Gomez Advisors Selects CarPoint as Top Overall Site for Internet Auto Shoppers in First Internet Auto Buying Scorecard
30 June 1999
Gomez Advisors Selects CarPoint as Top Overall Site for Internet Auto Shoppers in First Internet Auto Buying Scorecard
Business & Technology Editors/Automotive & Retail Writers
CONCORD, Mass.--June 30, 1999--
Scorecard Release Coincides with Launch of
Extensive Car Shoppers Guide on Gomez.com
In its first Internet Auto Buying Scorecard, Gomez Advisors, the
leading online provider of objective e-commerce research and analysis,
has ranked CarPoint as the number one overall auto buying site.
Based on an exhaustive set of criteria, CarPoint took the top
spot offering the most sophisticated features, including the best
integration of products and services and the best ability to link
consumers easily to the information they are seeking.
"The Internet auto buying sites give consumers the convenience,
knowledge and power they need to make informed purchase decisions that
are right for them," said Adam Weiner, Senior Auto Analyst for Gomez
Advisors.
In explaining the findings, Weiner noted: "Across the board,
CarPoint was number one with the Tire Kicker, the First Time Buyer,
and the Enthusiast, and a close second to Autobytel.com
among Serious Shoppers."
Autobytel.com, which placed second overall, also scored strongly
in all categories, including a top ranking for Customer Confidence and
Serious Shoppers.
Weiner sees the future as bright for the Internet auto buying
market. Since the first sites debuted in the mid-1990s, they have
become increasingly mature in their offerings and continue to evolve.
"Estimates indicate that 16.3 million new cars will be sold this
year, the most since 1987, and a huge 7% increase over 1998. Online
auto buying sites must take advantage of this growth by building their
brands and positioning themselves as a very attractive way for
consumers to buy," remarked Weiner.
Weiner explained that the numbers of customers who are actually
carrying through with transactions initiated online is also growing.
Gomez reports that 17 percent of all purchase requests made through
auto buying sites and negotiated with dealers are resulting in closed
transactions.
In conjunction with the release of the first Internet Auto Buying
Scorecard, Gomez Advisors is broadening Gomez.com to include auto news
analysis, with the opportunity to research and compare new and used
cars. The www.gomez.com site carries new car information for model
years 1999 and 2000 as well as 250,000 used vehicles currently
available for sale throughout the U.S.
The site offers the buyer the opportunity to email dealerships
for more information, pricing and availability on new cars.
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TOP TEN OVERALL INTERNET AUTO BUYING SITES
1. CarPoint 7.35
2. Autobytel.com 6.76
3. Cars.com 6.59
4. Stoneage.com 5.92
5. Carwizard 5.10
6. DealerNet 4.97
7. Autoweb.com 4.86
8. Carclub.com 4.68
9. AutoVantage 4.60
10. AutoMallUSA.com 4.39
DIFFERENT AUTO BUYING NEEDS, DIFFERENT CHOICES
Tire-Kicker
1. CarPoint 7.93
2. Autobytel.com 7.31
3. Cars.com 6.69
4. Stoneage.com 5.83
5. CarWizard 5.22
Serious Shopper
1. Autobytel.com 7.06
2. CarPoint 7.02
3. Cars.com 6.42
4. Stoneage.com 6.32
5. AutoVantage 5.12
First-Time Buyer
1. CarPoint 7.40
2. Autobytel.com 6.99
3. Cars.com 6.22
4. Stoneage.com 5.61
5. CarWizard 4.99
Enthusiast
1. CarPoint 8.29
2. Autobytel.com 7.37
3. Cars.com 6.27
4. CarWizard 5.24
5. AutoVantage 5.05
Categories
Internet auto buying sites were rated on more than a hundred
different criteria from which the categories are developed.
Ease of Use
1. CarPoint 9.19
2. Autobytel.com 8.90
3. AutoVantage 7.56
4. CarWizard 6.65
5. Stoneage.com 6.32
Customer Confidence
1. Autobytel.com 7.26
2. Autoweb.com 6.86
3. CarPoint 6.77
4. Stoneage.com 6.75
5. AutoWorld 6.35
On-Site Resources
1. Cars.com 8.70
2. CarPoint 8.27
3. Carclub.com 7.52
4. Autobytel.com 6.73
5. Stoneage.com 4.99
Relationship Services
1. DealerNet 6.46
2. Stoneage.com 5.79
3. Cars.com 5.75
4. CarPoint 5.00
5. Carclub.com 4.59
About Gomez Advisors Inc.
Gomez.com is the recognized online leader in providing consumer
and business-based e-commerce research, tools and analysis to empower
consumers to make informed online purchasing decisions.
The Gomez.com site has grown into a premier online hub for both
consumers and businesses to evaluate online service and product
providers through nationally recognized Internet Scorecards that rank
the performance and quality of online service offerings for selected
industries including brokerage firms, banks, travel agents, auctions
and booksellers.
Gomez Advisors also features GomezPro, a subscriber-based
e-commerce intelligence platform. GomezPro features foremost industry
experts offering detailed, proprietary research and analysis of
e-commerce trends, the current competitive environment coupled with
detailed consumer behavior and real-time date tools to enable
businesses to better attract and retain Internet consumers.
The Gomez Web site at www.gomez.com provides e-commerce industry
news, analysis and Internet Scorecards tracking a variety of
industries.
Note to Editors: Gomez.com, Gomez Advisors, Internet Auto Buying
Scorecard, and GomezPro are trademarks of Gomez Advisors Inc. All
other products and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks
of their owners.