been, "Well, what do you expect?" my reaction now is more along the lines of frustration for all of the dealers out there who are stepping up to change the game, but have to fight against their own kind who aren't making it easy. Thanks for sharing -- it's a huge reminder that, even with as far as we've come, there's so much more ground to cover.
Southern Automotive Group
Hunter this is, unfortunately, a classic example of a shopping/buying experience that happens all to often. It shows that transparency and being of service to the client is the furthest from those dealer's minds. It truly is the "just get them in" syndrome and dealers who continue to practice it will remove themselves slowly from consideration. I just don't get it. Although you ultimately made your deal, I am reading a truly negative experience. Now I hear so much about dealers looking to increase loyalty, it seems in this case by not following up on your experience or even a "thank you", their opportunity to build any loyalty is gone. That is just lazy. What are your thoughts?
Southtowne Volkswagen
Sad to say, but many dealers follow that exact pattern. I even know some that quote the price BEFORE destination and then spring that when they get the customer in. You, like most, still bought from that Dealer thus proving their theory that"ya have to hook em and take them out of the market". I wish it was different, and yes I know legitimate mistakes can occur, but until buyers are willing to walk out and call in the next day to inform the Owner that they purchased elsewhere and why, it won't change. Sorry to hear about your experience. Sadly, you probably won't get a OEM survey due to an"accidental"mistake webring you're email. Thanks for sharing!
Classic Chevy Sugar Land
Although you think by publishing this article you are doing the industry a favor in reality by buying from this dealership all you have done is solidify the fact in heir minds they did it right. I work at the best dealership in America and compete against dealers like his one everyday, we are not the biggest yet but we will get there by treating customers right. By completing your purchase with this dishonest dealer you have done nohing to help he public. The first salesman did not make a mistake, you were hooked, turned and closed. This type of bad behavior has been going on for 50 years and those of us who do it the right way are disgusted. The fact you claim no allegiance with any dealer and will buy from the one with the lowest price just perpetuates what goes on at most dealerships. It amazes me when people don't appreciate the service a caring dealership can provide you with such a big purchase, you don't get good at Walmart but you get a cheap price.
DealersGear
Mark I understand. I honestly thought initially that this dealer was offering the best service by the price. I would normally have left, and gone to another dealership, but the fact that I was without a vehicle I needed to get a car that night, and since they already ran my credit I tried to make it work. I wish my experience was better. I would have still written about my experience.
DealersGear
Also I feel price is an important factor to most consumers but the experience from the sale effects if they will buy from them again and where they will service their vehicle.
Southtowne Volkswagen
How many "one hit wonders" will they achieve? Sadly their reputation will catch up to them. I only wish it would happen faster. :/
Silver Star Mercedes
I don't agree with misleading the customer, I make sure that I always tell my team not to offer something that we can't honor in the dealership. However this is a perfect example of a dealership who misleads customers into coming in with prices that can't be honored and yet in the end they got the sale. You mentioned that you had received a better price from other dealers, please tell what good did it do for that dealer to be honest with you?
Dealer Inspire
You would think that dealers that use practices like that would learn. You have now taken this online. Even though you haven't mentioned names, I'm sure that the dealer knows who they are. This is something that you will see consumers take online and blast every review site out there talking about the experience. It is ashame that there are dealers still out there trying bait and switch practices.
Classic Chevy Sugar Land
My Point is some dealers will never stop this because in the end they sold the car because of what they did. I am sorry to say but the author failed us all, the consumer, honest dealers and the dealer that got the sale because he proved to the salesman who lied how to "get" the sale.
DealersGear
Mark, Sorry if I failed you. One thing to add, if the other dealerships I called for quotes had followed up with me, they would have learned why I was not buying from them (a lower price) and maybe they could have warned me that it was too good to be true. I ultimately bought from this dealership because they agreed to sell me the vehicle at a price lower than any other.
DrivingSales, LLC
I think it's tough to say that the author failed the dealers, when clearly his experience is a massive fail on the part of the dealership. Did they sell the car? Sure, but will he ever buy there again? Most likely not. Dealer reputations, as with any group, are lumped together, so at the end of the day, maybe it's that dealer who failed his community of dealers, dealers like you and countless others that are standing up against "the way things have always been" and trying to find a better way. Perhaps we're the one that have failed that dealer by not reaching out enough to show him that there is a better (and more profitable) way to conduct his business. Basically, it's a bold statement to say that it's the customers' fault for why some dealers have shady practices, and I can't say that I agree with that.
