The Saga Of Dealers vs. TrueCar (And Other Third Party Lead Sellers and Bird Dogs) Continues

Lead Generator Expert - Bird Dog Son

Co-publishers Note: In 1998 The Auto Channel 17 years ahead of its time, invented and attempted to obtain funding for the implementation of a spin-off company; DealerDirect iQ, an online dealer/consumer communication platform that would provide a neutral and safe venue for car buyers and sellers to do their thing directly and eliminate parasitic lead sellers and jerk-a-rounders from the automotive e-commerce landscape.

Back in the 1990's when we pitched DealerDirect iQ, to investment bankers their eyes glazed over, because they had no idea or any vision of how our invention could become a big time company as a result of helping both the buyer and seller. You would think that with all of the pissed away investment money and a broken system that treats both the dealer and buyer without respect it's not too late to help auto dealers to do their job more efficiently and without the necessity of digital jerk-a-round that continues to flourish with third party interlopers .

So, if you have capital to invest, are not afraid to help flush billions of dollars of market value in third party lead entities down the proverbial toilet and your eyes are not glazed over and wish to make tens of millions of dollars by partnering with The Auto Channel in launching DealerDirect iQ, we will be happy to share our business plan and other how-to-make-it-happen requirements after a proper NDA is executed...interested? mail me; bgordon@theautochannel.com.

WASHINGTON DC - June 1, 2015: The AIADA newsletter reported that three years after a nearly fatal dealer revolt and regulatory crackdown prompted it to change its ways, TrueCar continues to be haunted by suspicion among dealers and broader questions about its business model, reports Automotive News. Tensions remain with dealers, both inside and outside the TrueCar network, but the changes made by TrueCar have revolt and regulatory crackdown prompted it to change its ways, TrueCar continues to be haunted by suspicion among dealers and broader questions about its business model, reports Automotive News.

Tensions remain with dealers, both inside and outside the TrueCar network, but the changes made by TrueCar have helped revive the business. TrueCar now counts 10,680 new- and used-car dealers in its network. But for all its outreach and reinvention, some dealers aren't convinced that TrueCar has really changed. Take Wes McClelland, general manager of Community Chevrolet in Burbank, Calif. When he took over the position last fall, his first move was to ax the dealership's subscription to TrueCar.

Some large dealers are working on their own forms of disruption to counter TrueCar. Last week, Larry H. Miller Automotive, which owns dealerships across the Western U.S., launched an online purchasing system that it calls Fast Pass.

AutoNation, the nation's largest dealership group, is cutting its spending on third-party leads and marketing in favor of an in-house $100 million system that by the end of the year will allow customers to complete nearly the entire purchase online, including F&I and final signatures.