It's Not A Matter Of If, It's A Matter Of When
Posted by Dealer Advisor at 11/6/2007 9:42 PM and is filed under automotive SEO,automotive websites,automotive SEM,automotive internet consulting,automotive dealers 
Today
was a lot like most days for me. Spoke with a new vendor that has
developed a new technology, visited a car dealer in the Dallas, TX area
that I provide internet coaching for and had a near fatal problem with
my motorcycle on the ride home.
The vendor that I spoke to has a really good offering and during our conversation I realized that they have something that isn't a matter of if, but a matter of when. If you're reading this, you probably agree with me that car dealers for the majority are late adopters with most technological things. The vendor that I spoke with today will succeed at delivering a very valuable dimension to car dealers, it's simply a matter of when it will take off.
The dealership that I was meeting with today was like most that I visit. Eager to do a better job using all the internet has to offer. However, I couldn't help but notice a "car deal" that was taking place during our meeting. The victims, I mean... customers were a middle aged couple. Based on their age, this must not have been the first time they'd bought a car. Unfortunately for them, the dealer had sat them down to play the same game they've been playing for who knows how many years. Johnny salesman going back and forth to the "tower" while Mr. and Mrs. Laydown grew more and more impatient and frustrated. I can already here some of you yelling at me while you read this saying that the dealer was doing it the right way. Wear them down! Take their heads off! Get them in and manipulate, pressure and intimidate them.
Ok Luke Skywalker, I know you think your Jedi mind tricks (old school sales training) represents the best way to sell cars. I get it! I've been there myself, but I'm not foolish or naive enough to believe that it will continue to work that way forever. These people I witnessed today got the same old treatment. It was back and forth with slightly increasing urgency on the salesman's part, a T/O to the closer, more pressure and insulting questions and so on. People can research, shop and buy almost anything online today. I can buy a real live Pinto Hedgehog online today and have it shipped to my doorstep. There's a $325,000 helicopter on ebay right now with 9 bids so far! Yeah... no one will buy a car online because it's an emotional experience. Give me a break!
It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Be progressive, take risks, invest in the future. Kill your love affair with the past, so you can fully take on today!
The vendor that I spoke to has a really good offering and during our conversation I realized that they have something that isn't a matter of if, but a matter of when. If you're reading this, you probably agree with me that car dealers for the majority are late adopters with most technological things. The vendor that I spoke with today will succeed at delivering a very valuable dimension to car dealers, it's simply a matter of when it will take off.
The dealership that I was meeting with today was like most that I visit. Eager to do a better job using all the internet has to offer. However, I couldn't help but notice a "car deal" that was taking place during our meeting. The victims, I mean... customers were a middle aged couple. Based on their age, this must not have been the first time they'd bought a car. Unfortunately for them, the dealer had sat them down to play the same game they've been playing for who knows how many years. Johnny salesman going back and forth to the "tower" while Mr. and Mrs. Laydown grew more and more impatient and frustrated. I can already here some of you yelling at me while you read this saying that the dealer was doing it the right way. Wear them down! Take their heads off! Get them in and manipulate, pressure and intimidate them.
Ok Luke Skywalker, I know you think your Jedi mind tricks (old school sales training) represents the best way to sell cars. I get it! I've been there myself, but I'm not foolish or naive enough to believe that it will continue to work that way forever. These people I witnessed today got the same old treatment. It was back and forth with slightly increasing urgency on the salesman's part, a T/O to the closer, more pressure and insulting questions and so on. People can research, shop and buy almost anything online today. I can buy a real live Pinto Hedgehog online today and have it shipped to my doorstep. There's a $325,000 helicopter on ebay right now with 9 bids so far! Yeah... no one will buy a car online because it's an emotional experience. Give me a break!
It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Be progressive, take risks, invest in the future. Kill your love affair with the past, so you can fully take on today!
Shaun. Love the new website and blog. Know how much work it takes to get something like this done well.
Also love how your passion for this industry comes through in everything you do. I can almost hear you speaking when I read the words on your pages.
Adoption is a curve. Change is a curve. Knowledge and passion move the curve.
P.S. Did you intend to keep your readers in the dark about the new technology that you were describing.
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Shaun,
We haven't met but I enjoyed the video on your site. It gave me a real idea of who you were and your style.
I also had the same question as Mr. Hoecht. Being on the solution end as he, we're always interested in others' ingenuity.
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Hi Mike,
Thank you for visiting the site, watching the video and reading the blog. I took a quick look at your website as well and I really like the design, layout and color choices.
Regarding the intention of keeping readers in the dark... it was somewhat deliberate, but not completely. I like to stir the pot just a bit with dealers to get them thinking. I've found over the years that it's pretty easy to spoon feed car dealers, but I prefer to challenge them to learn how to feed themselves.
The article could apply to more than one thing, but I was actually thinking of automotive shopping carts or transactional dealer websites.
Glad to hear from you and I hope to meet you some day.
My best,
Shaun
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