Does Autobytel really work to buy a Pick Up?

bsoliday · February 2000

How did you go about getting ahold of a fleet manager for your 2000 Silverado?

stratosteve · February 2000

I placed a request through ABT and three hours later I had a phone call by the dealer. I was completely floored when he quoted me just $75 over invoice (I was willing to pay $500.) The vehicle I went for was a 2K 1500 Sivlerado 4x4 EXT Cab 4-door Z71, Victory Red. BTW, I worked directly with the Fleet & New Car Manager.

After reading some of this groups comments on ABT it would seem that it is all on a dealership by dealership basis.

I would highly recomend notifying ABT of any bad experiences.

kit1404 · February 2000

You can probably do as well shopping around yourself, being an informed consumer. But, why bother - the internet does work - and Autobytel works quite well. Sit at your computer, dial up what you want and wait for the dealer to call you with a good price. In my situation, I didn't want what he had, but he found what I wanted - again at the right price. Hard to argue with that type of result. By the way, I changed dealers to the Autobytel dealer for all service - really pleased so far. Like I said in a previous post, I think they search out (maybe looking pretty hard) for the best dealers in the area.

cliffy1 · February 2000

As an ABT salesman for Toyota, I love seeing this. Kit1404 is correct that you could beat your brains in sitting in various dealerships and get the same price, but why? The Internet promises good prices and great service.

When I get a request through ABT, I send a price quote immediately. I follow that up with a phone call. I know that consumers want a price and don't want me to beat around the bush. I am sure that I loose some customers who want to take my price elsewhere, but I am certain that I pick up many customers who just want a quick and straight answer. They reward this with their business.

BTW Kit, your comment that you have switched service to the ABT store is good to hear. It is this increased overall business that will keep stores like ours affiliated with ABT.

superjim2000 · February 2000

had a bad experience with abt (think it was the dealer, I walked away) another option is emailing the dealer(s)

kit1404 · February 2000

There are bound to be problems - but, like the Toyota salesman said - it can work. It worked for me with the Ford dealer and probably works quite well for others. I swear - I could not do better in Albuquerque. And, the new Ford dealer is taking much better care of my old truck (1988) than the old-time dealer. I think these guys - Autobytel - are for real. If you have a problem - complain. They would probably appreciate the feedback.

guillieem4 · February 2000

We had a great experience with Autobytel. We were able to get the best deal at the time we purchased our F-250 Crew Cab. We paid 1,000 over wholesale invoice and were satisfied. The nice part about Autobytele, is the sales people come to you.. You do not have to be the one on the phone hour after hour trying to get the best deal...

kit1404 · February 2000

I guess that is what the internet is supposed to be about. The whole purchase experience was so easy - I really did just shop on the internet for a major purchase. Worked out just fine.

cygnusx1 · February 2000

I'm considering using ABT, but I'm wondering
about finaning. Do you have to finance through
them. If so,I would imagine their rates would be more than what you could get at a dealer, like say the 4.9% or 5.9% or whatever that many dealers offer. How does this work. I don't want to get quoted a decent price only to turn around and pay an inflated interest rate. Thanks!

cliffy1 · February 2000

ABT is only a referral service to the dealers. what the dealer does from there is between you and the dealer. We pay ABT for the lead and once we have you, ABT is out of the loop. You get whatever financing is currently available. I do want to warn you about rates though. Certain models will have incentives like 4.9% financing but many do not. The better selling cars and trucks don't need this kind of program to sell. Normal rates right now range between 8 to 9% depending on the bank and region.

cygnusx1 · March 2000

Thanks Cliffy1 for the info. I was a little confused. I visited a dealer the other day to
check out prices and was told there was currently
a 4.9 or 5.9 financing rate for the model I wanted. I wasn't sure if I'd get that rate if I choose to go through ABT so thanks for clearing that up. I know that some of the on-line places like Carsdirect.com require you to finance through them (which is usually a tad higher than banks and credit unions) Thanks again!!!

bookitty · March 2000

Hey guys and girls, how about helping out a student working on a doctoral dissertation by participating in a painless survey. Go to topic 1693. Thanks.

