The first Trader Media Group, Auto Trader was founded by John Madejski in 1975 in the United Kingdom. Since 1996, Autotrader has been selling classifieds online. Currently, one of the largest specialist multi-media groups of Europe, Trader Media Group is the owner of the AutoTrader.co.uk, which is an automotive sales website and classified magazine located in the United Kingdom.
AutoTrader.co.uk provides market leading websites and their associated magazines, including Top Marques, Truck & Plant Trader, Bike Trader, Motor-home, Ad Trader, and Caravan Trader, Farmers Trader all with the largest reach in their sectors, through web visitors and magazine readership. To provide unrivalled depth and breadth of coverage across the UK, the magazine is published weekly in 9 regions.
Approximately, 189,077 copies of Auto Trader sold per week (ABC Jan-Dec 2008) Not only this, but a loyal readership estimated at just under 1.38 million (NRS – Jan – Dec 2007). Since 1975, it has been operating in many countries. Mainly, used and new vehicles are shown on the market by AutoTrader. Either individuals or trade dealers sells vehicles. Approximately 370,000 cars are published and listed in all weekly edition (web and print together) of AutoTrader.
With private buyers and sellers, Auto Trader has such a great reputation. Motoring trade also widely uses it to list their stock. More than 80% of vehicles listed are from car supermarkets, independent dealers, and franchised dealers offering the best deals across the nation. In 2002, this was added to the magazine and has been performing strongly ever since, providing an unrivalled selection of new and used vehicles to customers.
At AutoTrader.co.uk, customers can search for cars on the go with Auto Trader Mobile. They can also know about car insurance, car loans, check car history and know about car valuations. Customers can buy, or sell new or used cars, bikes, and Caravans & Motorhomes and also buy or sell used vans, used trucks, farm machinery and used plant machinery. To know about the car, its price, they can see car reviews.
Auto Trader contains 4 listing options, standard, enhanced, deluxe and VIP. Naturally the lower priced listing is the standard and the price increases for each option respectively. Below is a list of the ad features for each online listing.
Standard Listing
- 3 week listing
- 3 online photos
- Ads appear after other listings
Enhanced Listing
- 8 week listing
- 9 online photos
- Thumbnail photo
- Ads appear before standard listings
Deluxe Listing
- Ad runs until the vehicle sells
- 18 online photos
- Thumbnail photo
- Ads appear before standard listings
VIP Listing
- Ad runs until the vehicle sells
- Dedicated sales consultant
- Vehicle history report
- Detailed inspection
- Pre-qualified buyers
Pros
- Employee benefits were good
- Nice break rooms
- Training classes were worth attending and added benefit (both professionally and personally)
- A lot of nice people work there
- #1 for online advertisers in the automotive market place
- always looking for the next innovation in online advertising
- Good benefits and pay
- Ability to move to different parts of the country if in a sales role
- Lot of good people, great salary, and flexible
- Quality of content, value, range of vehicles, range of prices,availability
Cons
- Directors did the same meeting dance and spent any available time trying to get noticed by execs
- Too many middle “managers” who were all title – spend all day moving from meeting room to meeting room avoiding anything that remotely resembles real work
- Too much CYA politics
- Can be set in ways as the “industry leader”
- Not always listening to the small customers
- The last six months at the company as operations wound down
- Information from upper management to operational staff wasn’t the greatest
- Lack of cohesive direction, and or bad direction. Politics
- They don’t even bother reading emails + double your premium because of their incompetence
Navigation of AutoTrader.co.uk are “Motoring shop”, “Advice”, “Car reviews”, etc. In “Motoring shop” navigation customers can know about buying tools, insurance protection, car maintenance, and more services. Customers can get information about car valuations, free credit check, contract hire and leasing, and they can also compare over 200 loans in buying tools option. customers can know about GAP insurance, Warranty cover, breakdown cover, compare over 400 insurance prices, car servicing, car repairs, tyre centre, get a half price MOT, personalized plates, vehicle inspections, used parts, check a car’s history.
In “Advice” navigation, customers can get advice about showroom text, car insurance, how to handle a viewing, how to buy a used car, and every new car reviewed. In “Car reviews” navigation, customers can get information about different cars such as superminis, hatchbacks, saloons, sports, SUVs/MPVs.
How to find a car?
For finding a used car or another vehicle, enter postcode, select distance, vehicle and model, minimum price, maximum price, and more options then click on “search” option.
If customers want to find new car, then they can click on “find new” option and select national adverts, make/model, any make, any model, any sub model, any edition, vehicle attributes, style/feature, fuel type, car type engine size, number of doors, any transmission, clear selection, then click on “update result below” option.
How to buy a car?
Customers can buy a new car by entering postcode, selecting distance, any make, any model, price from £ 0 and up to £ 1,000,000 and click on “search” option.
Buying a used car can be the fastest, simplest and cheapest way to your perfect car. Before you think about which car to buy, you will need to set your budget, for that work out how much you have to spend, how much your current car is worth, and whether you will sell it privately or part-exchange it with a dealer. Decide on whether you need to take out finance. Calculate approximately costs of your fuel, insurance and road tax. In this process Auto Trader can help by:
- Setting your budget
- Understanding car loans and finance
- Checking your credit rating
To inspect a used car, there are a few golden rules:
- Get a car history check to establish if the car has any outstanding finance, has been stolen or written off
- Examine the car’s documents – logbook, service history and previous MOT certificates – to spot if the car has been clocked
- Check the car’s Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) at the base of the windscreen, under the bonnet and stamped into the chassis under the carpet beside the driver’s seat for signs of tampering, and make sure they match the VIN recorded in the logbook
- Look for rust, mismatched paint and uneven gaps between body panels
- Make sure all the car’s features work and lastly do the proper paper work.
Buying a new car gives you the peace of mind of being a car’s first owner, and the flexibility to choose the exact car you want. Before you think about which car to buy, you will need to work out how much you have to spend and how much your current car is worth, and whether you will sell it privately or part-exchange it with a dealer. Decide on whether you need to take out finance and Calculate your likely fuel, insurance and road tax costs.
Source: www.autotrader.co.uk
User Reviews
One User Reviews of "Autotrader.co.uk : Auto Trader UK – Buy & Sell New & Used Cars"some used trucks are not entirely used all, there are some used trucks that have very new engines and transmissions .