Go For the Green

http://www.AutoSaver.com by Kimberly Ann

Don’t you just love it when people and businesses make life easier for us?  With all of life’s little inconveniences, it’s so refreshing when something comes along that saves me time! When I began using http://www.AutoSaver.com for car shopping, I became increasingly addicted to their Value Meter.  I found that when I clicked on a vehicle I wanted to look at, the first place my eyes were drawn was to the Value Range Pricing (VRP) Meter. 

It immediately shows me how much money I’m saving… with just a quick glance.  The key word here is QUICK. Without the meter, I’m left doing a lot of homework, spending a lot of time just trying to figure out if this particular vehicle is a good price.  All the vehicles on the meter, that are displayed ‘in the green’, are priced BELOW average market.  In layman's terms, it lets you know how much money you can save.  Needless to say, I’m hooked!  Life is a bit easier because of their VRP Meter.

If you would like to save a little more time, http://www.AutoSaver.com also gives you a way to filter your search.  So if you only want to view vehicles priced ‘in the green’ you can do that with their VRP Adjuster.  Just slide the guides and go for the green! 

What I consider to be the cherry on top is their Market Comparable Chart.  When I saw this new feature, I was intrigued to say the least.  Now, when I click on a vehicle I would like to view and head to the detailed page:

1)   I glance at the VRP Meter to check out my savings

2)  I then view the Market Comparable Chart.  This allows me to see how many vehicles, similar to the one I’m currently viewing, are available.  This cool tool shows the vehicle prices along with the distance those cars are from the one I’m viewing. 

How great is that?  Now, I can easily see how many vehicles, similar to the one I’m viewing, are available.  If there are some vehicles that may be priced a little better, I can simply click on the dot and view the vehicle details.  

Three fabulous features that are definite time savers.  If you haven't checked them out...you're definitely missing out.  So don't be last to use an industry first!

http://www.AutoSaver.com ...When Savings Matter Most!

'Value Range' Car Shopping Hits The Automotive Industry

http://www.AutoSaver.com by Kimberly Ann

AutoSaver.com, a value-based car shopping site that helps bridge the gap in trust between price-sensitive shoppers and auto dealers, is picking up steam after hitting the market last week. There’s no question that once you visit AutoSaver.com, you’ll find it’s not your typical car classifieds site. What truly sets this bargain mecca apart from other sites is its proprietary Value Range Pricing.  This unique method for interpreting price, surfaces thousands of vehicles in the used automobile market that are at the end of the retail marketing cycle. These vehicles are usually marked down for a variety of reasons, mostly due to the length of time the vehicle has sat on the dealer’s lot. Market prices are displayed on an aesthetically attractive “diamond meter”, and in one glance, serious buyers can quickly discern if a particular vehicle they’re researching is priced to sell.

The company's founder is Derek White, who was the original founder and visionary of real estate data giant Realtytrac.com. White had the idea for AutoSaver.com while operating a successful Internet auto dealership. His vision for AutoSaver.com was to provide consumers access to the best deals on pre-owned cars while facilitating a unique marketing niche to assist dealers in liquidating aged-inventory faster and cheaper than auctions. After honing the business model and spending nearly 2 years in development, White is ready to bring AutoSaver.com to the mainstream. “Most dealers spend an average of $250 to sell a vehicle at local auction, and with no guarantee of even making a profit. AutoSaver.com delivers the “ready-to-buy” shoppers that dealers need to make a more lucrative sale”, states White.

By partnering with AutoSaver.com, dealers can lessen the overhead costs and logistical problems associated with traditional auctions. And, with greater success, they can market slow moving inventory separately from frontline units without hurting their bottom line. "I’ve spoken with hundreds of dealers over the course of 2 years that are overwhelmingly in support of our service. It’s simply a matter of time, and we could become the dealer’s Swiss Army Knife for wholesale liquidation. In plain terms, we help the consumer shop smarter and give auto dealers the best wholesale value proposition in the industry”, White summarizes.

About AutoSaver.com

AutoSaver.com is a savings-minded vehicle shopping service that identifies the best pre-owned deals online. Great prices on dealer overstock and wholesale units are always within reach, and the innovative Value Range Pricing (an industry first) helps serious car shoppers locate and validate the best deals online. With a vast stock of wholesale inventory that’s nearly three times larger than any dealer-to-dealer marketing site, AutoSaver.com is also an excellent resource for dealers to locate wholesale inventory.  AutoSaver.com is partnered with Carfax, Black Book, Recycler, Visiture, AutoUSA, VivaStreet and CarsDirect among other industry-leading companies. The company was founded in 2011, and is based in St. Augustine, FL. Go to http://www.autosaver.com for more info.

