I’m sure that if you checkout the richest people in about any community you will find that many own car dealerships. But I kinda think that is about to change and change drastically.
Car sales are about to be Amazonized.
I know that is not a real word but I suspect it soon will be. It is kinda like google is now a verb as well as a business. Finally getting to the subject at hand, The company called Carvana is a different way to get a car. You make your selection among thousands of choices and if you agree to the price it will be delivered to you within a day or two. Of course, there are standard warranties and return options.
If you want they will also offer you buy your old car at basically no profit to them and come and get it and sell it at auction. Yeah, they do test drive it and such before the check rendered just to make sure they will not lose on the transaction.
As Amazon, they don’t have a large brick and mortar store to maintain and they take a profit that is not exorbitant. I am convinced that like Amazon, they will basically redefine what buying a car is all about. When they, or maybe another company, gets into new car sales using the same scheme they will almost immediately be dominant in their field. I know many will lament the “old ways” of doing things, but the rest of us will finally be able to buy our cars without all the hassle that is required today.
Walmart was the standard torchbearer of yesterday on giving the customer what he wants at a price he can afford. Given the Internet has made global communities, companies like Amazon will be the staple of the 21st century. Economy of scale will put all of us on the same level and that in the end is a good thing.
Before you chime in here, yes I realize that some local jobs will be lost in the process. Car salesman will go the way of travel agents of the past and new more intellectual and challenging opportunities will replace them. Everything becoming global will mean opportunities are global as well. Some locals will benefit if they go with the times and some will perish if they try to stick to the old ways. That is what progress is and what it has always been.
RJ's Corner 
Interesting. I have seen lots of Carvana ads. There is a 10 story glass-walled Carvana tower not too far from us with cars inside, waiting for local delivery.
I would consider using their service, but test drives and feeling how roomy the driver’s seat area is can’t be dealt with online.
Best scenario is they force brick and mortar dealers to lower prices.
LikeLike
So true Bob. Getting the feel for the car is tricky with Carvana, but that is where the brick and mortar dealers help with their own demise. Sometimes before I buy from Amazon I check out the product at a local store to see if it is really what I want. I’m sure the same thing holds true with Carvana.
LikeLike