Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Oakland Automobile shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Oakland Automobile offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Oakland Automobile at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Oakland Automobile? Wrong! If the Oakland Automobile is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Oakland Automobile then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Oakland Automobile? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Oakland Automobile and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Oakland Automobile wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Oakland Automobile then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Oakland Automobile site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Oakland Automobile, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Oakland Automobile, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

The Oakland was a brand of automobile manufactured between 1907-1909 by the Oakland Motor Car Company of Pontiac, Michigan and between 1909 and 1931 by the Oakland Motors Division of General Motors Corporation Corporation. Oakland's principle founder was Edward P. Murphy, who sold half the company to GM in January 1909; when Murphy died in the summer of 1909, GM acquired the remaining rights to Oakland.

Early history As originally conceived and introduced, the first Oakland used a vertical two cylinder engine that rotated counter-clockwise. This design by Alanson Brush (inventor of the Brush Motor Car Company) lasted one year and was replaced by a more standard 4 cylinder engine and sales increased to approximately 5,000 automobiles per year.

Under General Motors, Oakland was slotted above price leader Chevrolet and below the more premium Oldsmobile and Buick brand cars. Oakland initially flourished, however by early 1920 production and quality control problems began to plague the division. In 1921 under new General Manager Fred Hannum, a consistent production schedule was underway and the quality of the cars improved. One marketing tactic was the employment of a quick drying bright blue automotive lacquer by Duco (a DuPont brand product) – leading to Oakland being marketed as the "True Blue Oakland."

General Motors "Companion Make" Program General Motors pioneered the idea that consumers would aspire to buy up an automotive product ladder if a company met certain price points. As General Motors entered the 1920s, the product ladder started with the price leading Chevrolet marque, and then progressed upward in price, power and appointments to Oakland, Oldsmobile, Buick and ultimately to the luxury Cadillac automobile marque.

However by the mid 1920s, a sizable price gap had been created between Chevrolet and Oakland, while the difference between an Oldsmobile and a Buick was even wider. There was also a product gap between Buick and Cadillac. To solve this, General Motors authorized the introduction of four companion marques priced and designed to fill the gaps. Cadillac would introduce the LaSalle to fill the gap between Buick and Cadillac. Buick would introduce the Marquette automobile to handle the higher end of the gap between Buick and Oldsmobile. Oldsmobile would introduce the Viking automobile, which took the lower half of the spread between Oldsmobile and Buick. This is often referred to as General Motors Companion Make Program.

Oakland's part in this plan was the 1926 Pontiac, a shorter wheelbase "light six" priced to sell at a 4 cylinder car's price point. Pontiac was the first of the companion marques introduced, and in its first year outsold the larger, heavier Oakland. By 1929, GM sold 163,000+ more Pontiacs than Oaklands. The discontinuation of Oakland was announced in 1931 and the Pontiac would be the only one of General Motors' companion makes to survive beyond 1940.

Reference

External links

• Pontiac Oakland Club International
• Image of the Oakland Motor Car Company Factory, circa 1990. Photo by Gary Lewis, local resident

The Oakland was a brand of automobile manufactured between 1907-1909 by the Oakland Motor Car Company of Pontiac, Michigan and between 1909 and 1931 by the Oakland Motors Division of General Motors Corporation Corporation. Oakland's principle founder was Edward P. Murphy, who sold half the company to GM in January 1909; when Murphy died in the summer of 1909, GM acquired the remaining rights to Oakland.

Early history As originally conceived and introduced, the first Oakland used a vertical two cylinder engine that rotated counter-clockwise. This design by Alanson Brush (inventor of the Brush Motor Car Company) lasted one year and was replaced by a more standard 4 cylinder engine and sales increased to approximately 5,000 automobiles per year.

Under General Motors, Oakland was slotted above price leader Chevrolet and below the more premium Oldsmobile and Buick brand cars. Oakland initially flourished, however by early 1920 production and quality control problems began to plague the division. In 1921 under new General Manager Fred Hannum, a consistent production schedule was underway and the quality of the cars improved. One marketing tactic was the employment of a quick drying bright blue automotive lacquer by Duco (a DuPont brand product) – leading to Oakland being marketed as the "True Blue Oakland."

General Motors "Companion Make" Program General Motors pioneered the idea that consumers would aspire to buy up an automotive product ladder if a company met certain price points. As General Motors entered the 1920s, the product ladder started with the price leading Chevrolet marque, and then progressed upward in price, power and appointments to Oakland, Oldsmobile, Buick and ultimately to the luxury Cadillac automobile marque.

However by the mid 1920s, a sizable price gap had been created between Chevrolet and Oakland, while the difference between an Oldsmobile and a Buick was even wider. There was also a product gap between Buick and Cadillac. To solve this, General Motors authorized the introduction of four companion marques priced and designed to fill the gaps. Cadillac would introduce the LaSalle to fill the gap between Buick and Cadillac. Buick would introduce the Marquette automobile to handle the higher end of the gap between Buick and Oldsmobile. Oldsmobile would introduce the Viking automobile, which took the lower half of the spread between Oldsmobile and Buick. This is often referred to as General Motors Companion Make Program.

Oakland's part in this plan was the 1926 Pontiac, a shorter wheelbase "light six" priced to sell at a 4 cylinder car's price point. Pontiac was the first of the companion marques introduced, and in its first year outsold the larger, heavier Oakland. By 1929, GM sold 163,000+ more Pontiacs than Oaklands. The discontinuation of Oakland was announced in 1931 and the Pontiac would be the only one of General Motors' companion makes to survive beyond 1940.

Reference

External links

• Pontiac Oakland Club International
• Image of the Oakland Motor Car Company Factory, circa 1990. Photo by Gary Lewis, local resident