Can we please get past the dealership model?

[swapwap]

Can we get past the dealership model? The problem is government. Until we can become a free country again the answer is no. Yeah dealership models are built into law, if not the smartest thing Muck did was eliminate that stupid model, it’s pretty close. I agree stealerships should not have all the control they do, if they wish to abuse the process they can easily do it with little to no recourse for the consumer. I can prove it too.

 

[HEMIMANN]

I think this goes back to monopoly laws 100 years ago, but I'm an engineer, not a lawyer. Corporations were monopolizing products and markets, so governments in the interest of the general public forced them to sell thru dealerships divided into regions so they couldn't control pricing like Rockefeller did everywhere.

Anyway, let's get off the politics and get back to what we can do best given the situation we are in. That's what Forums are about.

 

[tron67j]

Some things I like about a dealership model with an attached service center: I can get a ride to work or someplace and get picked up end of day; I can call someone and have a name to follow up with; I can negotiate; I can kick the tires; I can get a great deal on a leftover as I always buy that way; there are multiple dealers so I can go to another even if I have to drive a ways. And if I was inclined to order and wait for delivery just like Tesla I can do that to. I can also pay the same price like everyone else if I want, just like Tesla.

What I don't like about direct sales: not being able to have what I like above. The only way to get individual questions answered is to show up after making appointment and then it is too late for anything that otherwise might allow you options, like don't just show up without a ride because who knows if they have a shuttle, got rid of it, or never had it. I have worked with great dealerships both family owned and corporate conglomerates. Have I had some frustrations, yep.

Honestly, having been involved in this direct to customer experience it is so not customer service friendly. It is designed to benefit the company first so what works best for them (app only, no phone to call, etc.) Is what the owner is stuck with, there are no alternatives. I would believe that, in Tesla's case their very visible decimation of their public relations department speaks volumes that they don't want to answer to anyone but management. Doesn't give me warm fuzzies that it will be a top player when the masses might start adopting and decide they aren't willing to settle for such a lack of support.

 

[HEMIMANN]

I did a direct computer laptop purchase and regretted it when it came to service and failures.

 

[Tulecreeper]

Some things I like about a dealership model with an attached service center: I can get a ride to work or someplace and get picked up end of day; I can call someone and have a name to follow up with; I can negotiate; I can kick the tires; I can get a great deal on a leftover as I always buy that way; there are multiple dealers so I can go to another even if I have to drive a ways. And if I was inclined to order and wait for delivery just like Tesla I can do that to. I can also pay the same price like everyone else if I want, just like Tesla.

What I don't like about direct sales: not being able to have what I like above. The only way to get individual questions answered is to show up after making appointment and then it is too late for anything that otherwise might allow you options, like don't just show up without a ride because who knows if they have a shuttle, got rid of it, or never had it. I have worked with great dealerships both family owned and corporate conglomerates. Have I had some frustrations, yep.

Honestly, having been involved in this direct to customer experience it is so not customer service friendly. It is designed to benefit the company first so what works best for them (app only, no phone to call, etc.) Is what the owner is stuck with, there are no alternatives. I would believe that, in Tesla's case their very visible decimation of their public relations department speaks volumes that they don't want to answer to anyone but management. Doesn't give me warm fuzzies that it will be a top player when the masses might start adopting and decide they aren't willing to settle for such a lack of support.

Not if you want a Ford, GM, or Chevy truck. They make you choose off the lot. That is how I ended up with a RAM.

 

[HEMIMANN]

I just talked with a GM Dealer last week who said he would order custom combo I want. Maybe times are changing finally? I think their sales are finally slowing down.

 

[Tulecreeper]

I just talked with a GM Dealer last week who said he would order custom combo I want. Maybe times are changing finally? I think their sales are finally slowing down.

I talked with the Chevy guy last summer when I first started shopping around. I got online and did the build-your-own thing, then went to the dealership. The first salesman that walked up to me, I handed him the build sheet and said, "Sell me this truck." He looked at it for a few seconds then said, "We can't get that vehicle." I asked why and he replied, "Because no one is ordering a regular cab truck." I said, "I am...order it and you will have one customer who did." He still said he couldn't get it. So I told him "bye", and turned to leave. He said, "We have a bunch on the lot to choose from." I asked, "Regular cabs?" "No." Then you have nothing for me to choose from, and I left.

 

[Hootbro]

I talked with the Chevy guy last summer when I first started shopping around. I got online and did the build-your-own thing, then went to the dealership. The first salesman that walked up to me, I handed him the build sheet and said, "Sell me this truck." He looked at it for a few seconds then said, "We can't get that vehicle." I asked why and he replied, "Because no one is ordering a regular cab truck." I said, "I am...order it and you will have one customer who did." He still said he couldn't get it. So I told him "bye", and turned to leave. He said, "We have a bunch on the lot to choose from." I asked, "Regular cabs?" "No." Then you have nothing for me to choose from, and I left.

In a lot of dealerships, your situation requires finding the fleet sales guy at a dealership and deal with them.

 

[Tulecreeper]

In a lot of dealerships, your situation requires finding the fleet sales guy at a dealership and deal with them.

I understand, but I would think if that were possible that the salesman would have pointed me in that direction. If the sales manager found out that the dealership had a chance to sell a truck, but didn't because a particular salesman didn't handle the situation correctly, then that salesman would be out a job. The salesman's job is not to just sell a vehicle that he personally will make a commission on, his job is also to make money for the dealership. Right?

 

[Hootbro]

I understand, but I would think if that were possible that the salesman would have pointed me in that direction. If the sales manager found out that the dealership had a chance to sell a truck, but didn't because a particular salesman didn't handle the situation correctly, then that salesman would be out a job. The salesman's job is not to just sell a vehicle that he personally will make a commission on, his job is also to make money for the dealership. Right?

In a perfect world yes. The reality is a lot of salesmen are looking to make today's or end of month total sales numbers and that means selling a vehicle that is on a lot now. Customer order they do not get credit for until weeks or months down the road when you take delivery. Those salesmen do not care for the guy in fleet sales who may get either the full sale or a split sale credit.

If you did not step over the salesman and talk direct to the sales manager, they would not know you were a committed custom sale order that walked. There is still the caveat that some sales managers are also like your salesman in that they want to push a on lot sale.

There is Jack Wagon types in vehicle sales. I have never trusted them to be upfront and to do the right thing for anybody but themselves and to question everything they do or say.