A World of Reviews - Love 'em and Leave 'em

http://www.AutoSaver.com by Kimberly Ann

How many of us leave reviews?  Personally, I have to be extremely upset or elated to leave one, but in today’s social media frenzy, everybody’s dirty laundry is out to dry.  We can post just about anything we like or dislike.  It’s our 1^st amendment right on steroids.  Review this company, review that product…it truly is endless.  But how much can we really believe?

From a business standpoint, we obviously love and need the great reviews we receive, but really have no control over what consumers write.  There are companies out there, like Reputation.com that have been established to help businesses keep some sort of control.  Simply because anybody can post false information…just to be a jerk.

On the flip side, there are most definitely companies who pay people to post ‘false positive’ reviews as well.   Shame Shame!  As a consumer, I want to be assured the hotel I’m staying at is actually clean, or the restaurant I’m going to is worth the money or the dealer I purchasing a car from is trust worthy.  And I want those reviews to be honest…good or bad.

According to the 2011 Cone Online Trend Tracker, 89% of consumers said they found online sources of product and service reviews to be trustworthy, and that 80% of consumers have changed their minds about a purchase based solely on negative information they found online. That figure is up from 67% in 2010. Keep in mind however, good product reviews carry their weight as well, with 87% of consumers stating a favorable review has confirmed their decision to go through with a purchase.

People are leaving reviews and they are certainly reading them! There will never be the perfect review process, but if there was, this is all I'd like to see.

As a business owner, a consumer can post a review and ME, the business owner can respond regardless of whether the review is good or bad.  For example, as a business owner I can respond “hey thanks for that awesome review” or “I’m sorry Mr. Jones, how can I make this right?” Maybe even 'thumbs up' and 'thumbs down' buttons.

As a consumer, I simply want the flip side.  I would like to be able to leave a positive or negative review and know that the review will stand and be seen.  I definitely want to get the business owner’s point of view and LET THE CONSUMER DECIDE!

There I said it!  What’s your say?

Check out some of the best reviews on dealers at http://www.AutoSaver.com

Resources: www.digitaltrends.com

2013 NADA and ATD Conventions

by Kimberly Ann

This year’s NADA and ATD Conventions, held concurrently, hosted close to 600 exhibitors.  Companies from ‘Balloon Innovations’ to ‘Vin Solutions’ made sure there was plenty to see.  And once you suffered from exhibitor overload, NADA University organized and sponsored close to 150 workshops you could attend.

AutoSaver.com’s CEO, Derek White, and VP of Sales, Aaron Brinsko attended the annual event and offered up some insight.

Q: If you could take only one thing away from this year’s convention, what would that be?

A:  White: I was surprised to see that many major players were MIA this year.  

A:  Brinsko: From walking the convention floor to being present at the break-out sessions, I feel there was definitely a positive outlook towards 2013 in terms of new and used automotive sales.

Q:  What new technology most impressed you?

A:  White: Pineapple Advertising's Surf-N-Fusion… a very interesting marketing and social media tool.

Q:  Did you see anything you thought could benefit your sales plan? 

A:  Brinsko: We are thinking about incorporating video follow-up into our dealer drip campaign with our inside sales team.

Q: What work shop do you feel was most beneficial?

A:  Both overwhelmingly agreed that ‘Guerrilla Marketing’ using FaceBook and YouTube, presented by Jim Ziegler was by far the most informative.  Ziegler discussed up and coming social medians like Pinterest which is increasingly taking shape as a marketing tool.

Q: What’s in the near future for AutoSaver.com?

A: White: We are working on a mobile app that will give consumers the ability to appraise vehicles from their smart phone using our innovative value range pricing service.

Did you miss it this year, the ‘one stop shopping’ experience the NADA convention is known for?  There’s always 2014 or the 2013 NIADA that’s being held in Vegas this June.  Or check it on the web:  http://www.nadafrontpage.com/NADA_ATD_Convention_Workshops_2013.xml

What's The Deal?

http://www.AutoSaver.com by Kimberly Ann

Most of us have probably experienced the haggling that ensues when trying to get a good deal on a used car.  I mean, we understand the dealer has to make money, but one can’t even browse a car lot without 5 different sales people approaching you.  What’s even more frustrating is once you know what you like, you hear the infamous, “let me see what I can do” and off they go to talk to the little man behind the curtain. That is often known as ‘let the bartering begin’ or ‘no deal’!

As consumers, we have no way of knowing, for certain, how much money a dealer has into a car.  Nor do they have any intention of telling us.  If a dealer played their cards right at auction, they should most definitely have wiggle room in the price.  And the same goes if they took a vehicle in on a trade.  We all feel like we get the short end of the stick when we trade in.  After all, the dealer has to leave himself enough margin to make money when he sells that car.  If he doesn’t sell it, he has to incur costs to send it to auction and the cycle starts all over again.

