TrueCar
From CarDealerWiki
Contents |
What Is TrueCar
TrueCar® is a Internet shopping tool which asserts that it can display the "true" prices that dealers have sold cars for in any local market. The service was formerly called ZAG® and is designed for consumers as a "haggle free" shopping service.
According to TrueCar® TV commercials, the consumer requests a price from their software and when a price is settled with a local dealer the consumer prints a price certificate to bring into the dealership. The TrueCar dealership should honor the negotiated price according to the commercials, which you can watch below.
Consumers who purchase a car through this service are not charged a fee. TrueCar® will collect a fee from the dealer selling the car. Current, dealers are charged $299 per new car sold and potentially higher commission for used car sales.
TrueCar® obtains the selling prices of previously sold cars through a variety of sources including data they extract from the dealers financial software system, called the Dealer Management System (DMS).
Is TrueCar® A Scam?
Automotive Trainer Jerry Thibeau shares his opinion in this YouTube video about the TrueCar® program. He also claims to have obtained email complaints from consumers who use this service, in the video below.
What Critics Are Writing About TrueCar®
Members of the Automotive Industry has expressed their concerns about the TrueCar® platform. You can read some of the most popular discussion thread from their resources listed below:
- James Ziegler's Post "True Car and ZAG - Cyber Bandits or Good for the Business?
- Why You MUST Cancel TrueCar®/Zag® NOW!
- Jeff Kershner's Post "Edmunds TMV vs TrueCar – Dealers, wake up!"
In Defense of TrueCar®
Here are resources and links to articles that are supportive of the TrueCar® platform or document their company in the news:
- Arlene Sawyers "Painter's vision: Sales with no sales staff"
- Arnold Tijerina In Defense of TrueCar
- TrueCar Review – Truth About Car Industry
- TrueCar Fuels Up With $200 Million in Funding and Two Acquisitions
Contacting TrueCar®
TrueCar® and Zag® are registered trademarks of TrueCar, Inc. You can read their About Us page from their website here: About TrueCar Inc.
