Automotive News First Shift
Benz dealerships score with mystery shoppers
July 2015
For the seventh straight year, Mercedes-Benz dealerships ranked first in Pied Piper's annual survey which rates how car dealers treat car-shoppers in person. Pied Piper's annual study sends thousands of mystery shoppers to dealerships nationwide to see how effectively salespeople sell.
Read More >
Mini, Lexus, BMW stores most-improved in responding to potential buyers
July 2015
Mini, Lexus and BMW dealerships achieved the industry's biggest improvements in building rapport with potential buyers, while Mercedes-Benz stores led the way for a seventh-consecutive year, according to a newly released study. Volvo, Smart, Jaguar and Cadillac had the largest drops in performance. The ninth-annual Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index U.S. Auto Industry Benchmarking Study measured the responsiveness of 6,370 dealerships of all ...
Read More >
» View PDF of Article (675.6 KB)
Automotive News First Shift
Lexus Mystery Shopper Win
March 2015
Lexus dealerships ranked highest in a study that looked how auto dealers handle internet leads. Industrywide, one customer in 12 received no response of any type. Pied Piper's fifth annual study used internet mystery shopping to contact 13,000+ dealerships to see how the U.S. dealer networks for all car brands compare.
Read More >
Automotive News
Infiniti, Mini, Mitsubishi stores most-improved in responding to Internet leads
Lexus stays No. 1; Buick, Land Rover and Volvo have biggest declines
March 2015
Infiniti, Mini and Mitsubishi dealerships had the industry's biggest improvements in responsiveness to customer inquiries on the Internet, while Lexus stores led the way for the second consecutive year, according to a newly released study. Buick, Land Rover and Volvo had the largest drops in performance. The fifth annual Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index Internet Lead Effectiveness Benchmarking Study measured the responsiveness of 13,637 ...
Read More >
» View PDF of Article (354 KB)
Automotive News
Lexus, Subaru rank high for responding to internet leads
March 2014
March 2014 LOS ANGELES -- Automakers whose dealers respond quickly to Internet leads with a personalized contact have tended to gain market share over those who treat those leads more casually with auto-response emails or salesman form letters. The 2014 Pied Piper's Internet Lead Effectiveness Benchmarking Study, found that although the industry-average performance was unchanged over last year, 21 of 33 brands improved their responsiveness. But ...
Read More >
» View PDF of Article (118.1 KB)
Automotive News First Shift
Mystery Win for Benz
July 2013
For the fifth straight year, Mercedes-Benz dealerships ranked first in Pied Piper's annual survey which rates how car dealers treat car-shoppers in person. Pied Piper's annual study sends thousands of mystery shoppers to dealerships nationwide to see how effectively salespeople sell.
Read More >
Automotive News
Survey: Mercedes stores have the most effective salespeople
July 2013
LOS ANGELES -- A study of car dealership sales techniques shows that luxury brands often are the most effective deal-closers and also are best at making customers happy. Among mass-market brands, Hyundai, Kia, Ford and Toyota were the leaders. Among all brands, Mercedes-Benz dealers finished atop the 11-month mystery shopping study by Pied Piper Management Co. of Monterey, Calif. Infiniti finished second, while last year's winner, Lexus, finished ...
Read More >
Automotive News First Shift
Secret shoppers pick Porsche
March 2013
Porsche and dealerships ranked highest in a study that looked how auto dealers handle internet leads. Pied Piper's annual study used internet mystery shopping to contact 11,000+ dealerships to see how the U.S. dealer networks for all car brands compare.
Read More >
Automotive News
Study: Dealerships respond better to Internet leads
March 2013
LOS ANGELES – Car dealerships are doing better at responding to Internet leads, but the quality of the responses still leaves something to be desired, according to a new study. Mystery-shopping consultant Pied Piper Management Co. found that most of the 11,353 dealerships it submitted Internet inquires to in the past year now use customer relationship management software. And although the software usually automatically responds immediately to an ...
Read More >
» View PDF of Article (158 KB)
Automotive News First Shift
Secret shoppers pick Benz
July 2012
Mercedes-Benz dealerships ranked highest in a study that looked how auto dealers treat customers. Pied Piper's annual study sends thousands of secret shoppers to stores across the U.S. and measures how salespeople perform.
Read More >