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Permalink Reply by Mark Dubis on June 14, 2010 at 2:01pm

With no replies after one week we might infer that providing a great shopping experience is not the priority of most dealerships. Our new service Carfolks.com hopes to change that attitude. Here is our current press release which we hope will encourage dealers to participate.

Carfolks.com Helps Consumers Find Auto Retailers They Can Trust

A new social media website provides a better vehicle shopping experience for consumers

June 14, 2010: Consumers are coming back into auto showrooms and the Internet provides shoppers with more information than ever. They want a great buying experience and are looking for dealerships that have a good reputation. Carfolks.com will be providing the social evidence for consumers seeking a friction free sales transaction. Like Yelp and Facebook, customers can comment on their experiences with dealers they have worked with during the past year. Their feedback will help their neighbors find good local auto retailers. Being an auto specific site allows consumers to quickly find the information they need in one location. Vehicle reviews and videos will be added in the near future.

Kim Clouse, Executive Director of Carfolks said, “Most auto shoppers are anxious about the vehicle buying process. Being in the business for a long time has shown me that the majority of car dealers and sales professionals are great people, but many folks are still leery of our industry.” Kim continued, “Carfolks helps build a bridge between shoppers and the dealers by providing a directory of every new auto dealer in the country along with a map to find them. And if the dealer or their sales people participate on the site, they are given a web page to promote themselves, share information about their professional experience and personal life, and make the prospective buyer more comfortable when starting the buying process.”

As auto sales professionals start participating on Carfolks, consumers will be able to choose the sales person they want to work with to complete the transaction. By reading customer comments, reviews and information on the sales person, the buyer feels more comfortable and has established a base trust level with that professional. Auto shoppers know that any dealer can meet or beat any legitimate price on a vehicle, so now their primary goal is to find a dealer that will provide a great buying experience too.

Mark R. Dubis, Marketing Director for Carfolks said, “While society loves all of our technology and the information that is now available at our fingertips, we also hard-wired for seeking out relationships where we feel someone is watching out for our interests. Carfolks.com created a neighborhood where that can happen. Our community benefits both the auto retailers and the vehicle buying public.”

Since every dealership and sales professional can participate for free, within six to nine months it will be very clear to auto shoppers across the country, which dealerships really care about customer service. A simple search on Carfolks for a specific make or dealer will reveal the dealers in the market that really focus on taking care of their customers. Shoppers will be asking dealers to show them the “Carfolks Rating.” 

All recent auto buyers are invited to visit Carfolks.com and share their buying or service experience with their neighbors.

About Carfolks.com:

Carfolks is part of CF Media Group, Inc. based in Elyria, OH. Regional executive offices are also located in Jasper, AL. Carfolks.com is the only automotive retailer and sales professional community providing transparency and candid customer reviews unfiltered by auto dealers. Auto Retailers and Consumers pay no fee to use our standard services.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Richards on June 20, 2010 at 12:44pm

Mark, I think you're right.

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Permalink Reply by aaron kominsky on June 20, 2010 at 1:12pm

Well don't you think it should be instead of worrying about how many untrained people there are in the dealership that couldn't bring any buisness in on their own let alone create an experience so they remember you and send referrals your way? First of all as soon as the customer looks at the website is where it should begin Does it? I do not think so ! so how can you do buisness ? If you don't handle the internet right and follow up correctly and get an appointment or even a committment then how the hell can you ever create a world class operation So my advice to any dealer is Start worrying about your untrained employees becoming professional enough not only to handle internet and floor traffic but to differentiate themselves becuse most dealerships websites are equipped with the right stuff but no one to handle it right either

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