Car Dealer Reviews & Dealer Ratings

Consumer Reviews are changing the way people buy and from whom they buy, and car dealers are no exception. One of the core features of DealerDex is our Dealership Reviews section. Getting positive feedback from your consumers will not only help you gain future business, but reviews will also increase your presence in the search engines, drive more traffic to your website, and generate more phone calls from consumers in the market to buy. Internet Sales Guru Mitch recently wrote a post about What Dealer Reviews Can Do For You - check it out and start asking your customers for feedback today!

With DealerDex Dealer Reviews You:

  • Are Notified Each Time Your Dealership Receives A Reivew
  • Have An Opportunity To Respond To Consumer Reviews
  • Should Encourage Feedback From Your Customers
  • Help Build Your Brand And Online Reputation
  • Set Yourself Apart From Other Listed Dealers

2007 Dealer eBusiness Perfomance Study

The Cobalt Group, together with Yahoo! and R. L. Polk & Co. presented their 2007 Dealer eBusiness Performance Study, the largest research initiative in the automotive industry.

Findings from the study include dealership lead handling and Internet sales performance and how online resources like search and consumer generated media influence shopping behavior.

The study incorporates a variety of research methods including:

  • Two Internet-based surveys: one of 550 vehicle shoppers and purchasers, and one of 1,000 car purchasers
  • Analysis of over 1 million leads from 1,140 dealerships representing 35 brands to assess sales rates and time to close
  • eMystery shop campaign of over 2,100 dealers encompassing 20 brands
  • Onsite interviews with 20 top performing dealers

A sequel to Cobalt’s 2005 Industry and Dealership eBusiness Performance Study, this analysis takes a closer look at car shopping from the consumers’ perspective to understand the new buying influences that impact how they shop and pre-select dealerships, why they switch brands, the rising influence of online dealership reviews and the value of transparency in interaction with dealership sales staffs. Below is a sample of the results and the takeaways this study provides:

The Results

  • 88% of consumers use the Internet for research prior to visiting a dealership
  • Over 30% of Internet leads sent to dealers go unanswered
  • 21% of purchasers switched dealerships based on consumer reviews they read
  • Of those that purchased a different brand, 23% did so because of poor dealer interaction

The Impact

  • Online “location” and brand is as important as the “brick and mortar” dealership
  • Dealers can increase gross by implementing email response procedures
  • Positive consumer reviews can help attract and retain customers
  • Investing in sales staff and cultivating consumer reviews can increase gross

The original report can be read here.