Putting the consumer first is a win-win for customers and dealers
Purchasing a used car can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially when you’re unsure of the car’s exact value. Still, used car sales are growing at a faster pace than new car sales in Canada. Experts say affordability, as compared to new cars, as well as the higher quality and increased reliability of used cars in today’s market are driving this trend.
New technology, including what’s offered through third-party marketplaces, is also playing a big role by helping to make the used car buying experience easier and more transparent. A recent study showed 90% of Canadians go online to research their next car purchase, and 87% say that a positive experience on a website influences their purchase decision—highlighting the need for car dealers to focus more on engaging consumers through online channels.
Third-party marketplaces in particular work well because they put the customer’s needs first by providing detailed vehicle information and comparison tools. The best sites provide price comparisons, allow shoppers to sort cars by value, and make it easy for users to see unbiased dealer reviews after they’ve drilled down to the cars that match their budget and taste. A recent survey conducted by CarGurus shows 85% of participants wouldn’t buy a car without independent information about its market value.*
Best deal first delivers the best experience for shoppers
Used car shoppers have one thing in common: they’re looking for value on a vehicle that fits both their needs and their lifestyle. With so many used cars to choose from, it can be difficult to narrow it down.
Technology like CarGurus’ Instant Market Value (IMV) helps consumers find the best deal first, based on their individual search criteria. IMV is an estimated fair retail price for a vehicle based on a detailed analysis of comparable listings in a local market. CarGurus computes and updates its IMV calculations every day using a complex algorithm based on hundreds of thousands of data points. CarGurus’ IMV provides the pricing transparency shoppers need to feel confident they’re getting a good deal.
The lowest price doesn’t always mean the best deal. To calculate deal ratings, CarGurus compares the asking price of a vehicle to the IMV, factoring in dealer reputation too. From this calculation, CarGurus rates the quality of the deal and categorizes it as great, good, fair, high, or overpriced.
Search results on CarGurus are based on the IMV and dealer reputation, not how much a dealer pays to be listed first, which ultimately means greater transparency for CarGurus’ shoppers. Consumers also have access to powerful search and filtering options, such as lowest/highest price, newest/oldest car by year, mileage, and distance to dealership. They can also receive emails when the price of a particular make or model drops, or when new listings come up for the vehicle they’re looking for.
Build trust through transparency
Consumers don’t necessarily want the absolute lowest price when shopping, they just want to feel confident that they’re getting a good deal from a transparent and trustworthy seller. Price transparency is the highest priority for Canadians shopping for big-ticket items like a house or car, according to a recent CarGurus survey.
When making a major online purchase, 73% of survey respondents said the website’s trustworthiness and transparency are the most important factors when compared to other factors such as speed, efficiency, design, and shareability.
When determining whether a website was trustworthy, almost half of those surveyed relied on customer reviews, the survey showed. Showing negative customer reviews alongside positive ones also contributed to the sense of a site’s transparency and trustworthiness.
“Establishing trust goes a long way with consumers, particularly those making big purchases,” said Sarah Welch, CarGurus’ Senior Vice President of Consumer Marketing.
“In our experience at CarGurus, we’ve seen just how much transparency—providing reliable, easily accessible customer reviews, engaging with negative reviews, and keeping updated price information across online inventory platforms—enhances the consumer shopping experience, and in turn benefits dealers.”
Trust leads to sales
Today, more than ever, trust and transparency are central to the car shopper’s journey. Shoppers are looking for great deals from top-rated dealerships, and dealers need to stay on top of these trends in order to stay competitive in an increasingly digital world.
CarGurus helps bridge the gap between dealers and consumers by providing transparent information on the value of a car, easy-to-understand search results pages, and unbiased dealership reviews. When dealers use CarGurus’ technology to increase transparency, they’re putting consumers first, which helps build trust and ultimately helps boost sales.
*CarGurus Consumer Survey, n=487, Nov ‘17