by Wally Koster

Not too long ago, anyone shopping for a new or used car or truck would spend hours scouring the newspaper or waste precious time and money driving from dealership to dealership to compare models, trim levels and prices. Today’s smart, Internet-savvy customers do it all with just a few clicks on their computer keyboard and from the comfort of their own home or office. The Internet has, in fact, now become the information and shopping source of choice for today’s busy, time-crunched car and truck buyers.

Much of yesterday’s traditional showroom traffic has moved into cyberspace. Over 80% of all U.S. households now have Internet access. Nearly 85% of all new and used car purchasers shop online first, before even visiting a dealership. They spend an average of four hours researching and comparing vehicles and prices on a wide variety of manufacturer, dealer and third-party sites such as Kelly Blue Book, Edmunds and Yahoo. More than 10 million used car searches are conducted on Yahoo! each month.

According to a poll conducted by Cars Online, 44% of people surveyed said they were likely or very likely to purchase a car or truck entirely over the Internet, if that capability were available. Last year, one major automotive manufacturer piloted a program in California to sell their cars, trucks and crossovers on e-Bay.

To better satisfy the growing number of customers who shop online, dealerships are creating dedicated Internet Sales Departments to manage customer e-mail inquiries. "It’s grown so fast," says Donna Lawlis, Internet Sales Manager at Classic Chevrolet in Grapevine, Texas. "We started with just one person. Now we have ten full-time sales consultants in a separate building just to respond to all our customer leads."

Industry experts recommend dealers hire one dedicated Internet sales consultant for every 100 leads received per month. The industry closing ratio for Internet leads is 2.9%. "Being an Internet sales consultant isn’t a car job, it’s a sales job," says Eric Hall of Classic Chevrolet. "A normal day for me is to get here at about 8:00 a.m. in the morning, check our incoming leads, start answering customer e-mails, and take photos of our new and used inventory to post on the dealership website. The day kind of progresses from there."

The NADA reports that 96% of franchised dealerships have a website. Nearly 90% of all GM dealerships are enrolled in a factory-sponsored Certified Internet Dealer (CID) program which provides a dealership website, search marketing tools, links to the GM and brand sites, and automatic updates of national sales and service promotions.

"Our dealership website gives us an opportunity to get business we otherwise wouldn’t get," according to Rick Smallman, Internet Sales Manager at Lupient Chevrolet in Bloomington, Minnesota. "It’s as important to our dealership as the showroom, or as the Parts and Service Department."

Over 80% of all activity on a dealer’s website is related to inventory. Most sites feature photos of new and used vehicles, including "Internet Specials," with detailed descriptions of vehicle features, specifications and pricing available at the click of a button.

"Keeping our inventory fresh or finding that one special car, truck or SUV for a customer is always a challenge," says Nate Cottrill, Inventory Manager at Al Serra Motor Plaza in Grand Blanc, Michigan. "About 70% of our used inventory comes from auto auctions. To find the quality, late-model cars and trucks we need, we’re now shopping auctions as far away as Texas and Florida."

As evidenced above, consumers are not the only ones shopping online. Many dealers now buy and sell a substantial volume of their vehicles on the wholesale market through online auctions. Dealers in the Midwest buy used rental cars over the Internet from as far away as Hawaii, California, Nevada and Arizona.

In the same way, online car haulers are helping used car dealers maintain their profitability when shipping vehicles from auto auctions outside their usual trading area. With a few clicks of their mouse, dealers can find online car haulers who offer both truck and rail service options.

Online car haulers are making auto transportation easy, safe and efficient for dealers who are using the Internet to find the best inventory. Dealers shopping online don’t want to be constrained by a vehicle’s location. After buying a car online from a wholesale auction, dealers simply go to the car hauler’s website to get a price and estimated transit time for door-to-door pickup and delivery. Dealers can then place orders, track shipments and manage all their transportation needs in one place online.

Technology and the Internet have changed how consumers compare and shop for cars and dealers are responding. Dealers are finding new ways to use the Internet to manage their business and remain competitive when selling cars to consumers and sourcing inventory for their lots.

About the Author

ShipCarsNow offers auto shipping nationwide providing used car shippers a robust and responsive vehicle delivery network to handle long distance and volume shipments.

Maxie Price Chevrolet in Loganville, GA has a fully staffed internet sales department and can ship any vehicle anywhere in the continental US. To buy cars online go to www.mymaxieprice.com

Maxie Price Chevrolet
3600 Highway 78, Loganville, Georgia, 30052
Phone: 800-731- 2065
www.MyMaxiePrice.com/corvettes

Corvette Details 

Type:
Convertible

Selling Price:
$23,988

Color:
RED

Engine:
8

Mileage:
28,507

VIN:
1G1YY32G2Y5124026

Stock #:
P2282

You Must See this Corvette!!

