Will cars/motorcycles ever be sold online?
 

I was wondering if that's possible.
Would cars be a lot cheaper?

Right now, they have to spend multi million (usually 8 figure $) just to set up a showroom. Maintenance fees, hydro, lease/rent of land(if applicable) and all the other business incidental costs.

The huge labor cost to sell you a car, sales person, sales manager, accountant, receptionist, etc.

What if you could buy your cars/motorcycles straight from manufacture?

For example, can they keep their vehicles in a huge warehouse and they can ship them after they receive order from customers.

I just wonder why it's never been done :pokerface: in this e-commerce world, I'm sure this kind of idea isn't anything new.

https://www.amazon.com/b?node=10677469011 - We're just a couple of steps away from that world. We have to break down franchise laws but like the taxi monopoly I can't see it holding up much longer.

Going to the Apple Store/Tesla dealer model seems far too obvious and should reduce costs a lot and make the buying experience dramatically better.

wow I didn't know about Amazon

but yea, once you walk into the car dealers, you can tell that they spend A LOT of money to decorate the showroom, managers office, reception area, coffee area, TVs, kids area, build a huge lot and buildings, etc...

I just wanted to know how much cars/motorcycles would be if we could buy them straight from the warehouse.

The only way I'd buy a car online is if they still had a brick and mortar showroom that I could see and test drive the cars.

Car sales people, real estate agents, whatever the fuck else middlemen you can think of will be obsolete in a world that's becoming ever more transparent with access to all the data. They are still here to cater to a previous generation who are less tech savvy and seek advice from an actual human. The irony is probably they are more often getting ripped off vs. benefiting from it.

I personally can't wait for these positions to disappear, just like how stockbrokers have disappeared since oftentimes they are just a bunch of parasites leeching off of people's money. Think about it, when was the last time you got any value out of your car salesman or real estate agent? And for real estate agent, did you get any value out of him/her because he/she had sophisticated analytical ability that you didn't have? Or simply certain information was only available to them?

You'd still need dealerships to perform service and warranty work, and I'd wager that what makes most of the dealers profits and pays for the showroom, receptionist, etc. Pricing needs to stay quite competitive on the initial sales of vehicles, but dealers always hose you on part and labour pricing.

You can order a Tesla online without talking to a salesperson. The salesperson takes no commission. The dealers just deliver the car. The charger is mailed to your house though.

ebaymotors

Ebay is no different than dealers posting their ads on Auto Trader & Craigslist

I was talking about consumers getting their cars straight from manufactures

When I bought my wife's car I emailed an offer and finalized it over the phone. I went in later that day and signed the papers not much dealing with the dealership at all. I'd say we're not far away.

Once an online automation system comes into place, it won't reduce prices, it will just cut some overhead to increase profits. I could see the prices dropping initially to gain traction in the marketplace but those prices won't last.

Theres probably going to be some $500-1000 online environmental fee.

How the Genesis online buying experience is disrupting the car industry
by , JAMES CARELESS | MARCH 27, 2017

Sponsored Content: How the Genesis online buying experience is disrupting the car industry | Driving

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In 2016, consumers bought $1.915 trillion ($1915 billion) worth of products online, said the data website http://www.statista.com. In fact, Canadians consistently outpace other developed nations when it comes to shopping online. Given this demand, it makes sense for Genesis Motors Canada to sell its G80 and G90 luxury performance sedans on the internet.

Canadian luxury car aficionados can configure and buy the G80 or G90 of their dreams online at http://www.genesis.ca. The selection process is simple: The buyer simply choses their preferred exterior colour, interior trim, and high performance V6 or V8 engine; because absolutely everything else that is available on the G80 and G90 comes standard.

In keeping with e-commerce best practices, pre-HST prices for each of these Genesis sedans are clearly spelled out on the web site. “We offer a completely no-hassle, no hidden fees sales approach, where the price you see online is the one you pay – period,” said Chad Heard, senior manager of public relations with Genesis Motors Canada. “Our online pricing is simple, clear, and honest. And we even included five years’ of scheduled maintenance in the price.”

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Genesis’ commitment to the e-commerce user experience continues with its approach to financing. The website is able to help buyers arrange financing and finalize paperwork through their web browsers. Customers can do it all on their smartphone, in fact. Then, once the online sale has been finalized, Genesis will deliver their new G80 or G90 directly to them.

The Genesis online sales experience promises prospective car buyers an experience closer to their expectations when buying nearly anything else: a relaxed, low-pressure process that moves at their pace in the comfort of their own home.
In addition, purchasers can do more online at http://www.genesis.ca than just buy a car: Genesis Motors Canada has made it possible to book a test drive online. After the booking has been confirmed, a Genesis staff member will bring either a G80 or G90 directly to the user’s home to try it out.

After-sales service appointments for the G80 or G90 can also be booked at http://www.genesis.ca. “Once you buy a G80 or G90, our people will come to your home to pick it up for scheduled maintenance for the first five years or 100,000 kilometres of ownership,” said Heard. “We’ll bring it back too; all serviced and ready to drive.”

The Genesis online sales experience is an innovative approach to car buying that suits the brand’s approach to luxury class automotive. For a brand built on a principle of respect for the consumer, it is a natural extension to offer this convenient approach to prospective owners.

The Genesis online buying experience is also in line with the way today’s web-savvy consumers want to buy cars, according to a survey of 10,000 car buyers worldwide by the consulting firm Accenture. They found that 53 percent of buyers would consider buying a new car online, and that 16 percent have already done so.

68 percent also said that free oil changes and maintenance would influence their purchase of a new car; a point Genesis already has covered in the five years/100,000 km scheduled maintenance that is included in the price of a new G80 or G90.

The trend towards online shopping is not new, especially in Canada, but there are still some industries that are slow to adapt to changing consumer expectations. With Genesis Motors Canada’s online buying experience, the automotive industry is taking nascent steps into a digital world that affords its customers a better, more catered experience.

This story was created by Content Works, Postmedia’s commercial content division, on behalf of Genesis.