Navigation | ||
My WhyNot? | ||
Icon Key | ||||||||||||
The community's level of support for this idea is...
| ||||||||||||
Virtual Car Dealership | |||||||||||||||||
In these days of social networking and web 2.0 - why invest in huge real estate and massive automotive stocks in the vain hope that customers will come and find you. Most information required for deciding to purchase a vehicle is available online either via the OEM's website or via consumer websites (like What Car? Edmunds.com Automobile, etc etc). The only essential offline activities are the test drive and inspection and of course the delivery.... A virtual dealership will provide all interaction on-line including a "TripAdvisor" style link to consumer review sites so that customers can get an all-round persepctive. Once the prospect decides that they want a test drive, it is arranged from a regional pool and the car is taken to the customer at their convenience (say during their lunch hour). This model aimed more at the European market than the US - but would also work in large US cities also where real estate and people's time is at a premium. The price, options, delivery date etc can all be negotiated over the phone or via the web. Delivery is arranged to the new owner's home or office.
Biggooner, Oct 17 2008
What do you think of this idea or comment?
| |||||||||||||||||
I agree
No opinion
I disagreeUsers who liked this idea also liked: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Add your comment
Although this may appeal to logic a good many sales of cars are probably made by being able to physically move through tentative choices and permit sometimes irrational impulses and sales palaver to make a final choice.
If a virtual online car dealer can save buyers money, than it would work. But dealers that buy large numbers of cars from the manufacturers can get volume discounts that enable them to offer better deals to customers.
A version of this already exists, as PRICE CLUB and other organizations allow members to order what they want at good prices. The car is then picked up from the local dealer. Some people will always want a test drive, but others can somehow get by without that, perhaps via a rental or a friend or associate.