This year’s contest asked readers to vote for their favorite vendors in 27 categories. Some categories only had one or two winners, while no winners were named in the Reputation Management and Social Media Management categories.
TORRANCE, Calif. — Auto Dealer Monthly magazine, sister publication to Bobit Business Media's F&I and Showroom magazine, has announced the winners of this year’s Dealers’ Choice Awards. The annual program recognizes the industry’s best product and service providers as selected by dealers and dealership personnel.
In May, voters weighed in to recognize their favorite partners in 27 categories. Providers were scored on the product or service itself, customer support and service, value, and whether they would recommend the company to another dealer. To qualify for a first-place “Diamond,” second-place “Platinum” or third-place “Gold” award, a company must be among those that scored above the group average score in each category. Some categories include only one or two winners; two categories, Reputation Management and Social Media Management, failed to name any winners.
“Each year, the high standards of dealers are reflected in the results of the Dealers’ Choice Awards voting, and this year is no exception,” said David Gesualdo, publisher of Auto Dealer Monthly and F&I and Showroom. “The winners have set a high standard for themselves and for the industry as a whole.”
The winners of the 2014 Dealers’ Choice Awards are listed below. For complete coverage of this year’s program, look for a special section in the August issue of Auto Dealer Monthly.
New-Vehicle Internet Lead Provider
Diamond: AutoTrader.com
Platinum: Dealer.com
Gold: Cars.com
Used-Vehicle Internet Lead Provider
Diamond: AutoTrader.com
Platinum: eBay Motors
Gold: Cars.com
Special Finance Lead
Diamond: DealerLink
Platinum: CarsDirect
Gold: Auto Credit Express
Website Provider
Diamond: Dealer.com
Platinum: eBizAutos
Gold: Dealer e-Process
Chat Provider
Diamond: ActivEngage
Platinum: Contact At Once!
Gold: Client~ConneXion
Online Inventory Listing Management
Diamond: eBizAutos
Platinum: Auction123
Gold: Dominion Dealer Specialties
CRM Provider
Diamond: ELEAD1ONE
Platinum: DealerSocket
Gold: ProMax Unlimited
Digital Marketing
Diamond: eBizAutos
Platinum: ELEAD1ONE
Gold: Dealer.com
Mobile Media
Diamond: Dealer.com
Platinum: eBizAutos
Direct Mail
Diamond: ProMax Unlimited
Platinum: Strategic Marketing
Sales Training
Diamond: Ziegler SuperSystems
Platinum: Joe Verde Group
Gold: The Cardone Group
Internet Training
Diamond: Kain Automotive
Platinum: Dealer.com
Gold: Dealer Synergy
F&I Training
Diamond: United Development Systems (UDS)
Platinum: Reahard & Associates
Gold: American Financial and Automotive Services (AFAS)
F&I Products
Diamond: IAS
Platinum: ECP
Gold: Safe-Guard Products International
F&I Desking Software
Diamond: ProMax Unlimited
Platinum: Dealertrack
Gold: Reynolds and Reynolds
Service Contract Provider
Diamond: CNA National
Platinum: Protective Asset Protection
Gold: AUL
Service Contract Reinsurance
Diamond: Portfolio
Platinum: CNA National
Gold: GSFSGroup
Biweekly Payment Provider
Diamond: SMART Payment Plan
Platinum: US Equity Advantage
Gold: Economic Advantages Corp. (EAC)
Prime Captive Finance Company
Diamond: Ally Auto
Platinum: Toyota Financial Services
Gold: Ford Motor Credit
Prime Non-Captive Finance Company
Diamond: Wells Fargo
Platinum: Chase
Gold: Capital One Auto Finance
Subprime Finance Company
Diamond: Regional Acceptance
Platinum: Wells Fargo
Gold: Capital One Auto Finance
Online Auction for Purchasing Inventory
Diamond: SmartAuction
Platinum: Manheim
Gold: ADESA
Traditional Auction
Diamond: Manheim
Platinum: ADESA
Inventory Management
Diamond: vAuto
Platinum: FirstLook
Gold: Dealertrack
DMS Provider
Diamond: Dealertrack
Platinum: Auto/Mate
Gold: Reynolds and Reynolds
