Consumer Link

[jdpetey]

Looking for evaluations of the Consumer Link feature that OE Connection offers.

Are any of you using this feature? Has it proven worthwhile to pay for this service? Etc.

Thanks

[jdpetey]

With the lack of replies, I can only imagine that either not many folks are aware of this particular product OR others may be reluctant to provide information.

I have always wondered when we, GM dealers, were going to be able to offer online imaging on our store's main web site. It has already been available for a while, but I can't recall any serious advertising of this product.

As it stands, we currently only have email reply capabilities on our site, which I can guarantee generates about zero business.

Just for everyone's info, when purchased, one can actually set up a retail site with images directly pulled from Snap-On Cataloging. It can also provide pricing and availability, without part numbers provided.

I can message dealer names of stores that are already using this feature if anyone is interested. People can check it out themselves.

I do not work for OE Connection, I just found out that they are providing this web site feature.

Seems like there could be some benefits to opting into this.

I was just hoping to find out if anyone saw an increase in sales, even if minor, by using this product.

[SUREWHYNOT]

Hi there,
We are a Toyota dealer in California and have been using Consumer Link for about 2 months.
It is nice to be able to offer our customers an option to view the catalog as well as place orders online.
We are averaging 5-6 orders a week through the Consumer Link page of our web site.
Our pricing on the CL site is straight retail and we had another site through Revolution Parts that had a matrix discount.

Overall we have had a positive experience with consumer link and would defiantly recommend giving it a try if you are looking to add the catalog/ordering feature to your dealers website.

[jdpetey]

Considered Consumer Link originally, but with all the internet retailers, it didn't seem to me that it's ready for prime time. It seems like it would take a considerable amount of advertising and marketing to have measurable success.

In the meantime, we have signed up for Repair Link which will make things a lot more convenient for our established wholesale customers. We launch on June 1.

We are a medium size Buick-GMC dealer in the Pittsburgh metro area, and after researching active dealers, I was surprised that some of the bigger wholesalers weren't already active.

Upon asking many of my existing customers if they thought it would be useful, the responses have been pretty supportive.

Too many benefits to list IMHO.

Maybe Consumer Link at a later date.

Thanks for the input.

[dbuck]

Consumer link isn't going to attract much/any website traffic to your dealership. Go use one of their sample sites and use it. Meh. As a consumer it looks and acts like an inferior version of what I already have available on-line for my customers.