Archive for June, 2009


The First 90 Days
By Dave Hanson - VP Interactive & Creative Services
Posted on June 24, 2009 at 9:49 am

I joined eCarList nearly three months ago and have yet to write a single blog post — a fact that our president reminds me of frequently.  So, here goes.

First, some background: I came to eCarList because I saw an amazing opportunity to transform the way the automotive industry markets itself online starting at the local dealer level.  The internet has matured greatly over the past 10 years, but quite frankly, car dealers have lagged behind.  There are a handful of companies that build websites for the industry and I think most are doing their clients a disservice.

I have directly been a part of the web transformation, having worked at internet giant Yahoo! since 1999.  My experiences in marketing, branding, website usability, and online consumer behavior have shaped the way I think about selling cars and promoting dealerships online.

eCarList is a rare find in the automotive space; it’s a company that gets it.  I am fortunate to now lead such a remarkable team of talented designers, front end engineers, and project managers.  They understand the automotive market, yet are light-years ahead of what the industry is accustomed to. (more…)



By Len Critcher - eCarList President & CEO
Posted on June 3, 2009 at 10:45 pm

Great advertising - really creative!  No deep thoughts, just wanted to share this ad from a dealership I worked for back in the 90’s.

fail-owned-audi-chess-fail


New Ownership at NorthTexas Nissan Makes Reputation Cleanup a Priority
By Terrence Gordon - Vice President of Search & Media
Posted on June 1, 2009 at 7:48 am

New Ownership at North Texas Nissan Makes Reputation Cleanup a Priority

New ownership and management take over North Texas Nissan with a new attitude in efforts to regain customers and improve community presence as a Dallas area Nissan Dealership

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) June 4, 2009 — As of February 2009, new ownership and management stepped in at North Texas Nissan to rebrand the dealership and take control over their image in the community as the leader in customer appreciation. According to customer loyalty maps in the region, it appears the previous management did not make customer loyalty a priority as it showed most customers did not return to buy a second vehicle, and rather bought from the competition. New ownership and management believes the store is due for an overhaul.

North Texas Nissan is now committed to making every customer feel like they are family,” claims Wesley Spence, Dealer Principle and General Manager. “Our primary task is to provide the most enjoyable buying experience possible so that we may retain our customers for life.”

Spence comes to North Texas Nissan after 5 years of service with another large dealer group in Texas, and brings with him a team of experienced staff to help clean up the store’s reputation. “We hope to be able to reach out to our customer base and community in an effort to reestablish the relationship that had been tarnished. We will do this by reaching out to the community through mail and community involvement,” says Spence. “North Texas Nissan, unlike other dealers, is a non-hassle dealership who caters to the customer’s needs. There are never hidden or unwanted ads on our vehicles that surprise the customer once they arrive at the dealership. We are also committed to maintaining an ongoing relationship after the sale to insure that our customers have a positive buying experience.”

Considering dismal news in automotive including Chrysler ’s and GM’s recent bankruptcy filings and possible further bailouts and closures, it seems there is a lot more pressure for dealerships to create a pro-consumer environment. Spence weighs in on the current economic conditions by saying, “Although we do realize that consumers are concerned with the current state of the economy, in most cases we are able to take advantage of the aggressive lending and rebate programs from the manufacturer to lower a customer’s current payment in a newer model car.”

Some of the initiatives Spence and his team have put into motion to compete with other Dallas Nissan Dealers to increase sales are 100% guaranteed loan approvals, a no-gimmick $6.99 oil change, free AutoCheck and trade appraisal, and a guaranteed “apples-to-apples” price-match from their competition. Future plans include a car wash and body shop for customers and local residents. “North Texas Nissan is no longer a dealership who only looks out for its best interest regardless of the cost to the customer…” explains Spence. “…rather we are a dealership who realizes the satisfaction of its customer will determine its future success.”

When asked about the future of North Texas Nissan, Spence says, “In 2009 we have two priorities….first we want to build a dealership that people will be proud to buy a car from, and second we want to be the best and biggest Nissan dealership in Texas. We realize that it will take a lot of work to accomplish these goals, but with hard honest work and the help of our community we will be able to accomplish these goals.”

About North Texas Nissan:
North Texas Nissan, based in Corinth, Texas is a franchise Nissan dealership selling new Nissans, used and certified pre-owned cars and trucks to the communities of Dallas, Fort Worth and the DFW Metroplex.