Exchange and Mart is preparing to unveil a new click and collect used car sales platform which aims to "attract customers who already have a dislike for the old style sales process".
Working in partnership with Automotive Media, and with the backing of its owners, Newsquest, Exchange and Mart has been developing the new online end-to-end process for the last 18 months.
It claims to save buyers up to 80% of the time it currently takes to purchase a used car and do all the paperwork.
To be unveiled in the coming weeks, existing Exchange and Mart dealer customers with a strong Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) process in place are already being invited to sign up to the new proposition, free of charge.
Ex-Dixon Motors managing director and now commercial director for Automotive Media, Sal Ciullo, said: “While this sounds like it could be the dealer’s enemy, it’s not.
“What we’re doing is attracting customers who already have a dislike for the old style sales process and giving them everything they need to buy the dealers’ car online.
“There is a major need for this today given the overwhelming research that shows our younger audience and female buyers’ dislike for the old routine.”
Exchange and Mart commercial director, Thom Coupar-Evans, said that a selection of dealers who currently place their used car and pre-reg stock with the online buying platform would get the chance to “opt-in” to the new offering, allowing them to upload to the new site free.
He added: “This will put their cars in front of a substantial audience generated from around 30 million unique visitors each month.
“In addition, links with Automotive Media and their partners will then seamlessly manage the remote sales process and actually 'sell' the car to our customers, returning the supplying dealer their full screen price.
“In effect, our process sends in a ready-made 'cash' deal at full margin – something never done before. There are no advertising costs or set-up fees, no dealership costs and no FCA issues to worry about.
“This product offers the same benefits as a cash-paying conquest customer walking into a dealership.
“With no time spent selling or any marketing investment, the dealer makes a sale at full screen price with also the first option to buy the part-exchange.”
Michael Hill - 23/02/2017 08:59
I can't see why dealers would complain, it's another route to a sale. Those that want the dealership 'experience' will still get it - not everyone lets Ocado deliver their bananas. Car Dealers need to move with the times and accept that we have more flexible buying options in almost every industry. They also have to accept that they are the ones that have created the negative 'experience' that so many do not like.