LeX2K

This is not about how Tesla or any auto maker wants to sell their cars it's about how they are allowed to do it. You can buy a TV online, in a store, order online pick it up at a store, get it shipped to your door. You can even buy a TV direct from the manufacture in some cases. The same freedoms don't apply to cars in many states.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

naive at best, argumentative again, at worst. Even if you walk into a regular dealer and offer to buy a car at MSRP, even with a suitcase of cash or a check, you will STILL get the runaround to buy rust proofing, pinstripes, tire protection, nitrogen in tires, extended warranty, and on, and on and on... plus the trade-in ‘deal’ if one’s involved, it’s a shake down. Now we know from people telling us that some get it all done ahead of time via email, and can get in and out fairly quickly... i’ve only had one experience close to that. But the vast majority of new and used car deals are painful at best, almost criminal and abusive at worst.

both of those are a) almost year old threads, and b) for used cars, which i don’t think tesla cares much about at this early stage. And you rarely see posts of good stories, mostly the ones where the thread starter wasn’t happy.

Yes i remember your opinion on this from before, but generally people don’t feel as bad when they buy a home, which is usually way more money.

i agree buyers can be terrible too. The car buying business is the only one i know that is so adversarial, with no trust between buyer and seller. Even in one of those tesla threads where the cpo car turned out to be no good, when the next one came along tesla dropped the trade in price with no good explanation... typical shake down. As tesla evolves, maybe they’ll end up being just as bad as all the rest...

mmarshall

Toys4RJill

I don't get why you think I am being argumentative. It is just a different opinion I have compared to you. Its ok to not agree. I don't find the car buying at all difficult, scary or untrustworthy. I just walk away. Of course I have been to dealers who are not that great. I was shopping for a new car last Saturday, a non-Toyota, lowball offer on trade, and the guy said we have so much demand that we are pretty much take it leave it, we don't discount. Ok, no hard feelings. See ya. No car for Jill for now.

As for houses, I think they are different than cars, they appreciate in value. And you are dealing most likely with a seller that is already the previous owner, but there is negotiating when you buy a house. But you need the house. So I think it is different.

Yes, car buying is adversarial, you are right. But I think it is rooted in the idea that cars are passion-lust items, do you really need a Genesis? Or do you want a Genesis? If you went and shopped for a car that you really didn't want, I propose it would be easier to walk away and it would less adversarial, perhaps even easier to get a big deal and discount.....the buyer always has the advantage, they just don't realize it, the buyer can always walk away, the buyer can say no to rust proofing or add ons etc....the buyer doesn't have to buy anything, and that is where the buyer has the ultimate power over the dealer .....just my thoughts and opinions....your opinion?

But back to Tesla, it is refreshing that they are doing what they are doing with their stores. Are they succeeding, IMO it depends on how and who you ask. I for one like the negotiation process. It has helped me with work, and all other forms of personal life related to things that cost money. I just don't like the one price for all way of dealing for a high priced item such as a car.

LexBob2

If only it were that easy. One "no" usually isn't enough

TripleL

Makes more sense your way!

mmarshall

In my area, Model 3 test-drives are no problem.....I did one yesterday. Posted the write-up in another Car Chat thread.

Toys4RJill

We had no problem. It was a wait if a few days because we needed an reservation.