Autoweb Customer Case Study.LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 3, 1998--When Ed Kramer decided to purchase a new car for his daughter Mary, he didn't spend painstaking pains·tak·ing adj. Marked by or requiring great pains; very careful and diligent. See Synonyms at meticulous. n. Extremely careful and diligent work or effort. hours moving from one automotive retailer to another to test drive new models or kick tires at a used car lot. Like many car buyers today, Ed went online to Autoweb.com to find out about vehicle pricing, options, reviews and financing. "I had heard about buying a car through Autoweb.com and thought this would be a good way to save time and money," explained Kramer. Using Autoweb.com, Kramer was able to find the car he was looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. -- quickly and at a great price. The whole procedure was completely hassle-free. The Autoweb.com service offered him access to everything he could possibly want to know about automotive purchasing, financing, insurance and maintenance -- a virtual one-stop auto mall on the Internet. Like Kramer, consumers across the nation are discovering that Autoweb.com is a viable way to enhance their car-buying experience and a convenient alternative to a traditional process that many find intimidating in·tim·i·date tr.v. in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing, in·tim·i·dates 1. To make timid; fill with fear. 2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats. and cumbersome. A recent study conducted by the automotive research firm, The Dohring Group, based in Glendale, Calif., found that a significant percentage of consumers said they would be interested in buying a car online, without ever needing a test drive. Ed Kramer didn't test drive his daughter's car either. In fact, using Autoweb.com, he simply located the car he wanted -- a 1998 Chrysler Sebring The Chrysler Sebring is a line of mid-size cars sold by Chrysler LLC. There have been three entirely different vehicles with this name:
The company's customer care department then immediately put him in touch with Autoweb.com dealer partner Falore Chrysler, in Sunnyvale, Calif. -- the Chysler dealership with the closest geographical proximity to Kramer that offered the model and feature package he was seeking. The process, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Kramer, couldn't have been easier: "I had the car I wanted in mind. A car is a car. I know what Chrysler makes, and I didn't need to kick the tires to make my purchase decision." Kramer shares a sentiment that is sweeping the nation -- Autoweb.com is the newest trend in automotive retailing. Autoweb.com is changing the way people have bought cars for decades. Consumers, tired of the headaches associated with visiting a car dealership This article is about car dealerships. For the indie pop band, see Dealership (band). A car dealership or vehicle local distribution is a business that sells new cars and/or used cars at the retail level, based on a dealership contract with an automaker or , are finding that Autoweb.com can help them save time and money, and eliminate the hassle of negotiating and haggling in person. Consumers who visit the Autoweb.com site are put in touch with an exclusive network of the highest-ranking dealers in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and Canada and can inquire in·quire also en·quire v. in·quired, in·quir·ing, in·quires v.intr. 1. To seek information by asking a question: inquired about prices. 2. about car availability and pricing, secure a loan, finalize fi·nal·ize tr.v. fi·nal·ized, fi·nal·iz·ing, fi·nal·iz·es To put into final form; complete or conclude: "They have jointly agreed ... their purchase, schedule delivery, advertise their used car for sale, even obtain insurance and vehicle warranty information -- all online and all for free. "I wanted a hassle-free and pleasant experience," added Kramer. "Since I did all of my homework on Autoweb.com, I was informed in advance about sticker price sticker price n. The list price for an automobile or other motor vehicle. options and didn't waste hours of my life at the local dealership." Kramer did receive the best possible price for his daughter's car because he bought it through Autoweb.com in a controlled environment. Autoweb.com works in tandem Adv. 1. in tandem - one behind the other; "ride tandem on a bicycle built for two"; "riding horses down the path in tandem" tandem with both dealers and customers to provide the most streamlined car-buying experience possible. Through an Autoweb.com certified See certification. dealership training program, member dealer sales teams receive computer and Internet usage skills. They also are educated on the characteristics and purchase style of Autoweb.com customers and are carefully instructed on how to follow up with a customer referred by Autoweb.com in a timely and responsive manner. The result: customers receive a high level of quality service, along with low, firm vehicle pricing. Payam Zamani, co-founder and executive vice president of Autoweb.com, explains the concept further: "Autoweb.com is designed to provide consumers with everything they could ever want to know about autos all in one place. Autoweb.com has made the process of buying or selling a car easy, hassle-free and even fun. "We offer our customers access to the highest-ranked dealers across the nation and provide them with all of the ancillary information they need to make the best car-buying decision. For the dealer, Autoweb.com refers informed, motivated buyers, provides each dealership with its own Web site and provides comprehensive feedback following customer purchases." Autoweb.com's relationship with its member dealers is critical to the success of its program. Top-ranking auto dealers nationwide join Autoweb.com and strive to improve their practices to best satisfy the needs of Autoweb.com car buyers. The company periodically evaluates its relationship with each member dealer to ensure that the dealership is meeting Autoweb.com customer service standards -- those who do not qualify become ineligible in·el·i·gi·ble adj. 1. Disqualified by law, rule, or provision: ineligible to run for office; ineligible for health benefits. 2. to retain their member status. It is this type of commitment to its customers that makes Autoweb.com such an incredibly useful medium for car shoppers. Ed Kramer couldn't agree more -- not only did he purchase a car for his daughter through Autoweb.com, he also purchased a BMW BMW in full Bayerische Motoren Werke AG German automaker. Founded as an aircraft engine manufacturer in 1916, the company assumed the name Bayerische Motoren Werke and became known for its high-speed motorcycles in the 1920s. Z3 for himself! And, he plans to use Autoweb.com again for his next car purchase. Would he recommend the service to his friends? "Absolutely!" exclaimed Kramer. "Especially for anyone looking for a really simple car-buying experience. I spent only 10 minutes at the local dealership, after using the service Autoweb.com. It is the most productive thing I've ever done on the Internet."
CONTACT: Fleishman-Hillard Inc., Los Angeles
Lucille Guerrero-Walker, 213/489-8210
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