What about problems beyond traffic and sales?

[keyolds]

Let's get into other areas like jobbing out to a 3rd party or entitiy to build and maintain and edit your site...or uplaoding inventory from your mainframe...or server problems out of your control especially when it comes to inventory updates.....and how is everybody getting there used inventories to their sites? Any problem areas there?
Jerry

[SDG]

On getting used inventory to web sites:

This is another problem area with web retailing. Most web inventories are not kept accurate enough. I know every internet specialist out there is receive leads for vehicles already sold. If you are a large dealer or sell a large number of used cars per month, then having your information uploaded once or twice a week by a 3rd party lead provider, one of those famous window sticker companies or web page host is NOT enough! I don't work for this company either...LOL (maybe I should look into it) but I think they have an awesome product. If you haven't heard of it already please go to www.supersale.com and read up on their "digital Lot"..saves time money and updates your inventory to web site and 3rd parties at least every day!! yes, every day! Its like a laptop computer which reads the VIN code and has a camera to take a picture of the car...takes about 3 minutes and your car is fully loaded into inventory and websites..its so easy to use too..I've had the opportunity to play with one at a conference. The bonus is that it will also print out your own window stickers for around 1 or 2 $--a considerable savings over what you pay other companies for them. I don't know of any other product similar, but if there are any out there, please post them as I'd like more info in this area too

[Key Olds]

You're absolutely right about Digitallot. Out of all the tools I have seen, reviewed, listened to the "pitch" on, and had the opportunity to use, this particular device is the top of the pack.
It's far more than just a Vin scanner and digital camera! It's a system. A system that allows us (internet managers) to control our inventories and market reach to the WWW without relying so heavily on outside sources. And for those of us who have gone full circle and now opt to literally code in our own inventories, including images, it is a time saver, which equates to a money saver, that pays for itself repeatedly and puts internet control in the hands of the dealer.

[andone]

The only thing about the digitalLot is, who has time or the energy to walk the lot in 90 degree plus weather in the South or sub 40 degree weather in North and do the booking out of your used inventory?

My question is with all the leads being handled and cars shown by an I.S.M. where do you allocate resources for someone to do the booking in of your constantly turning inventory, and what is their other duties?

[IntManager]

It's all about saving money. You could hire a full time lot attendant for $5.25 an hour to book in a couple cars a day and save a boat load! It is so easy to use that a 15 year old could use it.

[rgaimari]

Anyone now on this system? I would like to see your web site.