Edmunds.com Launches New Tool for Used Car Trade-Ins and Lead Generations
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — January 20, 2016 — Car shopping destination Edmunds.com today rolled out a new product that will give dealers an inside track to connect with the hundreds of thousands of Edmunds users who rely on the site every month to appraise their vehicles. The tool, called Edmunds MyAppraise, gives dealers a convenient new channel to build used car inventory and convert users into new leads.
Edmunds MyAppraise works by engaging Edmunds' desktop and mobile users who are already logging on to appraise the True Market Value® price of their vehicles. These users who want to sell their vehicles are given the opportunity to solicit offers from local dealers that are partnered with Edmunds. The tool guides them to enter the vehicle's VIN and to answer a few simple questions about its condition. Users also are prompted to take pictures of their vehicles at specified angles to give dealers the ability to verify the vehicle's condition and provide a more accurate estimate. The responses, photos and customer contact information are delivered to dealers, who can then respond with a specific quote via mobile text messaging.
"Edmunds MyAppraise combines many of Edmunds' most popular car shopping innovations to deliver a concise product that makes it easier for shoppers to trade their vehicles and for dealers to engage these highly-coveted customers," said Edmunds.com President Seth Berkowitz. "This isn't just a lead-generation product: It also gives dealers a high-tech platform to deliver the customer service experience that consumers have come to expect in this era of mobile commerce."
According to Edmunds' internal traffic data, about 500,000 people use the site every month to appraise their vehicles, and this number is expected to rise in the coming year. With the industry absorbing more lease returns than ever, Edmunds expects that 12.2 million used cars will fill franchise dealer lots this year, up 5.2 percent compared to 2015.
Edmunds MyAppraise is the latest in Edmunds.com's suite of products designed to help dealers connect with in-market car shoppers an sell more cars faster. Dealers interested in learning about all of Edmunds' sales products — including Edmunds MyAppraise — can reach out to 1-855-EDMUNDS or dealersupport@edmunds.com.
About Edmunds.com
Car shopping destination Edmunds.com serves nearly 20 million visitors each month. With Edmunds.com Price Promise®, shoppers can buy smarter with instant, upfront prices for cars and trucks currently for sale at 10,000 dealer franchises across the U.S. Shoppers can browse not only dealer inventory, but also vehicle reviews, shopping tips, photos, videos and feature stories on both Edmunds' wired site and on its acclaimed mobile apps. Regarded as one of the best places to work in Southern California, Edmunds.com was also named one of "The World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies of 2015 in Automotive" by Fast Company. Edmunds welcomes all car-shopping questions at our Help Center and help@edmunds.com and on Twitter and Facebook. The company is based in Santa Monica, Calif. and has a satellite office in downtown Detroit, Mich., but you can find Edmunds from anywhere on YouTube, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram, Google+ and Flipboard.
