[OPLINLIST] automotive link

[Lynne Welch]

Points to consider:
1. There is no statement indicating credentials - the "About Us" we 
teach our patrons to look for.
2. A quick survey via internet search engines (I used both Google and 
AllTheWeb.com, my preferred searcher) indicates that they "sponsored" a 
review at  Houston  Cars 
(http://www.houstoncars.org/autotropoliscom-review.php) in 2007.
3. MotorTrend profiles them (unclear whether this is a press release or 
an article by MT's staff) 
http://www.motortrend.com/features/newswire/25855/index.html
4. Other info found various places (prwire.com for example) indicate 
that the company has been in business about 5 years. They are similar to 
the Trading-Post type publication (the sellers pay for the ads; content 
is free to potential buyers) and have a layout similar to the NADA 
website www.nadaguides.com.
5. The Better Business Bureau says they have been a member since 2008 
and has a rating for them of A-; details here 
http://www.bbb.org/west-florida/business-reviews/auto-services-other/autotropoliscom-in-tampa-fl-90049155
6. Their main claim to added value appears to be a nifty little 
interactive script which asks a series of questions and then attempts to 
match your personality type and budget to available vehicle models. They 
also appear to partner with dealers in various locations - they do not 
sell cars themselves; they just provide a service that links the 
customer with nearby dealers.
Hope this helps,
Lynne Welch
Herrick Memorial Library
Wellington OH 44090

Cindy Maxey wrote:
> I'm curious about this also, having received the same request.  Does 
> anyone know if this is reviewed anywhere? Does anyone with knowledge 
> of the auto industry know whether this is reliable, useful, 
> significantly different from the more established sources?
> -- 
> Cindy Maxey, MLIS
> Avon Lake Public Library
> 32649 Electric Blvd.
> Avon Lake, OH 44012
> 440.933.8128, ext. 248
>
> http://www.alpl.org
> http://avonlake.wordpress.com
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: *Cinda Bretz Wallace* <bretzci at oplin.org <mailto:bretzci at oplin.org>>
> Date: 2009/3/23
> Subject: [OPLINLIST] automotive link
> To: OPLINList <OPLINLIST at oplin.org <mailto:OPLINLIST at oplin.org>>
>
>
> We recently received a request from autotropolis.com 
> <http://autotropolis.com> to add them to the links on our website.
> Have any other libraries added them?
> Thanks,
> Cinda Bretz Wallace, MLIS
> Library Director
> Willard Memorial Library
> bretzci at oplin.org <mailto:bretzci at oplin.org>
>  
>