Online Sales and The Auto Dealer

Writen by Cherie Szilvagyi

Auto Dealers are finding selling their vehicles online hit or miss at best. Auto Trader and Ebay along with Smart Auction from General Motors are offering some of the best options to an Auto Dealer. Why is it that less than 10% of the vehicles listed online are actually selling? There are plenty of companies offering solutions but none seem to be working on a consistent basis. What about the dealer with an internet department? Is he any more successful?

Internet selling has gotten to be big business for the local Auto Dealer. Large or small dealers have different needs but the same outcome. Selling successfully online is a necessary addition to their bottom line and overall sales numbers. Each and every dealer, no matter the size, needs to be able to sell effectively online.

The time and money that selling online costs the Auto Dealer can be a lot less than classic print, radio and television advertising. So why has the local dealer stayed away from selling online? Most are intimidated by a market that is selling less than 10% of the vehicles that are listed in a medium they do not understand.

Selling online needs an expertise that most dealers lack. Some dealers lack the size to handle supporting an internet department. There are companies out there that are offering a total solution to online sales. These companies can handle an effective, profitable internet department for each and every dealer, no matter the size.

A comprehensive internet strategy is needed to sell effectively online. A good consulting firm that brings expertise in auto sales, internet sales and technical computer skills. All of these skills are needed by the dealership to handle selling online effectively. When a dealer sells online effectively, profits and sales soar.

Accomplishing a comprehensive plan to sell online is being offered by very few companies in today’s market. What a dealer needs to look for is a consulting firm that is grounded in all three areas of online sales. Consulting firms that have Auto dealer experience, online sales experience and technical experience with building the software to accomplish an ease to selling online are necessary to meet the goal for the average dealer. These areas all need to be addressed to make a dealer self sufficient in online sales.

Dealers have found that keeping inventory fresh and up to date on their websites can be time consuming and not a profitable endeavor. Profitability in today’s market is essential to a dealer whether small or large. Online solutions are costly and hard to come by, but essential to a dealership.

Is there a solution? Hiring a company with auto experience, internet experience and technical experience is what the smart dealers are doing. Sell through ratios of these companies need to be checked and a company chosen that will effectively sell vehicles time and time again. There is a secret to selling online that major dealers and small dealers alike have found. To sell effectively online you need the right consulting firm to handle the details, leaving dealership personnel free to handle the sales. Sales are a given when the right online sales consulting firm is left to handle the management of online sales strategies. Hiring the right consulting firm for your online sales is essential to successfully selling online. These companies can accomplish positive online sales results more cost effectively than the local Auto Dealer.

Cherie Szilvagyi

www.automobileclearinghouse.com

Share This

Synthetic Motor Oil and You - Are synthetic oils a better choice for your car or truck?

Writen by Mark Whyte

To use or not to use, for that is the question (apologies to Shakespeare). Both car lovers and those who simply use cars and trucks to get about, have wrestled in their own minds whether they should follow all the manufacturers guidelines or can they use after market parts, accessories and fluid (http://www.a1-car-truck-stuff.com/aftermarketcarparts)in their vehicles. That battle has been waging for many years and though I’d like to end it here and now, you’ll need to decide for yourselves. Is synthetic oil a better product to use in your car, truck, motorcycle, RV or any other motor? Well, first, lets keep in mind that synthetic oil is NOT man made - it is not an artificial or plastic like substance conjured up in the back of some mad scientist’s laboratory. For if it was actually man-made, we could make it at will and wouldn’t have oil shortages and huge gasoline price increases, would we?

Rather, synthetic oil can be thought of as a base oil that has been molecularly manipulated to function better under stress, heat and friction. As such, it requires crude oil as its base product and is then “built” from there. Additives are added but some of those same additives are also added to “normal” oils as well - so its not an issue of what is in it as much as its how it’s structured.

In order for your engine to function properly and with adequate power, a lubricating motor oil must perform four main functions: IT MUST LUBRICATE to keep all the metal parts in your engine from literally “rubbing each other raw”. The parts are made slippery by oil and they slide across and/or against one another without significant wear, thus increasing the longevity of the motor. Oil must also PROTECT not only against wear but also against corrosion of engine components, oxidation of the oil and contamination via condensation and combustion by-products all cause acids within an engine oil. a natural by-product of of combustion is acid - which of course is corrosive and will “eat” metal parts. Oil is designed to protect against this process (but as we’ll see, not all oils are created equal). In fact I’ve personally seen demonstrations where oil is placed in a dish (be it ATF, gear or motor oil) and a hand crank egg beater is used to stir it up. Some oils (usually synthetic) will climb that egg beater straight to the top, while others will stay in the bowl and begin to foam up. The demonstration is designed to show the ability of the oil to quickly get to the vulnerable parts and create a lubricant barrier against heat and friction.