Hansen Ford Lincoln
Yeah I would have to say that the failure was on the part of the other salespeople who couldn't demonstrate the difference between a fair price with great service and a low ball price that's often too good to be true. If someone from one of the "fair and honest" dealers would've gotten back to the author, he would've had somewhere to turn when he realized what was going on at the first dealership.
DrivingSales, LLC
Mark, thank you for taking the stand of treating customers fairly within you business model. You're exactly right that stores have been treating customers terribly for over 50 years - How do you ensure that your customers know that you are different from the rest?
Classic Chevy Sugar Land
I understand what you are saying but no matter what they said you only wanted to believe in the lowest 'price'.
Classic Chevy Sugar Land
We always do what we say we are going to do, no ifs ands or buts.
DrivingSales, LLC
That's awesome and unfortunately, not the case with all dealerships or companies in any industry for that matter. How do you ensure that your customers know this before they buy from you and don't just think you're like everyone other store? That you actually WILL do what you say? I think conveying that message and making sure your customers know you are serious about it is instrumental in attracting those people into your store and not someone else's.
Car
If your African America do not buy a car from Toyota of fort worth, they are racist and look down on all blacks. Never buy here trust me.
Fountain Car Leasing & Sales
Something to remember: Prices you get over the phone are generally not binding. Ask for an official price quote over email. Secondly, it very very likely wasn't a mistake. The first salesperson gave you a price, and likely didn't make any mistakes. The second salesperson just wanted to make more money. Finding these discounts is a large part of our business model, and finding out whether or not you qualify is done in the initial questionnaire, usually long before you get even an initial quote. If you want to see what that's like, check us out at www.fountaincarleasing.com . We also save you from having to drive the hour (or more) to the dealership with the best deal by delivering the car to you.
Fountain Car Leasing & Sales
Something to remember: Prices you get over the phone are generally not binding. Ask for an official price quote over email. Secondly, it very very likely wasn't a mistake. The first salesperson gave you a price, and likely didn't make any mistakes. The second salesperson just wanted to make more money. Finding these discounts is a large part of our business model, and finding out whether or not you qualify is done in the initial questionnaire, usually long before you get even an initial quote. If you want to see what that's like, check us out at www.fountaincarleasing.com . We also save you from having to drive the hour (or more) to the dealership with the best deal by delivering the car to you.
DealersGear
Technology, Processes and People
This week I attended Digital Dealer (sigh!), the exhibitor room was full of vendors selling all types of technology. I counted at least 7 booths that offer a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Tool. As dealers visited each booth I noticed they were often comparing the different features each vendor provided. One thing that stood out to me is for the most part all CRM companies offer the same type of technology. They all allow you to input customers, receive leads, automate marketing campaigns, and reporting. It is important that the technology isn’t the only thing that you are looking at.
Technology should enable processes. Consistent processes create consistent business.
One of the ways to enable process is through the automation of business rules designed to target specific groups of people. If the data is there, the technology should be able to enable processes like:
A customer life cycle (customer for life)
Finance termination
Extended warranty
We want your trade
Declined services
Aftermarket accessories
Customers in equity
Bought elsewhere, service introduction
High customer pay RO to new vehicle
Future model introduction
Lead escalation
Sales notification of a customer in service
And the list goes on…
This can also apply to the technology of Social Media. Are you just using it or really using it to enable the processes?
Once you have the technology and the processes in place the last important part is the people. I have seen time and time again where technology fails because either the people don’t use it or don’t know how to use it effectively. Do you have the people to not only train you how to use and support the technology but also how to use the technology to enable the processes your dealership needs?
I am excited for the DrivingSales Executive Summit, where technology and innovation is discussed, something I hope dealers will use to enable more processes.
Your thoughts?
Hunter Swift is the Business Analyst at DealerSocket and specializes in Automotive/Dealership processes that help dealerships become more effective by maximizing their opportunity to improve all aspects of the sales cycle, including: driving traffic, marketing, proper sales, and demonstration techniques. He also specializes in helping dealerships increase their customer satisfaction, reduce their web-lead response times and to improve accountability. Follow Me: @HunterSwift
No Comments
DealersGear
Technology, Processes and People
This week I attended Digital Dealer (sigh!), the exhibitor room was full of vendors selling all types of technology. I counted at least 7 booths that offer a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Tool. As dealers visited each booth I noticed they were often comparing the different features each vendor provided. One thing that stood out to me is for the most part all CRM companies offer the same type of technology. They all allow you to input customers, receive leads, automate marketing campaigns, and reporting. It is important that the technology isn’t the only thing that you are looking at.
