Autobytel.com Helps Car Buyers With Quick, Courteous Service
Written: Aug 28 '05 (Updated Nov 04 '05)
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Looking for a new/used car or truck? Want to compare features between different vehicles? Are you curious about which auto makers are currently offering rebates and other discounts to new buyers? If so, then you might want to consult Autobytel.com, an on- line resource for everything automotive.
What Does This Service Offer?:
Autobytel.com offers the following services:
Buy/Sell a Car- New and Used cars can be located and purchased, using autobytel.com as the intermediary. You can also list your own vehicle for sale.
Research- This part of Autobytel.com helps potential customers by allowing them to lookup facts and figures and new and used models, as well as find the fair market value of different vehicles.
Finance- Payment calculators, insurance, warranty information, and other financial detail can be found here.
Myautobytel.com- This is your own customizable part of the site. You establish an account, allowing you to create a wish list, talk to other people about cars, save a list containing service reminders, etc.
Customer Service:
Autobytel.com is headquartered in Irvine, California. If you need to contact the customer service team, you can logon to the site, go to the help section, and send an e-mail message. You can also call and speak with them directly, at 949-225-4500.
Final Thoughts:
Autobytel.com is a handy internet site to use for car shopping and for gathering financial information (insurance quotes, financing, etc.) on different vehicles. This company has been in existence for several years and is now listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange as a publicly traded company.
I first came to Autobytel.com when I was looking for a new car. In the past, I have used car shopping sites like Carsdirect.com, Cars.com, and others. Carsdirect.com is generally my favorite and I was tempted to use it again this time around. But I decided instead to try out a new service and Autobytel.com was the place I turned.
When it comes to shopping for a vehicle, Autobytel.com works in a similar way to other auto web sites. You begin by selecting the type of vehicle you want. Then, you enter your name, phone number, e-mail address, and zip code. Using your zip, Autobytel.com finds a local dealer affiliate in your area and sends your contact information to them. As soon as you press enter, you will be told which dealership is going to receive your information. Also, in case you forget, Autobytel.com sends an e-mail to you, confirming which dealership is going to be contacting you.
As a security measure, Autobytel.com calls the phone number that you provided and, using a prerecorded message, asks you to confirm that you did, indeed, place the order on the web site to get information on a car. This is good because it helps to ensure that people do not play pranks on others, wasting the time of the dealership and the valuable time of the consumer.
When I used this service, I checked the response time to see how quickly it went and Autobytel.com showed some impressive results. The prerecorded message call came about two minutes after placing the request on- line. The confirmation message came to my e-mail instantly, which is to be expected. The response from the dealership took about three hours- a little longer than I have experienced with other automotive web sites. On the other hand, the person working the internet sales at this dealership was very personal and friendly in his e-mail. He didn’t send a standardized message. Instead, he took the time to write out a personal e-mail, asking me if I would prefer to be contacted by phone or e-mail; what options I would like added to my car; and whether or not I have already test- driven my vehicle of choice. So, overall, I have to give Autobytel.com high marks in this area because even though the response time was longer, the message was more personal and courteous.
Autobytel.com requires that you establish an on- line account to be able to use the “My Autobytel.com” feature. This is easy, because it only involves inputting your e-mail address and your home zip code (when you submit a request for a car, you are automatically set up with an on- line account). Since your zip code becomes your password, this web service is, obviously, not a secure one. But you don’t need to worry because there is nothing that warrants the need for enhanced security in this site. Your credit card data isn’t stored here, so there is nothing to worry about. There is a place to enter your home address and phone number, but these are not required fields. So, if you want to make sure no one can find these pieces of information, then make sure you leave these fields blank in your personal settings. Otherwise, anyone who knows your e-mail address and your zip code will be able to logon to your account and find out where you live and your phone number.
The other important components to a good automotive web site are the extent of auto information and the user- friendly design of the site. With Autobytel.com, the info on the different lines of cars is good, and it lets you know the basics you need (MSRP, different trim levels, photos, and so forth) for making a decision. However, the specifications for each car are not as extensive in this web site as in others, so Autobytel.com loses a few points in this area. But as far as usability is concerned, this web service earns good marks. Not only is it easy to follow, but it also has added search functions to help you find the right car, like an option to search by price level or desired payment size. It even includes some short reviews (not as good as those found here in Epinions, of course) for most of the vehicles so you can get a good, objective viewpoint on the pros and cons of each.
Overall, Autobytel.com is a nice, user- friendly site for finding out the facts about cars and trucks. It is also works efficiently when it comes to getting a price quote and getting in contact with a local dealership. The site even sends you a short follow up survey a few days later (if you request a price quote) to see how you liked your experience, and the survey includes an entry into a sweepstakes to win money toward the purchase of a vehicle.
Autobytel.com proved to be a positive experience for me. I liked it almost as much as Carsdirect.com and some of my other high- ranking auto web sites. A little more product information would make this site even better, but it is still a very good place to shop for a car or for financing information.
Be Sure to Click on the Links Below to Read More Reviews on Related Web Sites:
Cars Direct.com
Invoice Dealers.com
Discount Tire Direct.com
Car Prices.com
Carmax.com
Cars.com
Pricequotes.com
Autonation.com
Edmunds.com
Automotive.com
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Hona Civic Hybrid
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About the Author
Member: Bryan Carey
Location: Houston, TX
Reviews written: 3611
Trusted by: 1570 members
About Me: Beer Drinker and Libertarian Political Activist. Great Combination, eh?
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