Eliminating the Car Salesman
Would you buy a car from this computer, may well be the next thing we read in Consumer Reports, or from Ralph Nader, if a company called Auto By Tel has its way.
Auto By Tel located at http://www.autobytel.com bypasses the car salesperson and puts car shoppers in direct contact with the upper management of a local auto dealership.
Gone, in these cases, are the days of the hard sell and awkward negotiating mo-ments. A consumer simply visits the site and describes the car they want (color, make, model, year, options, etc.) and provides his contact information. The management of a local dealership will call or e-mail them with a quote. Of course the consumer can also get personalized information about financing, insurance, and leasing.
Auto By Tel reports that almost half of those who request quotes buy a car via the network. They say that they can't eliminate sticker shock or payments, but they have made the car buying process considerably less painful.
Car dealerships may well need Check Guarantee for those sales made over the Internet. They certainly won't be taking virtual down payments will they?
