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Consumer Tip: 'Car Values Via Phone = Big Savings'

29 July 1997

Consumer Tip: 'Car Values Via Phone = Big Savings'

    FRISCO, Colo., July 29 -- From any touchtone telephone,
consumers can now find out, instantly, the market value, retail and wholesale,
for any car, truck, or van manufactured since 1977.
    The service, developed by Kelly Blue Book and U.S. Trans Comm, Inc., is
available around the clock at 1-900-258-3266, 1-900-BlueBook.  The cost: $1.95
per minute, with the average call lasting 4 minutes.  Callers need to know the
year, model, mileage and condition of the vehicle.
    The interactive service allows callers to customize the value for their
particular vehicle with adjustments being made for mileage, condition,
options, and region of the country.
    According to Bob Eads, general manager of Kelly Blue Book, "The database
of over 15,000 models is based on continuous research of actual vehicle
transactions."
    "An American would not think of buying or selling a home without the
benefit of a qualified appraisal of the property," states Bernie Zurbriggen,
president of U.S. Trans Comm, the company responsible for automating and
operating the database.  "With the cost of cars and trucks increasing each
year, consumers should have access to objective information about the value of
the vehicle they are buying, selling, or trading."
    "An investment of less than $10.00 may save hundreds or even thousands on
an automobile transaction," says Zurbriggen.
    Easy access is provided to the service from any touch tone telephone by
dialing 1-900-BlueBook, 1-900-258-3266, $1.95 per min, average call 4 min.
    Alternate access from business or public telephones is offered on
1-800-CALL-110 with Visa, Mastercard, or American Express billing.

SOURCE  U.S. Trans Comm, Inc.