Technology should enable processes. Consistent processes create consistent business.
One of the ways to enable process is through the automation of business rules designed to target specific groups of people. If the data is there, the technology should be able to enable processes like:
A customer life cycle (customer for life)
Finance termination
Extended warranty
We want your trade
Declined services
Aftermarket accessories
Customers in equity
Bought elsewhere, service introduction
High customer pay RO to new vehicle
Future model introduction
Lead escalation
Sales notification of a customer in service
And the list goes on…
This can also apply to the technology of Social Media. Are you just using it or really using it to enable the processes?
Once you have the technology and the processes in place the last important part is the people. I have seen time and time again where technology fails because either the people don’t use it or don’t know how to use it effectively. Do you have the people to not only train you how to use and support the technology but also how to use the technology to enable the processes your dealership needs?
I am excited for the DrivingSales Executive Summit, where technology and innovation is discussed, something I hope dealers will use to enable more processes.
Your thoughts?
Hunter Swift is the Business Analyst at DealerSocket and specializes in Automotive/Dealership processes that help dealerships become more effective by maximizing their opportunity to improve all aspects of the sales cycle, including: driving traffic, marketing, proper sales, and demonstration techniques. He also specializes in helping dealerships increase their customer satisfaction, reduce their web-lead response times and to improve accountability. Follow Me: @HunterSwift
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DealersGear
Impressed by OEM’s Marketing Campaign.
A couple months ago I came across an ad for the new Mercedes SLK. I was really impressed with the marketing campaign that Mercedes-Benz incorporated with some pretty innovative ideas and incorporating some new technology.
The ad was introducing the new SLK and although I wasn’t interested in the SLK I clicked on something called “Speed Date”, I invite those who haven’t done so to do it. http://www3.mercedes-benz.com/mbcom_v4/us/slk/en.html
What stood out to me was the integration with Facebook. As the movie begins, it pulls your image from your Facebook profile picture and inserts it in various parts of the film. In the movie you are stranded in the desert with an overheating car who hitches a ride with a beautiful girl (Ksenia Lauren) driving a SLK. Throughout the movie you can choose different outcomes and it shows off different features of the car.
The interactive movie really did a good job putting me actually into the movie and experiences it firsthand. It was something that I ended up showing to many people. Kudo’s for Mercedes for implementing a marketing tactic like this. But it did not stop here. After the movie you are invited to “like” the facebook page of the actress Kesnia Lauren https://www.facebook.com/ksenia.lauren.
Today she held a virtual autograph session. At first I was like what’s that? But it came out to be real enteraining. She had a streaming video on her facebook page that you could ask her questions which she would answer, and then she would sign a picture which was on her ipad with a stylus and that signed picture was then posted to her wall.
It was the first time I had seen something like this and made me feel good that the OEMs are getting creative and incorporating cool technology to help people get excited about their products which will only help dealers sell more cars.
Anyways, wanted to know what you guys thought and if you have seen any other creative and innovated marketing campaign that you would like to share.
Hunter Swift is the Business Analyst at DealerSocket and specializes in Automotive/Dealership processes that help dealerships become more effective by maximizing their opportunity to improve all aspects of the sales cycle, including: driving traffic, marketing, proper sales, and demonstration techniques. He also specializes in helping dealerships increase their customer satisfaction, reduce their web-lead response times and to improve accountability. Follow Me: @HunterSwift
No Comments
DealersGear
Impressed by OEM’s Marketing Campaign.
A couple months ago I came across an ad for the new Mercedes SLK. I was really impressed with the marketing campaign that Mercedes-Benz incorporated with some pretty innovative ideas and incorporating some new technology.
