Eric Wass, Internet Sales Manager at Heuberger Motors, Named the Autobytel July 2014 Dealer of the Month


Autobytel Dealer Awards Program honors exceptional dealers for outstanding Internet lead management and customer service standards.

To tweet this release and to celebrate, click #ABTLDealerStars

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 17, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Autobytel Inc. (Nasdaq:ABTL), pioneer of the automotive Internet and the company dedicated to connecting automotive consumers with dealers, has named Eric Wass, Internet Sales Manager at Heuberger Motors in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the Autobytel Dealer of the Month for July 2014.

The company's Dealer Awards Program honors exceptional #ABTLDealerStars who employ the highest standards in customer service and Internet automotive retail sales and lead management processes. The Autobytel 2014 Dealer of the Year Award is slated to be announced in January 2015 at the NADA Convention & Expo in San Francisco – when Autobytel officially celebrates its 20th Anniversary – with the crowning dealer chosen from this year's pool of monthly winners.

Eric joins Jackie Parker of Patriot Subaru in Saco, Maine; Chad Bravender of Larry H. Miller Honda in Boise, Idaho; John Walters of Lexus of Naperville in Naperville, Illinois; Frank Carrasquillo of Mercedes-Benz in Naples, Florida; and Chris Baughman of Sunset Honda in San Luis Obispo, California – who were named earlier 2014 Autobytel Dealer of the Month winners – in that pool of candidates.

"Eric and his team genuinely understand how to communicate with their customers and it shows in the successes their dealership has achieved," said Jeff Coats, President and CEO of Autobytel Inc. "From the very first correspondence, they manage expectations by offering upfront pricing and by providing a wealth of information to help their clients make educated car buying decisions. Heuberger Motors has been honored time and again by Subaru for excellence in customer service and we're pleased to name them an Autobytel Dealer of the Month."

Each month, Autobytel's sales and dealer operations teams evaluate prospective candidates from a competitive field of thousands of automotive retailers in the Autobytel network, with a monthly winner selected based on key online automotive best practices. The company launched its Dealer Awards Program at the beginning of 2013, honoring monthly winners throughout the year and in markets throughout the U.S.

Criteria evaluated for the Autobytel Dealer Awards Program include conversion rates, lead management processes, customer service principles, customer and brand retention analytics and Internet department practices, among others.

"We run a strict cradle to grave system here instead of a BDC," said Wass. "We are firmly committed to this process and feel it's the best. From the client's perspective, you get to work with your salesperson the entire time versus being shuffled around. We also provide low upfront pricing from the very first email, and we try to provide our clients with as much information as possible – as much or more information than what they're looking for – so they feel comfortable working with us from the get-go."

Wass says that due to the sheer number of Autobytel dealers, it's rewarding to receive this honor.

"I always read about Autobytel Dealer of the Month award winners in the Autobytel dealer newsletter, so it's an honor to be named a winner."

Heuberger Motors is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado and has been in operation since 1970, serving customers from Colorado Springs, Denver, Pueblo, and the surrounding areas. It offers its clients new and pre-owned Subarus, expert mechanics, OEM Subaru parts, and financing assistance, among other services. Additionally, Heuberger Motors has earned numerous Subaru customer satisfaction awards.

Autobytel consistently ranks as a top quality Internet lead provider, with the company's internally-generated leads converting at approximately three times the rate of the estimated industry average. It was named Top Rated New Car Leads in 2013 by DrivingSales; a finalist of the 2013 DrivingSales Most Valuable Insight Award; both a Power 250 Company and a Major Player in the Used Car Industry by Auto Remarketing Magazine; and # 1 Dealers' Choice Awards in 2012 by Auto Dealer Monthly.

For more information about the Autobytel Dealer Awards program, visit the "Dealer Corner" at http://dealer.autobytel.com/. To learn more about the July 2014 Autobytel Dealer of the Month, Eric Wass, visit (feature article link here).

Visit http://dealer.autobytel.com/auto-dealer-lead-products/ to learn about the company's leading automotive information and products and services. Follow us on Facebook,Twitter, Google+ and YouTube to stay connected to our latest news.

About Autobytel Inc.

Autobytel Inc. provides high quality consumer leads and associated marketing services to automotive dealers and manufacturers throughout the United States and offers consumers robust and original online automotive content to help them make informed car-buying decisions.  The company pioneered the automotive internet in 1995 with its flagship website www.autobytel.com and has since helped tens of millions of automotive consumers research vehicles; connected thousands of dealers nationwide with motivated car buyers; and helped every major automaker market its brand online.

Investors and other interested parties can receive Autobytel news releases and invitations to special events by accessing the online registration form at http://investor.autobytel.com/alerts.cfm.



            

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