| Everyday, the world of the virtual marketplace gets | | | | showrooms, the scenario described above is |
| more real. Dealers, owners, salespeople and services | | | | becoming less common all the time. |
| around the world are learning the value of putting their | | | | The online marketplace allows you to select from an |
| stores online. The automotive manufacturing, marketing | | | | entire world of inventory and options. All makes and all |
| and dealership sectors have a greater reliance and | | | | models are available. MSRP and invoice cost are |
| expertise in knowledge management than any other | | | | available and price quotes are yours for the asking. |
| industry. This extends to viable E-commerce and | | | | Many dealership sites will provide you with a complete |
| cutting-edge online presentation of value-added | | | | detailed list of options and specifications on any make |
| products. In October of 2005, the New York Times | | | | and model that may have caught your interest. Multiple |
| reported that according to the National Automobile | | | | views and zoom features are available for new and |
| Dealers Association, 94% of the dealers in the US | | | | some late model vehicles. Some more advanced |
| have websites with many of them registered through | | | | virtual showrooms can even provide three hundred |
| car finder services. The monthly average customers | | | | and sixty degree interior scans. Do you want to hear |
| that visited any given dealer site were 230, as | | | | what your new high performance vehicle sounds like? |
| compared to a monthly average of 116 in 2004. | | | | Yes, you can hear it online in some virtual showrooms. |
| Consumers are not just window-shopping or | | | | You can access financial worksheets that will calculate |
| researching possible on-lot purchases, they are buying | | | | your monthly payments right down to the penny. You |
| online at a dramatically increasing rate. Typical dealer | | | | can do everything short of kicking the tires and taking |
| sales conducted entirely online have increased from an | | | | the test drive. Online, there are no grandiose |
| average of 4.9 to 7.5 monthly in just two short years. | | | | showrooms, in-your-face sales promotions, prizes, |
| 1.6 million people a month now buy their vehicles online. | | | | colorful décor, or overdressed salespersons to drive |
| This is a staggering statistic. However, given the | | | | the dealer's overhead off the chart. There are no |
| outstanding customer service and convenience | | | | mysteries. On car finder sites like you can provide a |
| provided by virtual car dealerships, it's no surprise. This | | | | description of exactly what type of vehicle you are |
| is part of a worldwide upward trend in auto related site | | | | looking for and your zip code. You receive a prompt |
| traffic and business. Although site traffic numbers are | | | | reply from a trusted in-network dealer in your area. |
| higher in Germany, Sweden, and Holland, online sales | | | | This is not an auto-reply with a generic message. You |
| are 60% higher in the USA than the world average. | | | | receive a phone call from an actual local salesperson |
| One of the advantages of the online marketplace and | | | | with all the information you need. This includes the |
| virtual dealership sites is the fact that | | | | availability, the value-added price, and answers to any |
| comparison-shopping is more convenient and less | | | | questions you might have. In addition, there is no cost |
| confusing for the consumer. For example, you are | | | | or obligation to use many of these services. |
| more times than not looking at a limited selection of | | | | The value of the in-network dealer is obvious: They |
| make, model and inventory when you visit your local | | | | have made a commitment to provide consumers with |
| dealer. The price is approximately whatever the | | | | the lowest possible price. A quote at rock bottom price |
| salesperson says it is. Knowing that auto sales are | | | | results because the dealers' cost to obtain you, as a |
| always negotiable, and that most salespersons work | | | | customer is almost zero. These savings can then be |
| from commission, you are immediately put on notice | | | | passed on to you. We are talking about prices that are |
| that if you want a good deal, you will have to haggle. | | | | usually one percent over the dealer's invoice. This is a |
| Offers and counter-offers then ensue. The | | | | huge bargain by anyone's standards. There are a |
| salesperson plays the "good cop" role as he shuffles | | | | number of factors that are taken into consideration to |
| off with offers to a mysteriously absent manager or | | | | determine pricing at this stage of the online buying |
| "bad cop" that is, of course, reportedly inflexible and | | | | experience. One of them, of course, is supply and |
| steadfast. You, on the other hand, sit and twiddle your | | | | demand. If a vehicle is in high demand, the price can be |
| thumbs for hours on end waiting for a reasonable | | | | as high as the MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested |
| counter-offer. Usually eight or ten hours later, you are | | | | Retail Price). However, the fact that you are dealing |
| tired, confused, stressed out, and just plain | | | | with an in-network dealer is going to carry more than |
| exasperated. You may or may not have worked out | | | | adequate weight into the quote you receive. You get |
| a deal. Many car-buyers consider this a frustrating | | | | the lowest possible price and the best quality service |
| experience, not a satisfying or pleasurable one. Thanks | | | | available anywhere by using a car finder service online. |
| to advancing IT technology and online virtual dealer | | | | You get the virtual royal treatment with this system. |