The ad was introducing the new SLK and although I wasn’t interested in the SLK I clicked on something called “Speed Date”, I invite those who haven’t done so to do it. http://www3.mercedes-benz.com/mbcom_v4/us/slk/en.html
What stood out to me was the integration with Facebook. As the movie begins, it pulls your image from your Facebook profile picture and inserts it in various parts of the film. In the movie you are stranded in the desert with an overheating car who hitches a ride with a beautiful girl (Ksenia Lauren) driving a SLK. Throughout the movie you can choose different outcomes and it shows off different features of the car.
The interactive movie really did a good job putting me actually into the movie and experiences it firsthand. It was something that I ended up showing to many people. Kudo’s for Mercedes for implementing a marketing tactic like this. But it did not stop here. After the movie you are invited to “like” the facebook page of the actress Kesnia Lauren https://www.facebook.com/ksenia.lauren.
Today she held a virtual autograph session. At first I was like what’s that? But it came out to be real enteraining. She had a streaming video on her facebook page that you could ask her questions which she would answer, and then she would sign a picture which was on her ipad with a stylus and that signed picture was then posted to her wall.
It was the first time I had seen something like this and made me feel good that the OEMs are getting creative and incorporating cool technology to help people get excited about their products which will only help dealers sell more cars.
Anyways, wanted to know what you guys thought and if you have seen any other creative and innovated marketing campaign that you would like to share.
Hunter Swift is the Business Analyst at DealerSocket and specializes in Automotive/Dealership processes that help dealerships become more effective by maximizing their opportunity to improve all aspects of the sales cycle, including: driving traffic, marketing, proper sales, and demonstration techniques. He also specializes in helping dealerships increase their customer satisfaction, reduce their web-lead response times and to improve accountability. Follow Me: @HunterSwift
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DealersGear
Could you replace the AutoResponder?
I was recently in a meeting with someone from a popular 3rd party lead provider who was talking about leads and the open rates of the AutoResponder emails compared to the open rates of first and second emails. I was unable to get a source of this data but it was something like:
Open Rates:
- AutoResponder: 97%
- First Email 56%
- Second Email: 20%
This got me to think. We live in a society that people want their info now! Just look at the instant response with text messages, and instant access to the internet for info. People who are submitting a lead are on the computer and are requesting info that they would like as soon as the request it.
Most dealerships send out an AutoResponder. I advocate the use of an AutoResponder. It acknowledges that their lead has been received. It’s an instant personalized response that shows the dealership is quick to respond. It allows the dealership time to work on getting back to them, answer questions, etc. It is great for after hours where someone normally wouldn’t be able to answer their email.
But if the above statistics are correct, the email with the highest open rate is that first email. A huge opportunity that is being filled by an AutoResponder. This has got me to think, if the dealer can respond fast enough, could they send an actual email back versus an AutoResponder?
If the customer just sent in the lead they are still at their computer. If they have a question, want price, check inventory, etc,. For example, if a customer is looking for a vehicle and wants to know if the dealership has it in red. He sends in a lead asking about it and the email he gets back says, “Thank you for the submitting a lead.” Maybe adding something to like, “We are working on it”, or asking some follow up questions “do you have a trade?, what were you looking to put down? etc. How much better would it be if they were able to answer their specific question on the first email back to the customer?
I think that people understand that the first response is just an automatic scripted AutoResponder. How much would it surprise them if you actual were responding to their questions instantly?
I know this might be a great idea, but how would you implement it? A salesperson or other assigned person would have to be responsible and always be ready to answer the lead? If a salesperson didn’t respond within 5-10 minutes then an auto responder can go out? You could use a detail Internet Lead Response Time Report to make sure they are responding instantly and not missing any.
Anyways, what are your thoughts?
Hunter Swift is the Business Analyst at DealerSocket and specializes in Automotive/Dealership processes that help dealerships become more effective by maximizing their opportunity to improve all aspects of the sales cycle, including: driving traffic, marketing, proper sales, and demonstration techniques. He also specializes in helping dealerships increase their customer satisfaction, reduce their web-lead response times and to improve accountability. Follow Me: @HunterSwift
No Comments
DealersGear
Could you replace the AutoResponder?
I was recently in a meeting with someone from a popular 3rd party lead provider who was talking about leads and the open rates of the AutoResponder emails compared to the open rates of first and second emails. I was unable to get a source of this data but it was something like:
Open Rates:
- AutoResponder: 97%
- First Email 56%
- Second Email: 20%
This got me to think. We live in a society that people want their info now! Just look at the instant response with text messages, and instant access to the internet for info. People who are submitting a lead are on the computer and are requesting info that they would like as soon as the request it.
