Importance of Building Trust With Online Shoppers

CHICAGO, Dec. 18, 2007 -- Cars.com will discuss the role confidence plays in the car shopping process during a workshop it will present in February 2008 at the 91st annual National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention and Expo in San Francisco. The session, "A Matter of Trust: Driving Sales With Online Buyers," includes a two-member dealer panel moderated by Cars.com training manager Kathy Kimmel.

Joining Kimmel for the workshop are: Matt Lamoureux, internet sales director for Acton Toyota in Acton, Mass.; and Nancy Stracione, internet director for Fred Beans Family of Dealerships in Doylestown, Pa. They will discuss online advertising strategies they've implemented at their stores to boost consumer confidence by fully merchandising their listings, effectively communicating on the telephone and via email and managing their online reputation.

"Dealers have little room for error. They must establish the integrity of their dealership and their inventory with each listing and every customer interaction," said Kimmel. "To increase their likelihood of winning the sale, dealers must provide the information shoppers are looking for and then ensure it's accurate and tells a compelling story about the vehicle itself and the value of buying from their store."

Cars.com and its dealer panelists will present "A Matter of Trust" once daily during the NADA convention's four-day run. Scheduled times and locations include:

  -- Feb. 9, 11 a.m., North Exhibit Level, Room 121
  -- Feb. 10, 3:30 p.m., North Exhibit Level, Room 121
  -- Feb 11, 8:30 a.m., South Mezzanine Level, Room 274-276
  -- Feb. 12, 11 a.m., North Exhibit Level, Room 121

"Trust plays such an important role in the sales process that even an honest mistake at any step along the way can derail the transaction," Kimmel said. "Our workshop examines car buyers' perceptions and outlines what successful dealers take to deliver the shopping and purchase experience they want."

Cars.com also will exhibit in booth No. 8001S at the event, which is expected to feature more than 650 vendors and attract more than 15,000 attendees.

About Cars.com

Partnered with more than 200 leading metro newspapers, television stations and their websites, Cars.com (http://www.cars.com/) is the most comprehensive destination for those looking to buy or sell a new or used car. The site lists more than 2.4 million vehicles from 15,000 dealer customers, classified advertisers and private parties to offer consumers the best selection of new and used cars online, as well as the content, tools and advice to support their shopping experience. Cars.com combines powerful inventory search tools and new-car configuration with pricing information, photo galleries, buying guides, side-by-side comparison tools, original editorial content and reviews to help millions of car shoppers connect with sellers each month.

Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by leading media companies, including Belo , Gannett Co., Inc. , The McClatchy Company , Tribune Company and The Washington Post Company .