I can't wait for my next dealership experience. Just makes me all giddy and warm inside

 

That's exactly what I was saying, for years people in the US were spoiled with cheap cars, automakers were competing with each other with razor thin profits if not losses, and in turn dealers also made very little return on their investment. When consumers have an such leverage that you need to be "elite" level salesman to make 100-150k salary, it's just not an attractive business model, and it's little wonder salesmen sometimes use dishonest tactics to try and make more money. In fact, many dealerships operate based on dishonest business model to survive, where the owner instructs the sales team to pull all kinds of scams.

But after then pandemic the tables have turned and it turned out that cars are an important commodity, and consumers need automakers and dealers more than they need us, so obviously the dealers taking advantage of it and more power to them. As far as getting rid of the dealers and going to direct sales model, we'll have to see if and how it will work out, but I doubt if consumers will see any benefits. Tesla sells direct, look how much Model 3 went up over the years.

 

I agree with most everything you said except that consumers need dealers more than they need us. People only need them because they have no other options at this time, and in many states have used state laws and the courts to force automakers to sell through their networks. The Model 3's price increases didn't rise out of thin air...it's about supply and demand, and people wanting them so they pay the premium. If they were being sold through dealerships, there would be an additional markup because the dealership now needs it cut. You have to look at this realistically and not keep holding on to dealerships as an emotional crutch. It's time to abandon them

 

At the end of the day, a business ALWAYS needs its customer more than the customer needs the business.

 

That may be true when it comes to small, easily replaceable businesses - bakeries, restaurants, etc. But when it comes to a few multinational conglomerates that have the entire market to themselves this principle no longer works.

 

Plenty of carmakers who make cars, and plenty of dealers who sell cars.

 

There really aren't that many carmakers if you think about it, and not one carmaker can satisfy the entire global demand. Without independent dealers competing with each other, a direct sales model may very well result in higher OTD prices.