Most dealerships send out an AutoResponder. I advocate the use of an AutoResponder. It acknowledges that their lead has been received. It’s an instant personalized response that shows the dealership is quick to respond. It allows the dealership time to work on getting back to them, answer questions, etc. It is great for after hours where someone normally wouldn’t be able to answer their email.
But if the above statistics are correct, the email with the highest open rate is that first email. A huge opportunity that is being filled by an AutoResponder. This has got me to think, if the dealer can respond fast enough, could they send an actual email back versus an AutoResponder?
If the customer just sent in the lead they are still at their computer. If they have a question, want price, check inventory, etc,. For example, if a customer is looking for a vehicle and wants to know if the dealership has it in red. He sends in a lead asking about it and the email he gets back says, “Thank you for the submitting a lead.” Maybe adding something to like, “We are working on it”, or asking some follow up questions “do you have a trade?, what were you looking to put down? etc. How much better would it be if they were able to answer their specific question on the first email back to the customer?
I think that people understand that the first response is just an automatic scripted AutoResponder. How much would it surprise them if you actual were responding to their questions instantly?
I know this might be a great idea, but how would you implement it? A salesperson or other assigned person would have to be responsible and always be ready to answer the lead? If a salesperson didn’t respond within 5-10 minutes then an auto responder can go out? You could use a detail Internet Lead Response Time Report to make sure they are responding instantly and not missing any.
Anyways, what are your thoughts?
Hunter Swift is the Business Analyst at DealerSocket and specializes in Automotive/Dealership processes that help dealerships become more effective by maximizing their opportunity to improve all aspects of the sales cycle, including: driving traffic, marketing, proper sales, and demonstration techniques. He also specializes in helping dealerships increase their customer satisfaction, reduce their web-lead response times and to improve accountability. Follow Me: @HunterSwift
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DealersGear
Dealership’s Use of Mobile
The last 2 months have been crazy for me. Between work, school, and my wife and I having our second baby, I have been very busy. Because of my busy schedule, it has caused me to work more “mobile” than ever before. Almost every email I have read or responded to was from my phone, please excuse the brevity and any typos if you received an email from me recently.
This week DealerSocket had its annual User Summit in Dana Point, California The summit was a great opportunity for users of DealerSocket to come together and share best practices and also learn how to better use DealerSocket. My presentation at the summit was about how dealerships can better use mobile. I thought I would pass along some of the things I discussed.
When I began my session I asked the attendees to raise their phones, I was very pleased to see that almost everyone had a smart phone; thank goodness I didn’t see any “Jitter Bug” phones. In my research, I was amazed that there are 5.3 billion mobile subscribers in the world. That’s 77% of the world population. We are even seeing a big shift with the use of mobile phones; in fact 1 in 4 households have a mobile phone, but no landline.
Mobile, it’s the device we all have, it’s always on, it’s always within an arm’s reach, and allows us to have instant access to everything on Google. It’s no surprise why mobile phones are popular; they seem to do everything as the tagline says, “there’s an app for that”. The real benefit of mobile is the fact that it is the world’s first personal mass medium device. Never before has one person had the power to broadcast something that has the potential of reaching the whole world.
It is important that we understand how dealerships can use mobile.
Mobile Marketing:
- Texting: Although I am against bulk text messaging, having your salespeople communicate to their customers via text has its advantages. Text messages have a 98% open rate and for the customer who aren’t returning your calls this can be a good alternative.
- Email: We understand how important email marketing is but, do we understand that 70 million mobile users access email through their phone? That 35% of mobile users check their email first thing in the morning before they do anything else? This makes you rethink when the best time to send out an email is. Other questions I ask myself are, are your emails mobile friendly? Do they look good on a phone? Does it encourage people to access mobile content?
- Social Media: 35% of mobile users use Social Media on their phone. Are you using Social Media for Marketing, Public Relations, Branding, Product Knowledge? Is your Social Media content valuable for your customers or are you always selling? Are you monitoring what others are saying about you? I love to use HootSuite to monitor Twitter and Facebook.
Mobile Website:
Do you have a mobile website? It should be a condensed version of your website. With 24/7 access to key information like contact info, directions, special, and inventory. It should be a medium that converts visits to leads.