Bookitty

dekingk · March 2000

I asked autobytel to get me a quote on a Dodge Ram 2500 V10 last Sunday night. Before 11:00 AM on Monday I had been contacted by our closest ABT dealer. He took down the information he needed and I had a quote within 24 hrs. We still have not come to a meeting of the minds but his quote was the best I've seen so far. The only problem is he's 50 miles away but it's worth it to save several hundred clams.

cliffy1 · March 2000

It may also be worth it to deal with a dealership who is so responsive and up front. Price is important but how they respond to your needs before and after the sale is worth something as well.

dbhull · March 2000

I agree. It is worth everything.

jc51 · March 2000

I AM TRYING TO FIND A WEB PAGE FOR BUYING A VEHICLE. I USED THIS WEB SITE BEFORE BUT CAN'T REMEMBER THE NAME. I CAN TELL YOU THAT ONCE I OPENED IT UP IT SHOWED A MAP OF THE US AND EACH REGION HAD A NUMBER FOR THE REGION YOU LIVED IN. FOR EXAMPLE I BELIEVE 8 WAS FOR EASTERN US. THEN IT GAVE YOU THE DEALER NEAREST YOU TO PURHASE A VEHCILE. I PICKED A TRUCK AND WAS CONTACTED ASAP/ PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU KNOW OF THE ADDRESS.

dekingk · April 2000

my truck through ABT, but only because a dealer much closer to home came through with the rught price. The way I was treated by the ABT manager was without question very fair and courteous. If he had been closer he would have had my business. When I started the process I was thinking about a RAM V10 and the salesman did all the figuring for that, but after much soul searching I changed my mind and went for the diesel. The ABT guy did it all over again without any hesitation, and his first offer was a good one. Next time I am in the market I will try them again.

babemonster · April 2000

First, he gave me a quote for a car that I didn't want (maybe it's understandable...there are tons of different option packages for the model I was looking for) and, once I told him exactly what I wanted, he told me he would call me right back with a new quote.

Two weeks later, after I had purchased the car from a dealer, he had that info for me. I told him to what to do with it.

I don't know if ABT is going through growing pains or what -- it's just doesn't make any sense that they wouldn't provide a decent level of service, especially to someone with cash in hand.

Good luck to everyone.

cliffy1 · April 2000

What happened to you is the fault of the dealer and not ABT. In some area, ABT can't find enough dealers with good customer skills so some lesser dealerships end up getting your information. What the dealership does with the lead is up to them. Some do a better job than others.

rrichf · April 2000

cliffy1,
Isn't the reason that one goes to ABT is to avoid all of the dealers that are lacking in customer skills? Maybe it's time for someone at ABT to be monitoring their dealers.
Rich

cliffy1 · April 2000

they do to a degree but keep in mind that ABT is a business and they are in business to make money. We have a territory that we pay $2200 per month for. There are at least 4 other dealers in this area who pay a similar amount and have other territories. One dealership lost its agreement after failing to properly handle the leads. I ended up getting a good portion of their business for free but ABT doesn't have this many dealership in every region.

kit1404 · April 2000

Autobytel sends the lead to the dealer - the dealer calls you and meets with you at your convenience. In my case, the sales rep was the most professional with which I have ever dealt and they start out the pricing at the right level - about 2% over invoice. Considering the vehicle I needed and wanted was already in short supply - June, 1999 (Ford F150 4X4)- this sales rep worked hard for a week to find me the right truck and still at the right price. He not only located the vehicle, about at the same time that it was unloaded at another dealer out of town, but the equipment was just right, including the color of paint. From this experience, I recommend Autobytel. But, they do have to deal with existing area dealers, but in my case, they located the best one in my area.

zonk · May 2000

kit1404 - When you say 2% over invoice - did this price include the ad costs, etc that I have been hearing about? Or, the invoice price you see on an edmunds or similar site, then 2% added to that?
Did they bargain down from that 2% or was that their "final answer"? Thanks for the input.

kit1404 · May 2000

The final price did not include any dealer overhead. As a matter of fact, they even suggested that I avoid the normal dealer transfer/title fees and register the truck myself - they would send me the proper paperwork. That little item saved me nearly $200 over the last dealer I had been talking with - the old long-term dealer that shorted the trade. The new dealer also made sure I understood that Ford had a new promotion - started June, 1999 - to allow the customer to choose $500 in aftermarket accessories for free. Here again, the old dealer never mentioned this and I think would have found a way to pocket the difference. I dealt with pure honesty on this deal - have dealt with pure honesty since with repairs on a 1988 F-250 that could have cost me a lot more, but the service department was excellent and fair. My point: Autobytel steered me from what I thought was good dealer for nearly 20 years to the best in our area. Very satisfied.

meredith · June 2000

After 30 or more days of inactivity....

this topic is being "frozen." It will be archived or deleted in the next 10 days or so.

Front Porch Philosopher
SUV, Pickups, & Aftermarket and Accessories Host

Does Autobytel really work to buy a Pick Up?

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