AI appointment setter for independent used car dealers

Small teams, after-hours leads. Many independent stores have a handful of people. Leads that arrive at night or on a busy Saturday wait too long.

Marketplace leads cost money. CarGurus and Cars.com leads are paid for. A vendor view quoted on DealerRefresh says CarGurus should come in below $40 per lead and Cars.com below $50.

The car sold, the shopper didn't. When the listed car sells, the shopper who asked about it is rarely offered something similar.

Offer them the next best thing, quickly. This is one of the most common reasons independent dealers lose a shopper: the lead was about one stock number, the car sold, and nobody followed up with alternatives.

Setterly's AI can reopen those leads with "the [model] you asked about has sold, but we have similar cars; want to come see them?" and book a visit. Your team picks the vehicles; the AI books the time.

• Aged marketplace leads: CarGurus, Cars.com, Autotrader.
• Facebook Marketplace messages that went quiet (see Facebook Marketplace leads).
• Website and chat leads.
• Past buyers: trade-up timing for customers you sold to two to four years ago.

Sources disagree on what marketplace leads cost: a vendor view quoted on DealerRefresh says below $40 for CarGurus and $50 for Cars.com (DealerRefresh), while an agency benchmark puts some marketplaces far higher (TXC Auto Agency). Either way, every one was paid for.

It works like an extra salesperson who only follows up. You export aged leads, approve the messages and get booked test drives in your calendar with notes. No software to learn and nothing to pay unless something's booked. See lead reactivation for car dealers.

1. You send your old leads. A CSV or CRM export of aged CarGurus, Cars.com, Marketplace and website leads, with what each shopper asked about. We check source and consent with you first.
2. The AI texts each shopper. The first message mentions their original request. When they reply, it answers questions, handles "not right now" and offers times.
3. Test drives land in your calendar. With notes from the conversation, so your team knows what was said.

Messages come from a registered number in your business name, respect TCPA quiet hours and state rules, and every conversation is visible to you. See texting compliance.