Oil must also CLEAN. An engine must remain clean, or it loses efficiency. Deposits within an engine gum up the works and reduce fuel efficiency while robbing your engine of performance. In addition, contaminants within an oil that are left “unguarded” can cause incalculable wear within an engine. And lastly an oil must COOL. The crankshaft, camshaft, timing gears, pistons, main and connecting rod bearings and many other critical engine components are cooled mainly by the motor oil within your engine. The radiator is normally thought to be the primary cooling system, and while it plays a vital part, it is not the main cooler for the engine. Heat is generated within an engine from both the combustion process and the friction caused by the motion of engine components. As oil passes through the system it is directed onto these hot surfaces in order to carry the heat away to the oil pan. From here the heat is dissipated to the air surrounding the pan.

So we see in brief the purpose of oil, but the question remains -synthetic or off the shelf, “normal” oil - which will provide the best protection?

Some Quick Oil Facts…
** Oil filters are an important part of the equation here - and many motor oil filters are only efficient at removing particles larger than 40 microns, but one that efficiently filters particles just 10 microns smaller will reduce engine wear by 50%? As such, all oil filters are not created equal.

** There at least four motor oil manufacturers that recommend 10,000 to 35,000 mile oil change intervals and that extended drain motor oils have been available for nearly 30 years? The problem is that companies that sell oil to consumers are not especially motivated to make that a well known fact for fear of lower profit.

** Some synthetics aren’t really “synthetic” at all. Were you aware that many synthetic blends are consumed nearly as easily as petroleum oil, even though you pay at least twice as much for them?

** Extreme cold can be nearly as damaging to your motor oil as extreme heat.

** Do you drive a motorcycle? Motorcycle manufacturers have a tendency to use outdated 1980’s motor oil technology and charge you high prices for their so-called OEM Motorcycle designed oil. Yet you can buy excellent synthetic oil for the same price that will increase the protection and performance of your bike.

** Finding the proper viscosity - thickness: For many newer vehicles only 5w30 or 10w30 motor oils are recommended by the manufacturer - and in some cases only 0w20. According to the “Motor Oil Bible”, if you choose to use a higher viscosity oil than what is recommended, at the very least you are likely to reduce performance of the engine. Fuel economy will likely go down. Engine performance will likely drop. In the winter months it is recommended that you not use a heavier grade oil than what is recommended by the manufacturer. In cold start conditions you could very well be causing more engine wear than when using a lighter viscosity oil. In the summer months, going to a heavier grade is less of an issue, but there are still some things to be aware of. Personally, I spoke with the owner of an older Mercedes Benz who after he switched from regular motor oil to synthetic, noticed an immediate ease in starting - in fact his glow plug light lit up immediately rather than having to wait for the oil to warm as before.

Advantages of Synthetic Oil?

* Predictable properties and performance
Uniformity of product characteristics which results in lower production rejection and lower maintenance costs

* Longer oil life
Enhanced thermal and oxidation stability which saves money by using less oil, less downtime, and longer filter life.

* Reduced oil consumption
Lower volatility saves money with less top off, less inventory, and better viscosity retention

*Satisfies specific requirements
Specific military specifications and severe operation conditions are accomplished where other lubricants fall short.

* Safer operation
Higher flash points, fire points, and spontaneous ignition reduces the risk of fire and equipment loss - saving you money!!

** Overall advantages of synthetic lubricants

Share This

Volvo YCC Concept Car Receives 2006 Swedish Design Award

Writen by Kenneth McKinley

The Volvo YCC Concept Car has been one of those concept cars ever created that has certainly grabbed the attention not only of automobile enthusiasts and fans but also of organizations that try to look at exemplary and exceptional designs. That is most certainly why the Volvo YCC Concept Car received the 2006 Swedish Design Award.

The 2006 Swedish Design Award’s jury wanted to actually honor and give recognition to practical design as well as to excellent problem-solving creations that use such practical design as a method. All nominated designs would be actually put on display this coming autumn in the House of Sweden which is the new Swedish embassy complex located in Washington, D.C.

So what is the Volvo YCC Concept Car? Well, actually, YCC stands for Your Concept Car. It is Volvo Car Corporation’s attention-grabbing concept car. One very unique thing about this car is that it has been designed, planned, and created by a team comprised of women. There were no men in the team. This Volvo YCC has certainly taken the attention of the whole world ever since its unveiling during the Geneva car show held last March 2004.

The Volvo YCC has also been one of the most awarded concept cars around. Aside from the 2006 Swedish Design Award given by the Swedish Advertisign Association and SVID, this vehicle has also received other awards like the Golden Spark Plug given by the Swedish Automobile Association last April 2003, the Best Concept Car given by design master Ross Lovegrove last March 2004, the best Design in Show given by the New York Daily News last April 2004, the Women of the Year award given by the Swedish magazine Damernas Varld last December 2004, the Woman of the Year award given by the motoring magazine Automotive News Europe last May 2005, the Andre Award given by the Swedish Patent and Registration Office last April 2005, the Golden Globe award given by the World Media Festival for the film made about the YCC last June 2005, and the Torsten and Wania Soderberg design award last December 2005.

Share This