Once a dealer purchases a car for wholesale at auction, is there a set mark-up?  I don’t believe that anything is ever set in stone, but a typical markup is between 25-45%, which should include the cost of repairs. Ok, so now what do we do with that bit of information? Do we take the price of the car and subtract the high side of 45% and go from there?  Or, should we subtract 25%?  I am pretty sure we understand this can be a tedious and frustrating process.  Personally, I want somebody or some thing to do this for me!  I want my cake and eat it too.  I want a good deal AND I want the know-how at my fingertips.  Better yet, I want to know the car I’m test driving is a good deal before I even bother to test drive. 

Welcome to ‘Value Range Pricing’ exclusively by http://www.AutoSaver.com…

The know-how hit the market in February…don't be last to use an industry first.

New Car vs. Used Car - The Debate Goes On

http://www.AutoSaver.com by Kimberly Ann


During a day in age when we all seem to be counting every penny, is buying a new car the best bang for our buck? Many report that there are definitely some great deals to be had buying new car, and that may lead us to believe that’s the route to go. But, this can be misleading. After all, I’ve also been told that buying a new car is perhaps the worst investment we can make, no matter what the rebates add up to. According to bankrate.com, ‘The fastest depreciation occurs in the car's first two years, when its value drops to 60 to 70 percent of its original sticker price. By buying a used car, you let a car's first owner incur the biggest depreciation hit.’ 

With that being said, let’s look at Kiplinger’s stats on the top 10 best used car purchases:

2008 Hyundai Sonata GLS

2009 Subaru Impreza 2.5i sedan

2009 Chevrolet Malibu 1LT

2009 Nissan Rogue S

2008 Honda CR-V LX

2008 Subaru Outback 2.5i

2009 Ford Taurus Limited

2008 Mazda CX-9 Sport

2009 Toyota Sienna LE

2009 Infiniti G37x AWD

When I didn’t see my 2006 Audi on this list, I decided to research a bit more and came across at t least 3 completely different set of results! Go figure, right? Bottom line is there are many things we need need to take into consideration. Here are five good questions to ask yourself to help you out…and not in any particular order:

1. Many of us prefer American cars over Foreign cars and vice-versa. Do you prefer a certain brand or brands?
2. What vehicles hold their value the most? How much money can I retain when I decide to sell my car down the road?
3. Color does affect salability. Hint: don’t buy funky colors and expect to be able to get the most out of it down the road.
4. Gas milage…how far can I drive on a full tank of gas with gas prices over $3.00 a gallon? Cha-Ching
5. How much is it going to cost me to service my vehicle? $100 oil changes can get old after a while. 

And after you’ve narrowed down what you’d consider purchasing, be sure to start your official search with a website that can narrow down your search results and save you time, as well as money.

Happy Hunting!

http://www.AutoSaver.com

References
Bankrate.com Auto Calculator http://www.bankrate.com/calculators/auto/new-or-used-car.aspx 
Kiplinger’s 10 Best Used Values in Cars, 2012  http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/cars/T009-S001-10-best-values-in-used-cars-2012/index.html

Is There Really 'A Best Time' To Buy A Car?

http://www.AutoSaver.com by Kimberly Ann

We all know that Black Friday is supposed to be the best day for Christmas shopping deals, but is there a Black Friday for car shopping?  I could answer this question with a one word answer, ‘NO’…but let’s dig a little deeper. 

Have you ever heard a couple of these Auto Industry Urban Legends?

‘You can get a better deal when you shop first thing in the morning.’

Or the opposite, ‘You’ll get a better deal at the end of the day when the salespeople are vying for their last sale.’

‘Shop at the end of the month.  The salespeople have quotas so you’ll get a better deal.’

If it could only be that clear cut!

Now, there are times of the year when there are more vehicle sales, but it doesn’t mean these purchases render great savings.  At tax refund time, cash in hand makes for a great time to put money down on a used vehicle, if not buy one outright.  HOWEVER, if there is a high demand for used cars at that particular time of year, and the supply is low…you can kiss the savings goodbye.  As with any other commodity, when the supply is high and demand can’t keep up with supply, the prices generally go UP.

Perhaps you are in the market to buy a new vehicle.  It’s safe to say the older designs that are nearing the end of their production lives are often times the most heavily discounted by their manufacturers.  For example, I received thousands of dollars in savings when I purchased my Lincoln Aviator simply because they were no longer going to be manufacturing that vehicle. 

But with ‘used’ vehicles, is there ever really a better time to buy in order to reap those great savings?  Maybe not, but by knowing where to find the ‘best’ deals could be the answer.

Websites that help weed out known bargains are a great place to start your search.  Companies, such as Autosaver.com, use their trademarked technology called ‘Value Range Pricing’.  This site in particular, lets the consumer know if the vehicle they are looking to purchase is actually a good buy.  Be on the look-out, this new site is sure to take the auto industry by storm, and will also be the feature of a future blog all its own. With technology like this, we could experience Black Friday savings everyday in the auto industry!

http://www.AutoSaver.com