Why is Autotrader such a disaster?
02-Jun-2009, 11:41 PM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 97
Why is Autotrader such a disaster?
Autotrader is a horrible site for used vehicles. I only keep going back because it is more comprehensive than some other sites (i.e. autohound) and easier to search locally than others (i.e. ebay motors).
For one thing, it is full of spam ads. There are 5 S2000's for less than $6,000, and 9 350Z's for less than $6,000. With these ads it seems:
- the price is either $5,900 or $4,800
- the pictures are really pixelated if you click on them
- sometimes the car does not match the description (i.e. pictures of a 2 door roadster will be coupled with a description that talks about 4 seats).
Why the heck does autotrader allow this to go on!? It has been posting these obviously fake ads month or more! (Here is an example, of course there are many more: Auto Trader Canada | Truck Trader Canada | Boat Trader Canada | RV Trader Canada)
Also, sometimes the pictures on autotrader will not load, it is hit or miss.
Man I am sick of using that site, it is so dysfunctional, anything else you would recommend?
For one thing, it is full of spam ads. There are 5 S2000's for less than $6,000, and 9 350Z's for less than $6,000. With these ads it seems:
- the price is either $5,900 or $4,800
- the pictures are really pixelated if you click on them
- sometimes the car does not match the description (i.e. pictures of a 2 door roadster will be coupled with a description that talks about 4 seats).
Why the heck does autotrader allow this to go on!? It has been posting these obviously fake ads month or more! (Here is an example, of course there are many more: Auto Trader Canada | Truck Trader Canada | Boat Trader Canada | RV Trader Canada)
Also, sometimes the pictures on autotrader will not load, it is hit or miss.
Man I am sick of using that site, it is so dysfunctional, anything else you would recommend?
03-Jun-2009, 12:42 AM
#2
03-Jun-2009, 01:19 AM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 23,881
with the advent of all the free sites (kijiji, craigslist etc) its become harder for legit places like this to make a buck...thus, they take whatever they can get. also, ads are all processed by 3rd party companies which are paid by the "sellers" and they pay autotrader the small fee for advertising.
in the end if you want to see the good listings, pick up the hardcopy, sure it costs a couple bucks but it weeds out a lot of the bullsh*t stuff you see online especially since it being in print there is a week long buffer to edit out the crap ads that get online within minutes
in the end if you want to see the good listings, pick up the hardcopy, sure it costs a couple bucks but it weeds out a lot of the bullsh*t stuff you see online especially since it being in print there is a week long buffer to edit out the crap ads that get online within minutes
03-Jun-2009, 01:09 PM
#4
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Niagara Region
Posts: 63
I love the kijiji ads for local cars with palm trees in the background and lovely green grass in January. Where in southern Ontario is that exactly?? I usually send them a go **** yourself email just for fun.
Pat.
Pat.
03-Jun-2009, 02:19 PM
#5
Back before the change AT was doing a ton of marketing pop ups. I sent them an email letting them know how I thought Autotrader improved since adding these pop ups as it made it feel more like a video game.
I asked them to add more to make it even more challenging.
No reply as of yet.
03-Jun-2009, 02:30 PM
#6
Inactive
Join Date: May 2005
Location: █♣█ Durham
Posts: 11,514
lots and lots of scam and fake ads there...............
and what is the deal with ebay: all the scammers on the net wants to deal a car through eBay's Vehicle Purchase Program, there must be a flaw somewhere in their system.
transaction through eBay's Vehicle Purchase Program. The Vehicle Purchase Protection Program offered by eBay Inc provides up to $20,000 protection. They will handle all the paperwork making sure that everything will be ok.
Here is how the program works:
- I will forward the details of our transaction to eBay.
- eBay will process the paperwork and will email you
- if everything is OK, I will ship the car to your location with DAS ( Dependable Auto Shippers ). We’ll pay the fees
- after you receive ,inspect and test drive the car if you accept you will confirm to eBay. If you do not like it for any reason eBay will then make the necessary arrangement so that the transport company can pick it up in 48 hours
and what is the deal with ebay: all the scammers on the net wants to deal a car through eBay's Vehicle Purchase Program, there must be a flaw somewhere in their system.
transaction through eBay's Vehicle Purchase Program. The Vehicle Purchase Protection Program offered by eBay Inc provides up to $20,000 protection. They will handle all the paperwork making sure that everything will be ok.
