Walmart has hopped into the driver’s seat in the automotive industry. The retailer just announced they will be partnering with dealership groups and advertisers to provide a brand new car buying experience. CarSaver, an online auto retailer, will be heading the initial launch this spring which is set to be featured in around 25 Walmart stores.
The program isn’t your typical car shopping experience. CarSaver will have kiosks set up in Walmart stores to begin the launch. Customers are able to select new, used, and pre-owned vehicles as well as apply for insurance and financing options. The CarSaver representative then schedules a time for the partnering dealership and potential buyers to meet. The dealerships are located near the Walmarts where CarSaver representatives will seek out potential buyers.
There is a catch and a huge benefit that money crunching dealerships are loving! If the potential buyer does not follow through with the dealership, a CarSaver adviser will reach out to the customer to ensure the process is moving along and they are still interested. However, the only time the dealership pays is after a successful sale set up by CarSaver. It is a $350 flat fee per sold vehicle with CarSaver’s help.
This is a huge difference to traditional advertising options for dealerships who are usually forced to pay for sales leads and potential customers without sales guaranteed. While this program is still in the very early stages it has potential to help shape the future of third party vehicle advertisers by reimagining the way buyer meets seller.
Just when you thought Walmart had everything you needed in your life, they find another reason they continue to be Americas top large retailer. The program will launch in Dallas, Houston, Phoenix, and Oklahoma City on April 1st.
