how reliable is AutoTrader messaging?

[RIB-JIG]

I sent messages to (3) sellers local to me (4) days ago.
Some basic questions.
None have answered. Is this unusual?
I'd a thought they'd be motivated to check their email.
Is AutoTrader known for having messaging problems?
regards jg

 

[EV_D]

best way to send "offer" that sends emails to them vs the chat some don't have it as push set up.
but low ball it so they don't accept and you get stuck

 

[RIB-JIG]

Thanks.
I didn't send offer & don't want to lowball as they may truly ignore forever...
I asked if their vehicle had transferable SC01 & what their current 100% range was...

 

[spata]

I sent messages to (3) sellers local to me (4) days ago.
Some basic questions.
None have answered. Is this unusual?
I'd a thought they'd be motivated to check their email.
Is AutoTrader known for having messaging problems?
regards jg

Same experience - I reached out to a handful and none ever replied

 

[TheWulf]

I always call, especially if it's a dealer. Talking to someone in sales who stands to make a commission will get you way farther than a cold email that could end up anywhere.

 

[EV_D]

so far it's work for the two I've tried on when I was looking at cars. But I find one in LA 2017 model S listing showed 100D for 38.5k with 40k miles but she never got back :*(

 

[spata]

so far it's work for the two I've tried on when I was looking at cars. But I find one in LA 2017 model S listing showed 100D for 38.5k with 40k miles but she never got back :*(

Yeah I tried that one too (Kayla)

 

[gordita]

Well, that's not good news as I like their setup and the way all of the car info is presented. it's better than CL and FB. over the past few days, most of the cars I had saved in my profile have been sold so that tells me that the system is working (making a big assumption that they found a buyer through autotrader).

 

[RIB-JIG]

...it's better than CL and FB.

Please, what is CL? (FB = Facebook, right?)
My non-responders are all private owners,
so no call info AFAICT.

 

[gordita]

craigslist = CL

 

[RIB-JIG]

another bizarro thing about AutoTrader,
a saved advanced search with 200 mile limit returns 0 hits,
when changed to 100 mile limit it returns 4 proper hits...
300 miles also 4 proper hits...

 

[RIB-JIG]

a non-responing seller just responded !
he-she stated they were signed in to AutoTrader
via an Apple ID & was NOT receiving messages;
is this something AutoTrader needs to fix?
HEY AUTOTRADER:
how do non-Apple users get thru to Apple users??!!

 

[noobified]

A lot of Autotrader listings never get taken down after the car is sold. There are a lot of old listings on there.

 

[EV_D]

Yeah I tried that one too (Kayla)

FYI she just replied like 3-4 weeks later, it is 75D with EAP w/ premium and lighting package, no sound or cold weather package tho.

 

[RIB-JIG]

FYI, AutoTrader emailed me today & my response:

Thanks for response.
It may help to know:
one of the non-responders finally responded & stated reason
he could not see messages was because he was signed in
using Apple ID. Hopefully AutoTrader can fix issue by making
it possible for Apple users to see non-Apple users' messages.
Otherwise large numbers of sellers & buyers are NOT connecting...?
regards


In a message dated 3/15/2023 11:49:05 AM Eastern Standard Time, xxxxxxxxxxxxx@autotrader.com writes:

Dear XXXX

Thank you for contacting Autotrader.

I have escalated a ticket to our IT team in regards to your messaging issues. In the meantime, double check to see if you are missing any account verification steps, finishing these steps may resolve the issue.

Thanks,

Kristine
Customer Support Specialist II
Private Seller Exchange

 

[whitex]

I sent messages to (3) sellers local to me (4) days ago.
Some basic questions.
None have answered. Is this unusual?
I'd a thought they'd be motivated to check their email.
Is AutoTrader known for having messaging problems?
regards jg

AutoTrader user experience design SUCKS - no doubt a result of a design by committee and lowest bidder outsourcing. I just used it selling a car. First of all, no notifications to the seller. Seller has to find that there is section for interested sellers - took me a couple of weeks to stumble upon it. No idea when the potential buyers expressed interest either, at least nowhere where I could find. Then, you'd think you could see the messages, BUT NO, you have to click a button called "Send XYZ a message" in order to see the message history from that potential buyer? WTF? Why not call it "Messages" or "Chat" rather than "Send a message to buyer" which does not, at least to me, mean "Read messages from buyer"? Why isn't there an "Inbox" for all messages? Also, why not send at least email notifications when there are new messages from interested buyers (honestly, I expected that, I was wrong)? I got a bunch of marketing emails from AutoTrader, but no notification about interested buyers.

AutoTrader has a HORRIBLE design. I had interested buyers, never even knew they were there (I saw the number of searches the car showed up in, but the same dashboard screen didn't show interested buyers or messages!). Didn't find the interested buyers on the site (different page than the dashboard I was using) until I pretty much sold the car already. I would shy away from using AutoTrader in the future. It was a total waste of money for me. Maybe, if I took time to research how to use its convoluted design, and then check it few times a day, then it would have some benefit, but as it was, it was money wasted. But honestly, a service you have to study to use in today's times? I bet most sellers walk away with the same experience, and it explains why you don't get any responses from them - they don't get notified you messaged them, they might not even know where to look for your messages.

 

[whitex]

Well, that's not good news as I like their setup and the way all of the car info is presented. it's better than CL and FB. over the past few days, most of the cars I had saved in my profile have been sold so that tells me that the system is working (making a big assumption that they found a buyer through autotrader).

I marked my car listed on Autotrader as sold, but AutoTrader did absolutely nothing to help sell it. Read my post above for details.

 

[whitex]

A lot of Autotrader listings never get taken down after the car is sold. There are a lot of old listings on there.

They auto expire in about a month, at least when I posted mine last moth. Extension is free up to a year, but it requires the seller to extend the listing.

 

[RIB-JIG]

one way for sellers to overcome messaging issues:
post throw-away direct email address in vehicle description...?

 

[whitex]

one way for sellers to overcome messaging issues:
post throw-away direct email address in vehicle description...?

If you do that, you will have to include DO NOT MESSAGE ME THROUGH AUTOTRADER, USE ONLY THE PROVIDED EMAIL ADDRESS, which will likely scare away potential buyers as a possible scam. Someone better workaround would be to find another site which has proper UX design, then post in your AT add for people to go there instead to message you because you are not going to respond to any AT messages. I suspect AT staff might block your ad though if you're sending people to a competitor.