According to a recent J.D. Power and Associates study, the internet has surpassed all other shopping methods as the source for locating the vehicle a late-model used car buyer will ultimately purchase.
The 2007 'Used Autoshopper.com Study was released yesterday alongside information showing that internet vehicle locators like Autotrader.com, CarMax.com and eBay Motors are working harder than ever, leading one in four shoppers to the vehicle that they actually decide to purchase. That's a 44 percent increase over last year, the study says.
"This is just one indication that use of the Internet is now perhaps the most efficient source for shopping for and purchasing late-model used vehicles," said Jon Osborn, research director at J.D. Power and Associates. "In the past, the majority of used-vehicle automotive Internet users relied on the traditional method of driving around to dealer lots to find the vehicle they ultimately bought."
Another interesting trend discovered by the study deals with Consumer Generated Content, or CGC. Many owners are offering their own experiences and opinions on makes, models and dealerships, consumer reviews and ratings are the most common form of CGC.
J.D. Power says that over 70% of shoppers use CGC to some extent during their shopping and purchasing process.
The 2007 'Used Autoshopper.com Study was released yesterday alongside information showing that internet vehicle locators like Autotrader.com, CarMax.com and eBay Motors are working harder than ever, leading one in four shoppers to the vehicle that they actually decide to purchase. That's a 44 percent increase over last year, the study says.
"This is just one indication that use of the Internet is now perhaps the most efficient source for shopping for and purchasing late-model used vehicles," said Jon Osborn, research director at J.D. Power and Associates. "In the past, the majority of used-vehicle automotive Internet users relied on the traditional method of driving around to dealer lots to find the vehicle they ultimately bought."
Another interesting trend discovered by the study deals with Consumer Generated Content, or CGC. Many owners are offering their own experiences and opinions on makes, models and dealerships, consumer reviews and ratings are the most common form of CGC.
J.D. Power says that over 70% of shoppers use CGC to some extent during their shopping and purchasing process.