Mobile App:
Having something that your customers can save to their devices is critical, even if it is simply a shortcut to your mobile website. Are you giving your customers an incentive to access your mobile content?
One example, DealerSocket recently came out with the “Customer Mobile Portal” that allows the dealership’s customers to have access to key information that is similar to what they would see on a mobile website, but with the ability to be integrated with your CRM (DealerSocket) to see their service history, set service appointments (Pushing in to the DMS), and appraise their vehicle. The customers have access to your specials and inventory including images of the vehicles. It links with your social media. There is even a way to push announcements and marketing to the device. The best part is that it works on all devices (iPhones, iPad, Androids, and BlackBerrys) and not does not need to be downloaded.
Here is a screenshot:
Mobile Dealer:
Is your dealership using mobile to assist in processes? Are leads being sent to phones so salespeople know instantly when a lead has been received? If they respond to the lead on their phone does it stop the clock? Make sure if there are interactions with the customer on the phone that info gets back into the CRM. Do your salespeople have access to your inventory from their phone?
These are all things that can help your dealership. What are your thoughts?
Hunter Swift is the Business Analyst at DealerSocket and specializes in Automotive/Dealership processes that help dealerships become more effective by maximizing their opportunity to improve all aspects of the sales cycle, including: driving traffic, marketing, proper sales, and demonstration techniques. He also specializes in helping dealerships increase their customer satisfaction, reduce their web-lead response times and to improve accountability. Follow Me: @HunterSwift
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DealersGear
Dealership’s Use of Mobile
The last 2 months have been crazy for me. Between work, school, and my wife and I having our second baby, I have been very busy. Because of my busy schedule, it has caused me to work more “mobile” than ever before. Almost every email I have read or responded to was from my phone, please excuse the brevity and any typos if you received an email from me recently.
This week DealerSocket had its annual User Summit in Dana Point, California The summit was a great opportunity for users of DealerSocket to come together and share best practices and also learn how to better use DealerSocket. My presentation at the summit was about how dealerships can better use mobile. I thought I would pass along some of the things I discussed.
When I began my session I asked the attendees to raise their phones, I was very pleased to see that almost everyone had a smart phone; thank goodness I didn’t see any “Jitter Bug” phones. In my research, I was amazed that there are 5.3 billion mobile subscribers in the world. That’s 77% of the world population. We are even seeing a big shift with the use of mobile phones; in fact 1 in 4 households have a mobile phone, but no landline.
Mobile, it’s the device we all have, it’s always on, it’s always within an arm’s reach, and allows us to have instant access to everything on Google. It’s no surprise why mobile phones are popular; they seem to do everything as the tagline says, “there’s an app for that”. The real benefit of mobile is the fact that it is the world’s first personal mass medium device. Never before has one person had the power to broadcast something that has the potential of reaching the whole world.
It is important that we understand how dealerships can use mobile.
Mobile Marketing:
- Texting: Although I am against bulk text messaging, having your salespeople communicate to their customers via text has its advantages. Text messages have a 98% open rate and for the customer who aren’t returning your calls this can be a good alternative.
- Email: We understand how important email marketing is but, do we understand that 70 million mobile users access email through their phone? That 35% of mobile users check their email first thing in the morning before they do anything else? This makes you rethink when the best time to send out an email is. Other questions I ask myself are, are your emails mobile friendly? Do they look good on a phone? Does it encourage people to access mobile content?
- Social Media: 35% of mobile users use Social Media on their phone. Are you using Social Media for Marketing, Public Relations, Branding, Product Knowledge? Is your Social Media content valuable for your customers or are you always selling? Are you monitoring what others are saying about you? I love to use HootSuite to monitor Twitter and Facebook.
Mobile Website:
Do you have a mobile website? It should be a condensed version of your website. With 24/7 access to key information like contact info, directions, special, and inventory. It should be a medium that converts visits to leads.
Mobile App:
Having something that your customers can save to their devices is critical, even if it is simply a shortcut to your mobile website. Are you giving your customers an incentive to access your mobile content?
One example, DealerSocket recently came out with the “Customer Mobile Portal” that allows the dealership’s customers to have access to key information that is similar to what they would see on a mobile website, but with the ability to be integrated with your CRM (DealerSocket) to see their service history, set service appointments (Pushing in to the DMS), and appraise their vehicle. The customers have access to your specials and inventory including images of the vehicles. It links with your social media. There is even a way to push announcements and marketing to the device. The best part is that it works on all devices (iPhones, iPad, Androids, and BlackBerrys) and not does not need to be downloaded.
