Consumer Reports's "Mystery Shoppers" Find Car-Buying Efforts Online to be Unsatisfactory.Business Editors & Automotive Writers YONKERS Yonkers (yŏn`kərz), city (1990 pop. 188,082), Westchester co., SE N.Y., on the east bank of the Hudson, in a hilly region just N of the Bronx (New York City); inc. 1855. Its elevator works date from 1852. , N.Y.--(AutomotiveWire)--March 15, 2000 Despite problems, some shoppers would try online auto shopping again; and most car-referral Web sites were "e-Rated" average or above by Consumer Reports Online Don't don't 1. Contraction of do not. 2. Nonstandard Contraction of does not. n. A statement of what should not be done: a list of the dos and don'ts. plan on buying a car on the Web anytime soon. In research conducted by Consumer Reports, only 35% of potential car-buyers received a price-quote back within two days from dealers at five popular online auto-shopping sites. When a quote was produced, it was not always for the exact car specified. To assess how well AutoBytel Autobytel, Inc. NASDAQ: ABTL is an Irvine, California, company and the largest online automotive marketplaces. Autobytel owns and operates websites including Autobytel.com, myRide.com, Autoweb.com, CarSmart.com, Car.com, and CarTV.com which facilitate car-shopping decisions. , AutoVantage, AutoWeb, Cars.com Cars.com is a website which launched in June 1998. It is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is in turn a joint venture by major media companies including the Gannett Company, the McClatchy Company, the Washington Post Company and the Tribune Company. , and CarPoint work, Consumer Reports commissioned a panel of 1,056 online shoppers to request quotes for six different vehicles - a minivan, a sport-utility vehicle sport-u·til·i·ty vehicle n. Abbr. SUV A four-wheel-drive vehicle with a roomy body, designed for off-road travel. , a luxury import, a sports sedan A sports sedan is a descriptive term applied to a sedan or saloon automobile that is designed to look and feel "sporty" - offering the driver more connection with the driving experience. Most vehicles in this category overlap with the compact executive car classification. , and two mid-priced sedans - each equipped with common options. The research stipulated two critical requirements: dealers who responded had to be located within 100 miles of the shopper and had to deliver the quotes by e-mail or phone within two business days. Among the results of the research, reported in the April issue: - "Nine good online research sites" that arm users with facts about prices, safety, and more - A general review of the scope of what's online about cars (prices, sorting cars by type, vehicle comparisons, options, dealer referrals, safety equipment, and more) - "Building your next car -- online and off," practical advice that helps consumers shop for auto options "Consumer Reports wanted to test whether the Internet Internet Publicly accessible computer network connecting many smaller networks from around the world. It grew out of a U.S. Defense Department program called ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network), established in 1969 with connections between computers at the is truly becoming a place for one-stop one-stop adj. Relating to or providing a comprehensive selection of goods or services at a single location: one-stop shopping; a one-stop health-care center. auto-shopping," says Lou Richman Richman is a surname and may refer to:
In addition to the research, Consumer Reports evaluated the five sites using its e-Ratings: Online Shopping Guide for policies (privacy, security, and customer-services practices), ease of use, and quality of information. AutoBytel, Cars.com, and CarPoint received a better-than-average overall score. AutoBytel and CarPoint provided the timeliest quotes and had the most local dealers. AutoWeb was evaluated as average. AutoVantage received a below average overall score - the site lets the shopper specify a model a request a bid, but it emphasizes its fee-based membership program. It also had the fewest timely quotes and the least local dealers in the research results. A more-extensive evaluation of each car-buying Web site can be viewed at Consumer Reports Online, at www.ConsumerReports.org See .org. (networking) org - The top-level domain for organisations or individuals that don't fit any other top-level domain (national, com, edu, or gov). Though many have .org domains, it was never intended to be limited to non-profit organisations. RFC 1591. . Launched in November 1999, e-Ratings: Online Shopping Guide evaluates the most popular shopping sites on the Internet, based on a systematic review of select features using Consumer Reports's carefully-developed methodology. The resulting e-Ratings are in the independent tradition of the ratings Consumer Reports magazine has published since 1936. There's lots more information on what's online for auto enthusiasts in Consumer Reports's April Auto issue: - "Nine good online research sites" that arm users with facts about prices, safety, and more - A general review of the scope of what's online about cars (prices, sorting cars by type, vehicle comparisons, options, dealer referrals, safety equipment, and more) - "Building your next car -- online and off," practical advice that helps consumers shop for auto options Also available on Consumer Reports Online is its free annual "information hub" about cars - Bumper to Bumper 2000: The Source for Everything Autos, located at www.ConsumerReports.org/news/autos/. The Bumper to Bumper 2000 section contains free information from how to buy a car below invoice price Invoice price The price that the buyer of a futures contract must pay the seller when a Treasury bond is delivered. to the latest car-color fads. The Bumper to Bumper 2000 section will assist consumers in selecting, purchasing, and caring for their treasured vehicles. Furthermore, the Bumper to Bumper 2000 section provides visitors with a comprehensive look at the world of automobiles, incorporating everything from Consumer Reports' Top Picks for 2000 to leasing advice to information on the latest in child safety seats. "Bumper to Bumper 2000 is a must-visit site for obtaining car information - whether or not you are about to buy a new or used vehicle," says Thomas Falconer Thomas Falconer (June 25 1805–August 28 1882) was an English jurist and explorer. Born in Bath, England on June 25 1805, Falconer was admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1823, and to the bar in 1830. , Associate Director of New Media for Consumer Reports Online. "It also offers free advice on the latest innovations in safety, style, and much more. The section is another value-added component of Consumer Reports Online, aimed at helping people become better shoppers." The April issue of Consumer Reports will be available March 21 wherever magazines are sold. To subscribe to Verb 1. subscribe to - receive or obtain regularly; "We take the Times every day" subscribe, take buy, purchase - obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction; "The family purchased a new car"; "The conglomerate acquired a new company"; Consumer Reports, call 1-800-765-1845. In addition, information and articles from Consumer Reports can be accessed online at www.ConsumerReports.org. The material above is intended for use by legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for commercial or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports(r) is published by Consumers Union, an independent, nonprofit A corporation or an association that conducts business for the benefit of the general public without shareholders and without a profit motive. Nonprofits are also called not-for-profit corporations. Nonprofit corporations are created according to state law. testing and information-gathering organization, serving only the consumer. We are a comprehensive source of unbiased advice about products and services, personal finance, health, nutrition, and other consumer concerns. Since 1936, our mission has been to test products, inform the public, and protect consumers. |
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