Autotrader Price Ranking

[JimmyConwayNW]

Autotrader currently display tags of low / good / great value.

Soon they are going to add a fair marker and then a high / above market indication towards vehicles.

I run a used car dealership with circa 50 stock and noticed that 15 of my cars will show as overpriced / above market. Do you think if you were looking for a well equipped car with many £thousand worth of options you would look past this or would it be a sticking point.

Im interested in the thoughts of the car buyers of PH on this one.

Autotrader, the only company we pay £50k plus a year to and they now decide to tell the public our cars are too expensive

[valiant]

I wouldn’t pass on it especially if the extras justifying why it’s ‘overbook’ were clearly shown.

Something like *£5000 of extras with this vehicle* or something or highlighting leather or satnav where this is a rare option would actually draw me more towards the vehicle. Unless you’re selling something rare, your vehicle will be one of probably hundreds on sale so highlight the extras to make it stand out.

[vdn]

Yes, the extras would have to be made VERY clear; as the AT Price markers do affect views and interest.

[DSLiverpool]

If it forces sellers to describe the optional extras rather than “electric windows & alloys” etc in a never ending list of standard stuff I’m in favour.

But to answer your question - on PH we are more after “the car spec” than the generic £

[Bussolini]

I would suggest most punters wouldn't be willing to spend thousands more because of options, unless it's something interesting that is likely to attract more discerning customers.

[AdeTuono]

DSLiverpool said:

If it forces sellers to describe the optional extras rather than “electric windows & alloys” etc in a never ending list of standard stuff I’m in favour.

But to answer your question - on PH we are more after “the car spec” than the generic £

The last car I bought had a '3-spoke steering wheel' as one of it's features. And a 'locking glove box'.

[valiant]

AdeTuono said:

DSLiverpool said:

If it forces sellers to describe the optional extras rather than “electric windows & alloys” etc in a never ending list of standard stuff I’m in favour.

But to answer your question - on PH we are more after “the car spec” than the generic £

The last car I bought had a '3-spoke steering wheel' as one of it's features. And a 'locking glove box'.

I think AT have a auto-fill function for dealers that will list the standard spec for them hence ‘locking glove box’ and similar as these are listed on manufacturer sites.

It’s up to the dealer then to tweak the ad so that the optional extras are clearly highlighted to justify why AT deem it expensive compared to similar ads displayed.

[Earthdweller]

It only shows dealer cars as “good price” and quite often they aren’t

I ignore

[Hub]

Yes I would look past it. I can make my own mind up on price and spec, and cheapest isn't necessarily best or the only consideration. It doesn't take account for condition for example, which is very important.

[The Mad Monk]

"Good price" "priced low", what does it mean?

Is one better value than the other?

I have asked the question on here before, and nobody knew, or cared.

[twokcc]

IMO Autotrader has a poor template for sellers. It gives tick boxes for features that are mostly standard and then puts these into a long list as part of the description for the first part of the advert.
If you try and list specific options it wont let you do this as a clear list with each as a bullet point ( not as far as I have been able to determine with my browser) So there finish up as just a string of options usually after the list above.
Some sellers manage to produce a decent advert but its not easy BUT loads are absolutely pants

Autotrader as the main and most expensive seller needs a complete overall. The search function does help in narrowing down specific options but not always. When it lists ad as having search term it can be hidden in generic headings that appear on every ad and using Control F to find means opening each one of these.

A 4/10 for me both as a private buyer and a seller
P.S. Tend to ignore high/low prices as usually looking for car with specific options which I am prepared to pay more than the bog standard car but price might be £1k higher for £5k of options

[datum77]

Neither of the 2 car dealers that I work for use AT any more owing to their stupid/crazy costs. All the while AT have the monopoly in the market place - they will continue to rip-off the small car dealer in favour of the "big boys" who advertise the most. (And pay the least, pro-rata, because of the numbers involved).

Isn't it a little ironic that the "good price/overpriced/good bargain" slogans that THEY put on all the ads is doing the people that pay their salaries, (the advertisers), no favours whatsoever....!!!

The sooner a worthwhile competitor comes onto the market - the better. Neither Ebay or Gumtree, (which is owned by Ebay), are equivalent competitors.

[vikingaero]

I've had dealers refuse to give a discount because it was "priced low" on AT. Funny how they still call you back when you walk off.

[Driver101]

The Mad Monk said:

"Good price" "priced low", what does it mean?

Is one better value than the other?

I have asked the question on here before, and nobody knew, or cared.

It often means one car isn't as overpriced as other advertised cars.

Cars can be tagged as well priced when they clearly aren't. They'll be well over valuation guides and not selling and still be highlighted as a good price.

[timberman]

Personally, when looking to buy a car I will have decided on the the desired make, model, engine, trim level acceptable colours, and mileage limit, plus the must have and preferable options I want.

At this point I will start looking on the likes of PH and AT to see if I can find cars that match or come close to matching my list,
if I find a suitable car, then I will look at the price and consider whether (based on how closely it matches my desired spec) it's an amount I'm prepared to pay or whether I'd rather keep waiting to see if something better comes along.

I'm sure there are people who will have a budget in mind and then just see what's available for there budget,
but I'd like to think that most people will have something more specific in mind and will have done some research, enough to decide what would suit them best and have an idea of what they would like in terms of spec and options, so would hopefully look past the on screen price long enough to decide whether it represents value for money or not.

[jason61c]

I don't like the ranking system.

I've recently bought 2 cars off autotrader, both dealers didn't want to budge as they were priced 'low', however 2 other cars with better spec, same price were 'priced high'.

Its basically total rubbish, its the big hitters who pay for sponsored listings that win, no one else.

[The Mad Monk]

jason61c said:

I don't like the ranking system.

Would you explain it to me, please?

Is "priced low", cheaper than "good value"?

[JimmyConwayNW]

They certainly work against us as dealers it feels despite paying huge sums. I just think a business I spend £50k a year with to tell my potential customers actually this guys a bit expensive is a bit too far.

[DaveH23]

When I see it priced cheap/Low my first thought is, 'Whats wrong with it?'

[sjc]

As someone who has browser AT for months looking for a couple of cars I can tell you that to anyone with half a brain it wouldn’t make one iota of difference.
In fact it’s insulting people’s intelligence.