Here is how the program works:
- I will forward the details of our transaction to eBay.
- eBay will process the paperwork and will email you
- if everything is OK, I will ship the car to your location with DAS ( Dependable Auto Shippers ). We’ll pay the fees
- after you receive ,inspect and test drive the car if you accept you will confirm to eBay. If you do not like it for any reason eBay will then make the necessary arrangement so that the transport company can pick it up in 48 hours
03-Jun-2009, 02:44 PM
#7
Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Niagara Region
Posts: 63
lots and lots of scam and fake ads there...............
and what is the deal with ebay: all the scammers on the net wants to deal a car through eBay's Vehicle Purchase Program, there must be a flaw somewhere in their system.
transaction through eBay's Vehicle Purchase Program. The Vehicle Purchase Protection Program offered by eBay Inc provides up to $20,000 protection. They will handle all the paperwork making sure that everything will be ok.
Here is how the program works:
- I will forward the details of our transaction to eBay.
- eBay will process the paperwork and will email you
- if everything is OK, I will ship the car to your location with DAS ( Dependable Auto Shippers ). We’ll pay the fees
- after you receive ,inspect and test drive the car if you accept you will confirm to eBay. If you do not like it for any reason eBay will then make the necessary arrangement so that the transport company can pick it up in 48 hours
and what is the deal with ebay: all the scammers on the net wants to deal a car through eBay's Vehicle Purchase Program, there must be a flaw somewhere in their system.
transaction through eBay's Vehicle Purchase Program. The Vehicle Purchase Protection Program offered by eBay Inc provides up to $20,000 protection. They will handle all the paperwork making sure that everything will be ok.
Here is how the program works:
- I will forward the details of our transaction to eBay.
- eBay will process the paperwork and will email you
- if everything is OK, I will ship the car to your location with DAS ( Dependable Auto Shippers ). We’ll pay the fees
- after you receive ,inspect and test drive the car if you accept you will confirm to eBay. If you do not like it for any reason eBay will then make the necessary arrangement so that the transport company can pick it up in 48 hours
Pat.
03-Jun-2009, 06:28 PM
#8
Inactive
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Where my car is.
Posts: 5,460
On kijiji, you can place an ad with lots of pics for free, and more and more ppl are looking there too. So why pay to post your ad in autotrader and have to wait a week for it to be in the mag, when less and less ppl are buying the mags and looking on autotrader website....?
Saw this coming a long time ago.
Saw this coming a long time ago.
05-Jun-2009, 12:14 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 173
with the advent of all the free sites (kijiji, craigslist etc) its become harder for legit places like this to make a buck...thus, they take whatever they can get. also, ads are all processed by 3rd party companies which are paid by the "sellers" and they pay autotrader the small fee for advertising.
in the end if you want to see the good listings, pick up the hardcopy, sure it costs a couple bucks but it weeds out a lot of the bullsh*t stuff you see online especially since it being in print there is a week long buffer to edit out the crap ads that get online within minutes
in the end if you want to see the good listings, pick up the hardcopy, sure it costs a couple bucks but it weeds out a lot of the bullsh*t stuff you see online especially since it being in print there is a week long buffer to edit out the crap ads that get online within minutes
Horrible, horrible website. I can't fathom how an actual company runs this site when I can probably do a better job myself. I remember when you coudln't even link your buddy to a specific car because of the way their website handled the links. What a pain in the ***. Maintaining a website isn't rocket science...
Got way more calls from kijiji than autotrader anyways..
05-Jun-2009, 04:07 PM
#10
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 97
I have never tried kijiji before, I will have to check it out.
Look at this link, there are three real ads for a Nissan GT-R, then nine fake ones! NISSAN GT-R Ontario | Auto Trader Used NISSAN GT-R
3:9 ratio of real to fake... wow. Who would think you could buy a 2009 GT-R for $13,000 anyways?
Look at this link, there are three real ads for a Nissan GT-R, then nine fake ones! NISSAN GT-R Ontario | Auto Trader Used NISSAN GT-R
3:9 ratio of real to fake... wow. Who would think you could buy a 2009 GT-R for $13,000 anyways?
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