Corvette Description:

RIDE AWAY IN STYLE! CONVERTIBLE SEASON IS HERE AND WE HAVE JUST THE CAR FOR YOU. THIS CORVETTE WILL OFFER THE FEEL OF SITTING IN A RUMBLESEAT AWAITING TAKEOFF AND STYLE TO PLEASE. CALL MAXIE TODAY AT 770-466-7000.

CHEVY’S "MAY THE BEST CAR WIN" EVENT IS ON! STOP BY FOR A SPIN AROUND THE BLOCK IN THIS BEAUTY. CALL MAXIE PRICE AT 770-466-7000.

Corvette Features and Options:

Exterior- Base coat/clear coat paint Manual insulated convertible top w/heated glass back light Pwr operated retractable halogen headlamps Daytime running lamps Dual body-color pwr heated folding mirrors Solar-ray tinted glass Intermittent wipers

Interior- Remote keyless entry-inc: remote trunk release, panic alarm Remote trunk release Rear window defogger Side window defoggers Air conditioning ETR AM/FM stereo w/cassette-inc: seek-scan, digital clock PASS-Key II theft deterrent system w/alarm Pwr antenna Low tire pressure monitor Bose speaker system Electronic speed control w/resume speed Dual illuminated covered visor mirrors Pwr windows w/driver & passenger-side express down Courtesy lighting-inc: cargo area, console, glovebox Low oil level warning light Electronic white analog gauges w/multi-language driver information center Leather-wrapped sport tilt steering wheel Center console-inc: cup holder, ashtray, coin tray, cassette/CD storage 6-way pwr driver seat Leather bucket seats w/lateral support & back angle adjustment Pwr door locks Underhood courtesy lamp Lockable storage compartments-inc: console, glovebox, (3) rear compartments Day/night rearview mirror w/reading lamps . . .

and much, much more!  You Must See this Corvette!!

Corvette Photos

Corvette Location

Maxie Price Chevrolet 
3600 Highway 78,
Loganville, Georgia, 30052
Phone: 800-731- 2065
See Entire Corvette Inventory- www.MyMaxiePrice.com/corvettes

We Ship Anywhere in the continental US!

We Ship Anywhere in the continental US!

Chevrolet continues its support of baseball from youth leagues to Major League Baseball® for 2010

DETROIT –  For 2010 Chevrolet is in the game with a number of partnerships and promotions reaching communities across the United States and continuing a strong history of involvement in baseball.

“Nothing is as American as baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet,” said Jim Campbell, U.S. vice president Chevrolet marketing. “We are proud to continue the tradition as the ‘Official Vehicle of Major League Baseball®.’ With our dealers we also hope to help prepare some future stars for the Majors with our support of youth baseball.”

Chevrolet has expanded its support of youth baseball players in communities across the country through the Chevy Youth Baseball program.  Since its beginning in Atlanta in 2006, Chevy Youth Baseball has benefitted more than one million youth baseball players and their families.

Participating youth baseball leagues receive equipment and monetary donations, unique Major League Baseball experiences including tickets to games and invitations to exclusive instructional clinics, as well as fundraising opportunities compliments of Chevy and its dealers.  Read More >>

Atlanta MVP

Maxie Price Chevrolet Goes To Bat for Walton County Little League as Part of Chevy Youth Baseball Initiative Sweeping Nation

Maxie Price Chevrolet announced today it will be investing support in Loganville through a partnership with Walton County Little League.  Maxie Price Chevrolet will provide baseball equipment, instructional clinics, a monetary donation, and an opportunity to raise an additional $10,000 in funds through a Chevy vehicle giveaway-fundraiser.  The effort by Maxie Price Chevrolet is part of the Chevy Youth Baseball initiative sweeping the nation from March through July 2010.

“Chevrolet has a long history with baseball at the national level.  We wanted to bring that excitement and  commitment to youth baseball, in the communities where our customers and their families live,” said Maxie Price, Jr., of Maxie Price Chevrolet. “Youth baseball has always played an important role in Loganville so we are thrilled to support our kids in a meaningful way.”  

Maxie Price Chevrolet will present the Walton County Little League with equipment kits complete with equipment bags, baseball buckets, dry-erase coach’s clipboards and Chevy Youth Baseball t-shirts.  The sponsorship includes clinics with experienced instructors from former MLB/MiLB players and coaches or the Ripken Baseball professional staff.  Read More >>

Sources: Youth Sports Wired, Chevrolet Media, Maxie Price Chevrolet