Originally posted by redbaron303
DJ_rice - very interesting perspective. Appreciate it. I've never enjoyed dealing with Hyatt group... I've only had interactions with GO Auto minimally but from a dealer to dealer perspective they seem half decent/easy to deal with.
The loss of the relationship and long term client is terrible IMO. Its part of the reason for sales people and service advisors and such ... Turning the dealership into a strictly or transactional focused mentality is good for newcomers but alienates long term clients like you said - most of which prefer a more personalised experience.
In consumer based selling it should be a clientcentric approach with the bottom line kept in good focus. Word of mouth help build the business IMO.
On a separate side note - between this and the dealer tactic thread - BMW group is introducing a product advisor position to be modelled after the apple genius/specialist - their job will be to educate the client and pass along to the sales person already focused and assessed so they can get on with a test drive, appraisal and purchase of the new car. Its targeted to help the client focus and give someone educating themselves a dealer resource that can help them without the "selling".
Go Auto as a business model, they are very smart with all their marketing and tactics. They offered this "Go Auto Card" which is like a loyalty card that gives you 10% off parts+labour everytime you come in for service. As well you get 5% back as well. For every $20 you spend, you get 1 point back onto your card to spend. 1 point = $1 when you redeem. As well, your card comes with a referral code, that when if someone buys a new/used vehicle and uses your code, they get $500 off the purchase price. In return, you get $500 referral loaded onto your card as well.
They also just introduced this giveaway where they gave away A Car A Day Giveaway for 30 days. Basically, if you buy your car that day, your vehicle is entered into a draw, the next day they pull a name out of the ballets, and you win your car. They gave away approx $900K worth of vehicles during this promo but in the end, they probably gained a ton more car sales during this promo as it made people decide to buy their car now vs buying later just to cash in incase they can win.
Working for Go Auto was actually pretty great company to work for. 1st year, 3 weeks vaca. $500 health spending account. 10% guranteed minimum return investment plan. Only car dealership group that has their own Insurance companies to sell/offer car insurance too in house I believe. One stop shopping. They also puchased a Media/Marketing Company as well. Everything in house is what they like to do. No outside sourcing. Very smart.