Saturn dealers take e-tailing to the next level
Back in the 90s, many automakers tried to cut dealerships out of the business equation by selling cars online, but OEMs found out that selling vehicles wasn’t as easy as it looked. Since then, automakers have stuck to supporting its dealers on the web, and Saturn plans to take online shopping to the next level. Ten Saturn dealers are participating in a pilot that will give customers the ability to spend less time inside the dealership by using the Internet to apply for credit, schedule a test drive, settle on a price, and more.
The move makes sense for Saturn since it prides itself on its customer-friendly nature, and doing more without leaving the house or office leads to shorter dealer visits and faster transactions. One function of any sale that will difficult to do online is the valuation of the trade-in, but dealers will be able to give a ball-park figure based on make, model, mileage, and the description of the customer. If the pilot goes well, we’re guessing other GM makes and the competition will start putting more of the car-buying process online. We’re wondering why it took this long to get to this point in the first place.
Related posts:
- Old school dealers slowly embracing the Internet The annual conference of automotive dealers continues and we discover that the folks that sell cars are just now coming to realize they can sell cars using the Internet as a tool. We actually don't...
- Honda cuts Odyssey and Pilot production; makes room for more Civics Click above for high-res gallery of the 2009 Honda PilotHonda has got to be happy that it has a hot selling compact car to take some of the pain out of the slowing minivan and SUV markets. Hurt by...
- Gouging the Sky: Saturn dealers markup roadster So you go down to your local Saturn dealer to at least attempt to buy their sexiest offering to date, the Sky. Under the much-marketed impression that Saturn offers no haggle, bottom-of-the-line...
- Trade-in glut makes for used car bargains The latest burst in new car sales are swamping many dealers with used cars. The round of employee discount promotions by U.S. manufacturers spurred buyers to new vehicles and made it attractive to...
- Saturn dealers to offer Camry, Accord drives to Aura shoppers The reinvigorated Saturn is one of the best things GM's got going right now. May 2007 sales were up 68% over the previous year (what a difference appealing product makes), and overall, it's up 30%...
Tags: american le mans, autocar, automakers, confidence, dollar tank, ElectricVehicles, eminent arrival, films, fuel line, gm, GreenMotor, hotline, mileage, product offering, salaries, stefan liske, tv listings, wilmington delaware