Websites using Dealerrater

Okay, let s break down DealerRater, covering its overview, revenue, alternatives, pricing, and customer care.

DealerRater Overview

DealerRater is a platform primarily focused on collecting and displaying online reviews for car dealerships. It helps consumers research dealerships and make informed decisions based on the experiences of other customers. Here s a more detailed look:

• Core Function: Connects car buyers with customer reviews of dealerships.
• Data Focus: Customer reviews, star ratings, and dealership information (contact details, inventory listings, services offered).
• Target Audience: Car shoppers researching dealerships and dealerships looking to build a positive online reputation and attract new customers.
• Key Features for Shoppers:
  • Searchable database of dealerships by location, make, and other criteria.
  • Customer reviews and ratings for dealerships, sales staff, and service departments.
  • Ability to compare dealerships side-by-side.
  • Detailed dealership profiles with contact information and inventory listings.
• Key Features for Dealerships:
  • A profile to display dealership information, services, and reviews.
  • Tools to respond to customer reviews and engage with the community.
  • Reputation management and analytics to track customer feedback.
  • Opportunities to feature positive reviews and promote the dealership.
  • Potential integration with website and lead generation tools.

Revenue Model

DealerRater generates revenue through a combination of avenues:

• Subscription Fees for Dealerships: The primary revenue source is from the subscription fees paid by dealerships for enhanced profiles, reputation management tools, and lead generation services.
• Advertising: Advertising may be sold to auto-related businesses on the site.
• Data and Analytics Services: They likely offer data and analytics insights to dealerships and other automotive industry partners, based on the review data they gather.

Exact Revenue Figures:

DealerRater is a subsidiary of Cars.com, a publicly traded company (NYSE: CARS). Cars.com doesn t report DealerRater revenue separately. Therefore, precise revenue figures are not publicly available for just DealerRater.

Alternatives to DealerRater

Several other platforms compete with DealerRater, each offering similar or complementary services:

• Google Business Profile: Many consumers rely on Google Maps and Google search results to find local businesses and read reviews. Google Business Profiles are crucial for dealerships.
• Cars.com: As the parent company of DealerRater, Cars.com offers similar functionality along with vehicle listings and other automotive research tools.
• Edmunds: A popular automotive research site that also includes dealership reviews.
• Kelley Blue Book (KBB): Known for vehicle valuations, KBB also provides dealership ratings and reviews.
• Yelp: A general review platform that can also include reviews for car dealerships.
• Facebook: Dealerships can be reviewed by customers on their Facebook Business Pages.
• Birdeye: A platform focused on managing customer reviews, feedback, and surveys for businesses, including car dealerships.
• Podium: Another reputation management platform offering various tools, such as communication and feedback collection.

Pricing

• Varied Pricing: DealerRater offers different subscription packages based on dealership needs and size. These plans vary in features (enhanced profiles, reporting, reputation management, etc.).
• Not Publicly Listed: Exact pricing is not publicly available. It s typically negotiated with dealerships directly.
• Factors Affecting Price: The cost likely depends on factors like:
  • Number of dealership locations
  • Size of the dealership (number of employees)
  • Desired feature set (e.g., premium profiles, lead generation tools)
  • Contract length

Customer Care Details

• Primarily Business-Focused: DealerRater s customer care is primarily designed for dealerships.
• Dealership Account Managers: Dealerships typically have a dedicated account manager who provides support and answers questions regarding the platform s features and tools.
• Online Help Resources: DealerRater has a resource center with FAQs and guides for using their platform.
• Contact Form/Email: A contact form or email is available for inquiries from the DealerRater website or within the platform.
• Phone Support: Phone support may be offered to subscribed dealerships.
• Review Dispute Process: DealerRater provides guidelines for how dealerships can address and flag reviews that are deemed inappropriate or inaccurate. However, removal of reviews is not always granted.
• Limited Support for Consumers: Consumer support is limited as most interactions are between dealers and their potential customers. If a customer has problems with a review, they might have to contact DealerRater to address the situation.

Key Takeaways

• DealerRater is a significant player in the online automotive review space, especially for dealership reviews.
• Its revenue comes from subscription fees paid by dealerships and potentially from advertising or data analysis.
• The competitive landscape includes major players like Google, Cars.com, Edmunds, and other reputation management platforms.
• Pricing is not publicly available and is based on individual dealer needs.
• Customer support is mainly focused on dealerships, not individual consumers, although consumers can use the review site to find information to help with their car-buying process.

If you have any more specific questions about DealerRater, feel free to ask!