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Autobytel.com - What has your experience been?

131 messages,  Last post on Feb 16, 2013 at 6:26 PM

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Messages Page 12 of 14

#102 of 131 actually, by abtseller

May 27, 2002 (6:34 am)

The same dealerships usually end up with the same leads from multiple sources. Most dealerships buy "territories" which direct all the leads from a certain lead provider to their in-boxes
 
Ed

#103 of 131 Which is why I like other websites that let you choose by kevin111

May 29, 2002 (10:44 pm)

the car dealers. I like it when I have multiple dealers to work than just one. By going to as many car purchase websites for dealer prices I was able to contact at least 4 dealer managers and have them bid against themselves. I found that even when they overlapped (which they often do), it still works.

#104 of 131 I used one website by suzzann

May 31, 2002 (6:10 am)

That goes to multiple dealers, but you have to agree to a price first. Autobytel is nice because you get a quote right away.

#105 of 131 still waiting by tomtrav

Jun 04, 2002 (6:43 pm)

i submitted a request for a quote on a new solara on 5/26.i'm still waiting for a response from ABT dealer.

#106 of 131 tomtrav by masspector

Jun 05, 2002 (4:16 am)

And you will be waiting. ABT has turned from being a very useful service in the mid nineties to a message taker for the big car dealers in your area. When I tried to use it resently I either did not get a response, or I got an email to call them or come to the dealership.

#107 of 131 That's not fair, by suzzann

Jun 05, 2002 (6:54 am)

It all depends on where you are located. Tom should contact Autobytel and have them get after their dealer. I was contacted within a day. It's the dealer who is responsible for responding, not Autobytel.

#108 of 131 its regional, and probably by abtseller

Jun 05, 2002 (7:52 am)

varies by the make represented. We buy all the leads for Toyota, Chevy, Nissan, etc, within a "territory." Its entirely possible that there are some places not represented, or its also possible that the dealer network for whatever you're looking to buy isn't represented by an internet-savvy dealership.
 
You're not likely to get a price emailed back in the first try anymore, you will likely have to call the internet manager in the ABT email, or at least get a two way email going in order to get a price quote.
 
Ed

#109 of 131 suzann &abt by masspector

Jun 05, 2002 (10:04 am)

suzann: were you just contacted or were you contacted and immediately given the dealerships rock bottom lowest price? Like I said above, I got a response, it was just not a price quote as I was expecting.
 
I make my comments from experience. I think abtseller can back me up on this. I used the service very successfully in 1996 and got the results that I expected. When I tried to use the service in 2002, it was a bomb.
 
Back then, internet buyers were a new thing. Dealers thought that informed shoppers were usually ready to buy so they gave their best price upfront. When I was contacted by the dealer in 96 he quoted me invoice plus I kept the rebate on the car I wanted. My only problem was my trade in value. My price on the new car was set from the outset.
 
In 2002, dealers buy these leads and everyone uses the internet to get invoice price and then try to grind dealers down for more off the car. Almost every buyer wants to pay invoice or less. Along with pricing info, the internet has informed consumers of dealer tricks to get more profit. Dealers do not want to give out their best price upfront because they know they will be shopped to some other dealer and may lose the sale. New car sales are very skinny nowadays for dealers so they want you on the phone or in the showroom before giving a price. I have heard abtseller and other sales guys say this all the time on TH. I am not knocking them for doing it this way, but all I can say was that I had a much more pleasant ABT experience in 1996 than in 2002.

#110 of 131 the customers were a lot more by abtseller

Jun 05, 2002 (10:45 am)

pleasant back then also. Now a days, instead of a trendy smart shopper, most of them just want a number to beat their local dealer over the head with.
 
Sad, but true. And, with what the dealer has to pay for the leads, it is not cost effective to just "give them a number" you actually have to try and engage the customer in a conversation and try to sell them on the process first.
 
Ed

#111 of 131 Good point, Ed by suzzann

Jun 06, 2002 (5:40 am)

I used Autobytel to get a price and shopped it using another service. The dealer with Autobytel was straightforward and beat the price I had been originally quoted, but was in turn beaten by the next internet service I used.
 
I would have been disappointed if the dealer had tried to "engage" me in the process. All I wanted was a price on a particular car. He called me up, made his offer and I suppose, moved on to the next customer.

Messages Page 12 of 14

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