re: Do you think car dealerships will become obsolete?

Posted by Robertson coach

pville

Member since May 2019

314 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 11:49 am to ImJustaBoy

I worked in auto industry for almost a decade & got out because I believe it will be like Tesla (people will test drive car, build & order car at dealer (if want), no more sales people but just product specialist (to answer questions & help in ordering process). There is obstacles holding this up for now (trade in process fix? Will hurt (un)employment market; franchises get bought out?; how many ‘dealers’ per market?), but I believe strongly by 2030 the way cars are purchased new will be dramatically different.

Posted by SixthAndBarone

Member since Jan 2019

8297 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 11:49 am to rundmcrun

quote:
Yes, and we go to a place dedicated to service, not sales.

I’m talking warranties and manufacture specific issues. Not servicing a 4 year old car.

Posted by DCtiger1

Panama City Beach

Member since Jul 2009

8795 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 11:50 am to CoachChappy

A good commercial realtor is worth their commission.

Posted by SixthAndBarone

Member since Jan 2019

8297 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 11:50 am to fallguy_1978

quote:
I know some auto manufacturers make you subscribe to features of a vehicle that you "own"

Huh? Besides OnStar, XM, and wifi, what are you subscribing to?

Posted by DCtiger1

Panama City Beach

Member since Jul 2009

8795 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 11:51 am to STLDawg

quote:
Predatory middlemen need to go away

So everyone in sales? :lol

Posted by BearCrocs

Member since Aug 2013

6466 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 11:51 am to SaintlyTiger88

No.

Too many people out there that still go into dealerships with no idea that they are getting taken advantage of by sales manager. #1 concern is monthly payment followed by warranty and add ons.

There’s way more dumb people in the world than smart.

Posted by johnnyrocket

Ghetto once known as Baton Rouge

Member since Apr 2013

9790 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 11:52 am to SaintlyTiger88

It will be similar to discount tire.
You can go to the store.
Most their business is online.
Order your tires, schedule appointments, and checkout online.

Posted by MikeAV8s

Member since Oct 2016

1756 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 11:52 am to SaintlyTiger88

I have worked in a dealership since 1995. I have seen a metric ton of change. 90% of the change has happened in the last 5 years. It will look completely different in 5 more years. Those of you who keep clamoring for direct to consumer sales…….when you get what you asked for, you are going to get more than you asked for. I deal with those assholes daily, I can’t wait till everyone does.

Posted by Dadren

Jawja

Member since Dec 2023

981 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 11:56 am to SaintlyTiger88

Dealerships would be fine if it wasn’t for the high pressure sales and mind games.

Dealerships should just be a showroom for the manufacturer. Set the price that everyone has to pay to drive off the lot. No need for salespeople and haggling, just customer service folks to help with paperwork and let you test drive.

Posted by BabyTac

Austin, TX

Member since Jun 2008

12273 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 11:59 am to SaintlyTiger88

Covid should’ve done them in for good. Same for realtors. Dealing with both is more trouble than it’s worth esp realtors.

I guess the majority of the population is too lazy to ‘do all the work’ so still depend on them to tell them what to do even tho it’s typically bad advice and costs $1000s.

Posted by johnnyrocket

Ghetto once known as Baton Rouge

Member since Apr 2013

9790 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 12:01 pm to Dadren

Wasn’t Saturn made by GM setup where you went to the dealer and the vehicle was a set price?

Where is the Saturn brand today?

Posted by Dadren

Jawja

Member since Dec 2023

981 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 12:02 pm to johnnyrocket

quote:
Wasn’t Saturn made by GM setup where you went to the dealer and the vehicle was a set price?

Where is the Saturn brand today?

Did that have to do with pricing or the fact that Saturns were crap cars?

Tesla has been doing this for years. Where is their brand today?

Posted by Smelder

Member since Dec 2017

178 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 12:05 pm to SaintlyTiger88

I believe car ownership will cease to exist in the future. You’ll order a car on your phone and it’ll drive you wherever you want to go. Monthly subscriptions or by the ride. No more insurance and car payments . All cars will talk to each other so zero accidents .

Posted by holmesbr

Baton Rouge, La.

Member since Feb 2012

3026 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 12:10 pm to Thundercles

While they lobby to block Tesla from direct selling cars in a state. Looking at you Louisiana.

Posted by soccerfüt

Location: A Series of Tubes

Member since May 2013

65885 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 12:14 pm to Ryan3232

quote:
You supposed to test drive in VR?

The last five vehicles I’ve bought new, I haven’t test driven any of them.

With the exception of one of the present vehicles, they’ve all gone over 160k miles of service for me with minimal issues.

tl/dr: Who needs to test drive a Lexus ES?

Posted by NCIS_76

Member since Jan 2021

5246 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 12:16 pm to SaintlyTiger88

No. I want to see and drive the vehicle I am purchasing.

Posted by DCtiger1

Panama City Beach

Member since Jul 2009

8795 posts

Posted on 2/3/24 at 12:18 pm to Smelder

quote:
I believe car ownership will cease to exist in the future. You’ll order a car on your phone and it’ll drive you wherever you want to go. Monthly subscriptions or by the ride. No more insurance and car payments . All cars will talk to each other so zero accidents .

“in the future” maybe in several decades. Our infrastructure needs massive improvements for this to be feasible. It’s not just about autonomous technology. Your take also just assumes this liberal ideology that everyone uses their vehicles to get from a to b and back again. What about people that use their vehicles for work?