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I need your help!  There is strength in numbers. 

My name is Jeff and I work for a Buick / GMC Dealership in the Texas Panhandle and our dealership has used Cobalt for a number of years for our website management tool.  I noticed that when you go onto our web page, ( www.greglair.com ) click on the used vehicle detail page, and scroll down below the vehicle pictures and info, there is an accessories section with new accessories you may purchase separately. To my amazement, I scrolled below this and found three separate vehicles in my inventory made available to the customer under the tab "Similar Vehicles Available". Great idea in my opinion to give this option to the consumer as it keeps them actively looking at YOUR inventory and no one else's. The problem I had with this was that it is virtually hidden underneath the Accessories page. 

I just think that the three comparable vehicles should be directly under my vehicle details....not lost at the bottom of the page beneath the accessories. (In a lot of cases the customer is looking at an 04 Camry, and I'm pretty sure they dont want a Sierra Bed Mat for it!)

If you'll take a minute and send this email, I'm sure the fine folks at Cobalt will oblige.

cut and paste if you wish

Send the email to:   cobaltsupport@cobalt.com

Dear Cobalt,

Please move the comparable vehicles from underneath the accessories to ABOVE them and DIRECTLY below the vehicle details on our Cobalt website Vehicle Details Page.

Please add this email to the "Enhancement Request"

Thank you for being such a flexible and dealer-friendly website provider,

(Your name and dealership)

The support guy looked at this and agreed and said many others had brought this to their attention but that they were unable / unwilling to change it for me. He said he would add my feelings to an "Enhancement request" and hopefully enough people would bring about change. I feel they should do what's best for the dealerships interest and feel that simply moving the Accessories below the links is not a crazy request.

We are now looking at all sorts of options and so I'd like those who are way smarter than me to provide your feedback, thoughts, theorems, and postulates on the matter.

Jeff Sherrill

Greg Lair Buick / GMC

Unfortunately, credit issues are playing a bigger role than ever in the Automotive Industry. I have seen countless Internet leads labeled as "Lost" due to credit issues. The reality is that most consumers have credit issues in today's market. Let's face it...no one has perfect credit any more. In the dealership, this should be a window of opportunity. The F&I department needs to have a strategy in place to help the customers and, in the end, help the dealership. What do you think would draw more present and future business, turning away every prospect who is struggling with credit issues, or taking the time to help them set a financial plan in place to buy the best vehicle for them? If we start helping our customers to find a financial plan for themselves, they will come back. They will spread the word. I'm not saying to put your neck on the line for every prospect. If someone just turned 18, has no job, and has no credit or co-signer...I wouldn't touch that deal either. That is a bad risk. If someone walks in who has steady income but damaged credit, there is probably a way to work them into a vehicle. Be their solution. They already know before they make a call or set foot on your lot that their credit is damaged. They probably aren't expecting anything. You have the chance to make the ultimate impression on them for your dealership if you find a way, even if that means a plan for the next few months...they will return.