Here is a screenshot:
Mobile Dealer:
Is your dealership using mobile to assist in processes? Are leads being sent to phones so salespeople know instantly when a lead has been received? If they respond to the lead on their phone does it stop the clock? Make sure if there are interactions with the customer on the phone that info gets back into the CRM. Do your salespeople have access to your inventory from their phone?
These are all things that can help your dealership. What are your thoughts?
Hunter Swift is the Business Analyst at DealerSocket and specializes in Automotive/Dealership processes that help dealerships become more effective by maximizing their opportunity to improve all aspects of the sales cycle, including: driving traffic, marketing, proper sales, and demonstration techniques. He also specializes in helping dealerships increase their customer satisfaction, reduce their web-lead response times and to improve accountability. Follow Me: @HunterSwift
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20 Comments
Lindsey Auguste
DrivingSales, LLC
I'm totally torn. As new to the industry, I've lived the entirety of my life on the consumer side and this is the exact replica of everything I thought a car buying experience was like. I even worked (briefly) in a car dealership and the sales people I was surrounded by did not do much to battle that perception. Now, being involved in our DrivingSales community, my perception is different. There are so many progressive dealers and dealership people who are pushing the boundaries and actively working to change the car buying experience to a better one. Because of this, where my initial reaction a year ago would've been, "Well, what do you expect?" my reaction now is more along the lines of frustration for all of the dealers out there who are stepping up to change the game, but have to fight against their own kind who aren't making it easy. Thanks for sharing -- it's a huge reminder that, even with as far as we've come, there's so much more ground to cover.
Chris Costner
Southern Automotive Group
Hunter this is, unfortunately, a classic example of a shopping/buying experience that happens all to often. It shows that transparency and being of service to the client is the furthest from those dealer's minds. It truly is the "just get them in" syndrome and dealers who continue to practice it will remove themselves slowly from consideration. I just don't get it. Although you ultimately made your deal, I am reading a truly negative experience. Now I hear so much about dealers looking to increase loyalty, it seems in this case by not following up on your experience or even a "thank you", their opportunity to build any loyalty is gone. That is just lazy. What are your thoughts?
Bryan Armstrong
Southtowne Volkswagen
Sad to say, but many dealers follow that exact pattern. I even know some that quote the price BEFORE destination and then spring that when they get the customer in. You, like most, still bought from that Dealer thus proving their theory that"ya have to hook em and take them out of the market". I wish it was different, and yes I know legitimate mistakes can occur, but until buyers are willing to walk out and call in the next day to inform the Owner that they purchased elsewhere and why, it won't change. Sorry to hear about your experience. Sadly, you probably won't get a OEM survey due to an"accidental"mistake webring you're email. Thanks for sharing!
Mark Kolon
Classic Chevy Sugar Land
Although you think by publishing this article you are doing the industry a favor in reality by buying from this dealership all you have done is solidify the fact in heir minds they did it right. I work at the best dealership in America and compete against dealers like his one everyday, we are not the biggest yet but we will get there by treating customers right. By completing your purchase with this dishonest dealer you have done nohing to help he public. The first salesman did not make a mistake, you were hooked, turned and closed. This type of bad behavior has been going on for 50 years and those of us who do it the right way are disgusted. The fact you claim no allegiance with any dealer and will buy from the one with the lowest price just perpetuates what goes on at most dealerships. It amazes me when people don't appreciate the service a caring dealership can provide you with such a big purchase, you don't get good at Walmart but you get a cheap price.
Hunter Swift
DealersGear
Mark I understand. I honestly thought initially that this dealer was offering the best service by the price. I would normally have left, and gone to another dealership, but the fact that I was without a vehicle I needed to get a car that night, and since they already ran my credit I tried to make it work. I wish my experience was better. I would have still written about my experience.
Hunter Swift
DealersGear
Also I feel price is an important factor to most consumers but the experience from the sale effects if they will buy from them again and where they will service their vehicle.
