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Say Good-bye to J.D. Power(Just Our Editorial Opinion)

2 May 2000

J.D. Power and Associates will try to leverage their contracted for research into retailing by partnering with auto broker.

Here is a copy of their press announcement...what do you think?     SAN FRANCISCO--May 2, 2000--

Carclub.com becomes eAuto Frontrunner Serving Both
Consumers and Retailers

    In a move designed to revolutionize the consumer shopping and ownership experience, J.D. Power and Associates and Consumers Car Club (carclub.com), announced today a new business venture that will provide consumers with unbiased customer satisfaction information and money-saving benefits and services that will help them make better purchase decisions over a broad array of products and services. Initially, consumers will have access to money-saving benefits and services during the entire vehicle ownership experience from carclub.com, the first in a series of anticipated J.D. Power Clubs.
    The new company, J.D. Power Clubs, Inc., is a merger between Consumers Car Club (carclub.com) and jdpower.com, Inc., a J.D. Power and Associates company. The new company has a network of retailers charged with delivering quality service, cost savings and special services to club members. In turn, the company will provide participating retailers with a cost-efficient method of attracting and keeping customers.
    "It has been my life-long goal to help industries improve through the voice of the customer. Together with carclub.com, we are now able to give something very special back to consumers," said J.D. Power, chairman of J.D. Power and Associates. "As we looked for an avenue to provide our exclusive customer satisfaction information to consumers, we found in carclub.com a company that shares our commitment to objectivity, independence and integrity for businesses and consumers."
    "Combining J.D. Power's unique automotive information with carclub.com's vision of a continuing relationship with consumers throughout the vehicle ownership experience, results in information and services that are not available at other automotive Web sites," added Power.
    The company's unique information will include summaries of realistic vehicle pricing based on actual sales transaction information drawn from dealership sources across the country. This special information, coupled with highlights from J.D. Power syndicated voice-of-customer studies and carclub.com expert information on purchasing, financing, and maintaining vehicles, will be available to consumers through carclub.com and through the J.D. Power Information Center, which will be launched online at www.jdpower.com later this summer.
    "This new business venture brings together J.D. Power and Associates' 30-year reputation for integrity and excellence with carclub.com's original automotive membership model to provide credible information and value to both consumers and retailers," said Michael D. London, chairman, president and CEO of J.D. Power Clubs, Inc. London held the same positions at carclub.com. "J.D. Power and Associates is one of the most recognized and respected brands in the consumer automotive marketplace, and we expect carclub.com, a J.D. Power Club, to be propelled to the front of the eAuto space."
    Carclub.com, a J.D. Power Club, provides the model for future clubs under consideration in other consumer markets including financial services, telecommunications, recreational vehicles, travel and homes. Carclub.com supports vehicle owners over the lifetime of their vehicles -- from selecting, purchasing and financing to insuring and maintaining. Its members receive a wide array of valuable services online at www.carclub.com and through 800/CARCLUB -- from savings on gasoline, insurance and routine maintenance to expert resources including a Mechanic Hotline and "Help, I'm Lost," a telephone driving direction service available 24 hours a day. The company's objectives are to provide consumers with information that empowers them to make intelligent purchasing decisions and to save them a minimum of 10 times their membership fee every year.
    Carclub.com's important business-to-business component features a growing network of selected automotive aftermarket and parts retailers. Carclub.com provides these retailers with a program to market their products and services directly to carclub.com members, helping to lower their customer acquisition costs, while delivering quality service and savings to club members. Each participating retailer receives a personalized Web site and other special programs to acquire and maintain customers. In addition, a benefits package saves the retailer money on business products and services such as free Internet access and discounts on printing and promotional services.
    J.D. Power Club participating retailers will have their customer satisfaction rated by consumers, and outstanding performers will be eligible to receive recognition from J.D. Power and Associates.
    The merger is pending shareholder approval and regulatory filing.

    About J.D. Power and Associates

    Headquartered in Agoura Hills, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services firm operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, consulting, training and customer satisfaction. The firm's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on actual customer responses from millions of customers annually. Automotive studies are the product for which the firm is best known. J.D. Power and Associates can be accessed through the Internet at www.jdpa.com or www.jdpower.com.

    About J.D. Power Clubs, Inc.

    Created by the merger of jdpower.com, Inc. and Consumers Car Club (carclub.com), J.D. Power Clubs, Inc. helps consumers make better decisions and features a network of selected retailers charged with delivering savings and special services through a membership club online and through 800/CARCLUB. The first club, carclub.com, which was introduced online in 1999, helps consumers shop for new and used vehicles, select financing and insurance, and provides sources and savings for vehicle maintenance. The site also offers expert advice, discounts on gas, and member-only benefits such as the Mechanic Hotline and "Help, I'm Lost," a driving direction telephone service available 24 hours a day.
    Selected highlights from J.D. Power and Associates customer satisfaction syndicated research will be available through individual J.D. Power Clubs, as well as from the J.D. Power Information Center. Future J.D. Power Clubs are contemplated for industries such as financial services, telecommunication, recreational vehicles, travel and homes. Carclub.com provides the business model for the venture's business-to-business services to manufacturers, retailers and dealers, such as inspection services, product savings and marketing support.
    Carclub.com, a J.D. Power Club, may be found at www.carclub.com or www.jdpower.com.