LAS VEGAS, Jan. 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Autobytel Inc.
(Nasdaq: ABTL), the Internet's most visited new vehicle buying and research
destination, announced today the launch of its new Gold Medal Dealer program
at the National Automobile Dealers Association convention in Las Vegas. The
Gold Medal Dealer program identifies franchised auto dealers who have achieved
exceptional customer service standards for Internet car sales and is the first
public recognition of customer service by an independent multi-brand online
car buying service. According to Autobytel, the designation was created to
recognize and reward dealers who are committed to outstanding customer
relations, ongoing improvement and continuing education.
"Our goal is to help all dealers who work with Autobytel become Gold Medal
Dealers, which is what consumers expect," said Jeffrey Schwartz, CEO and
president of Autobytel Inc. "Putting these dealers in the spotlight rewards
them for their dedication to customer service, and helps the millions of
customers who visit our websites easily identify dealerships with outstanding
track records when it comes to serving online customers."
The customer satisfaction program sets clear goals for an outstanding
customer experience. Each Gold Medal Dealer must achieve an excellent rating
in Autobytel's Dealer Management Report, an individual performance analysis
measuring the dealership's sales performance and responsiveness to customers.
The Dealer Management Report is provided monthly, at no charge, to members of
the Autobytel dealer network. Gold Medal status is reviewed, and dealers are
re-certified, every six months to ensure that certification is based on
timely, accurate performance information. In addition, Gold Medal Dealers
must complete Autobytel's eLearning program or Autobytel's Training and
Professional Service Course. The curriculum is based on best practices at
dealerships nationwide and helps dealers understand the expectations of
today's Internet car shoppers.
Autobytel's Account Managers, who are certified as Best Practices
Trainers, review the Gold Medal criteria with dealers and validate that
dealership customers are being served according to recommended best practices.
After successful completion of the evaluation, the dealership is certified as
a Gold Medal Dealer. All dealerships that are members of the Autobytel Dealer
Network are eligible to earn Gold Medal Dealer status. Dealers who attain
Gold Medal status have the opportunity to earn points towards additional
Autobytel products and services.
Car buyers who submit a purchase request through Autobytel's websites,
http://www.autobytel.com , http://www.autoweb.com and http://www.carsmart.com , will know they are
working with a dealer, identified by a Gold Medal Dealer icon, who has
achieved the highest performance rating from Autobytel Inc.
"Autobytel is in a unique position to help dealers and car buyers build
better relationships," said Schwartz. "We were founded to improve the car
buying and selling process for dealers and consumers. Our Gold Medal Dealer
program is an important feature in that ongoing dialogue."
Autobytel, which is credited with inventing online car buying in 1995,
first appeared at NADA in 1996. The company has since led the industry to
help dealers better serve Internet auto shoppers, who now comprise 64% of all
car buyers. Autobytel currently provides customer referral, marketing and CRM
services to more than 25,000 franchised dealers throughout the United States,
as well as automotive marketing and data services for the majority of auto
manufacturers operating in North America.
According to comScore Media Metrix, Autobytel Inc. received an average of
7.7 million unique visitors each month in 2003, the highest among new vehicle
buying and research websites. The company was also the most visited new car
buying and research destination among U.S. Hispanic Internet users in 2003.
About Autobytel Inc.
Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq: ABTL), a leading Internet automotive marketing
services company, helps retailers sell cars and manufacturers build brands
through marketing, advertising and CRM (customer relationship management)
tools and programs. The Company owns and operates the automotive websites
Autobytel.com, Autoweb.com, Carsmart.com and AutoSite.com, as well as AIC
(Automotive Information Center), a leading provider of automotive marketing
data and technology. Autobytel is the industry leader in dealership lead
management and CRM solutions and owns and operates AVV, Inc., a leading
provider of dealership CRM and data extraction services. Autobytel generates
over a billion dollars a month in car sales for dealers through its services
and was the most visited new car buying and research destination in 2003,
reaching millions of car-shoppers as they made their vehicle buying decisions.
SOURCE Autobytel Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.autobytel.com
CONTACT:
media relations, Melanie Webber of Autobytel
Inc., +1-949-862-3023, or cell, +1-949-300-8347,
melaniew@autobytel.com; or Betsy Smith Isroelit, cell,
+1-213-300-0108, betsy@rbicom.com, or Joe Foster, cell,
+1-213-300-0104, joe@rbicom.com, both of RBI Communications, for
Autobytel Inc.
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