Bryan Armstrong
Southtowne Volkswagen
How many "one hit wonders" will they achieve? Sadly their reputation will catch up to them. I only wish it would happen faster. :/
Paul Cunha
Silver Star Mercedes
I don't agree with misleading the customer, I make sure that I always tell my team not to offer something that we can't honor in the dealership. However this is a perfect example of a dealership who misleads customers into coming in with prices that can't be honored and yet in the end they got the sale. You mentioned that you had received a better price from other dealers, please tell what good did it do for that dealer to be honest with you?
Jim Bell
Dealer Inspire
You would think that dealers that use practices like that would learn. You have now taken this online. Even though you haven't mentioned names, I'm sure that the dealer knows who they are. This is something that you will see consumers take online and blast every review site out there talking about the experience. It is ashame that there are dealers still out there trying bait and switch practices.
Mark Kolon
Classic Chevy Sugar Land
My Point is some dealers will never stop this because in the end they sold the car because of what they did. I am sorry to say but the author failed us all, the consumer, honest dealers and the dealer that got the sale because he proved to the salesman who lied how to "get" the sale.
Hunter Swift
DealersGear
Mark, Sorry if I failed you. One thing to add, if the other dealerships I called for quotes had followed up with me, they would have learned why I was not buying from them (a lower price) and maybe they could have warned me that it was too good to be true. I ultimately bought from this dealership because they agreed to sell me the vehicle at a price lower than any other.
Lindsey Auguste
DrivingSales, LLC
I think it's tough to say that the author failed the dealers, when clearly his experience is a massive fail on the part of the dealership. Did they sell the car? Sure, but will he ever buy there again? Most likely not. Dealer reputations, as with any group, are lumped together, so at the end of the day, maybe it's that dealer who failed his community of dealers, dealers like you and countless others that are standing up against "the way things have always been" and trying to find a better way. Perhaps we're the one that have failed that dealer by not reaching out enough to show him that there is a better (and more profitable) way to conduct his business. Basically, it's a bold statement to say that it's the customers' fault for why some dealers have shady practices, and I can't say that I agree with that.
Brady Irvine
Hansen Ford Lincoln
Yeah I would have to say that the failure was on the part of the other salespeople who couldn't demonstrate the difference between a fair price with great service and a low ball price that's often too good to be true. If someone from one of the "fair and honest" dealers would've gotten back to the author, he would've had somewhere to turn when he realized what was going on at the first dealership.
Lindsey Auguste
DrivingSales, LLC
Mark, thank you for taking the stand of treating customers fairly within you business model. You're exactly right that stores have been treating customers terribly for over 50 years - How do you ensure that your customers know that you are different from the rest?
Mark Kolon
Classic Chevy Sugar Land
I understand what you are saying but no matter what they said you only wanted to believe in the lowest 'price'.
Mark Kolon
Classic Chevy Sugar Land
We always do what we say we are going to do, no ifs ands or buts.
Lindsey Auguste
DrivingSales, LLC
That's awesome and unfortunately, not the case with all dealerships or companies in any industry for that matter. How do you ensure that your customers know this before they buy from you and don't just think you're like everyone other store? That you actually WILL do what you say? I think conveying that message and making sure your customers know you are serious about it is instrumental in attracting those people into your store and not someone else's.
James Wright
Car
If your African America do not buy a car from Toyota of fort worth, they are racist and look down on all blacks. Never buy here trust me.
Fountain Carleasing
Fountain Car Leasing & Sales
Something to remember: Prices you get over the phone are generally not binding. Ask for an official price quote over email. Secondly, it very very likely wasn't a mistake. The first salesperson gave you a price, and likely didn't make any mistakes. The second salesperson just wanted to make more money. Finding these discounts is a large part of our business model, and finding out whether or not you qualify is done in the initial questionnaire, usually long before you get even an initial quote. If you want to see what that's like, check us out at www.fountaincarleasing.com . We also save you from having to drive the hour (or more) to the dealership with the best deal by delivering the car to you.
Fountain Carleasing
Fountain Car Leasing & Sales
Something to remember: Prices you get over the phone are generally not binding. Ask for an official price quote over email. Secondly, it very very likely wasn't a mistake. The first salesperson gave you a price, and likely didn't make any mistakes. The second salesperson just wanted to make more money. Finding these discounts is a large part of our business model, and finding out whether or not you qualify is done in the initial questionnaire, usually long before you get even an initial quote. If you want to see what that's like, check us out at www.fountaincarleasing.com . We also save you from having to drive the hour (or more) to the dealership with the best deal by delivering the car to you.