Hey, if he doesn't hate it, and gets a good deal then good for him. I just can't believe that his feeling is commonplace.
Yes British but love going to car dealerships and haggling. I miss the old days as buying cars is now straightforward over the internet.
This. The point is, once you are old enough and have heared enough success-stories of extroverts going full "Grand Bazaar"-Style... you are just frustrated if you know that you are going to loose against all these dark-patterns. There´s a reason why they can buy italian soccer-teams without really "producing" anything.
I´ll gladly throw my money on anyone who is going to take these dealerships out of the algorithm. I know that just someone else will get rich... but hey, Tesla might at least use this money e.g. for product-development etc..
There's something deeply human in the whole 'awkward dance'. Not everyone is born a great dancer, but this doesn't mean that dancing is a stupid and pointless activity.
People have been trading with one another (and often tricking or getting tricked in the process) for millennia. The 'Grand Bazaar' you evoke stands for something timeless — a promise of wealth earned with wit. In a twisted way, our American love for capitalism and these sleazy dealerships are chasing the same ancient dream.
May as well be a part of it.
I live in a world where I do not have to trick or be tricked by other people. I surround myself with people whom I can actually trust to have my interests at heart, and I try to look out for their interests as well. This is not just the case for my friends, but has been in my communities, across multiple countries. I can happily go to the market and buy whatever at a listed price, confident that the market stall owner is pricing it at enough to make a comfortable living and no more. I can be confident that if my purchase is flawed, I can say, and be trusted with a refund easily.
This, to me, is a deeply human system. The idea that deceit and cheating are features of life just doesn't bear out for me. There are people that do that, and when I encounter them, I do whatever I can to make sure I never encounter them again. Unfortunately, the consolidation of large businesses makes it more and more common. I avoid those where I can also.
For most people, buying a car is a chore. I'm not here to be negotiated with. Give me the price of something that means you make your profit; if it seems like a good deal, I'll buy it.
Edit: Cars need service and maintenance. Dealerships can, and in Europe do with the exception of used car dealerships, provide these services as well. And that is something Tesla is really bad at.
Most Tesla service horror stories I've heard about involve major accidents requiring repairs with long waits/high prices for parts, but you get a loaner to tide you over and any decent insurance handles the bill.
And if memory serves well, the Tesla practice of providong loaner vehicles spread to almost every other garage and brand, already 30 years ago.
They are using manipulative techniques to extract as much profit from dealing with me as possible.
I understand that it's their job. But as a consumer, I _hate_ it and therefore would consider spending more money to avoid the uncomfortable feeling dealing with a car dealership gives me.
That's the value for me and I'm certainly not alone in that.
They're providing me with, in my eyes, a premium product. "Come buy a car without the dance. Here's the price. Give us money, I'll give you a car. No strings."
I'll pay extra for that. I'll never win against an experienced salesperson, so why bother even trying?
