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Car dealerships revert to pens and paper after cyberattacks on software provider

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Re: Car dealerships revert to pens and paper after cyberattacks on software provider

#31

Post by jameshart »

SSJPython wrote: post #15

Related note: car stealerships are a relic of the past. There is no reason why a middleman should exist when buying a car. Consumers should have the option to purchase directly from the manufacturer. I am personally not a fan of Tesla as a vehicle, but I admire the business model of buying directly from Tesla. Stealerships are a drain on the consumer. All that land they own can be used for productive economic activit…

Why is this a related note? Is the regulatory framework around car retail a contributing factor to their vulnerability to ransomware?

This feels like a reflexive response to the mention of the word ‘car dealerships’, not something that will lead to a discussion of the substance of this article.

Re: Car dealerships revert to pens and paper after cyberattacks on software provider

#32

Post by legitster »

SSJPython wrote: post #15

Related note: car stealerships are a relic of the past. There is no reason why a middleman should exist when buying a car. Consumers should have the option to purchase directly from the manufacturer. I am personally not a fan of Tesla as a vehicle, but I admire the business model of buying directly from Tesla. Stealerships are a drain on the consumer. All that land they own can be used for productive economic activit…

It is kind of a crazy model. You don't go to the Pepsi store for Pepsi and the Coke store for Coke. The exclusivity dealerships get enshrined in law is kinda nuts.

Still, I think there is something to be said for independent dealerships overall for service quality. Trying to get a Tesla serviced is still something of a nightmare. In comparison the service departments of dealerships have are much more robust.

Re: Car dealerships revert to pens and paper after cyberattacks on software provider

#33

Post by itsoktocry »

SSJPython wrote: post #15

Related note: car stealerships are a relic of the past. There is no reason why a middleman should exist when buying a car. Consumers should have the option to purchase directly from the manufacturer. I am personally not a fan of Tesla as a vehicle, but I admire the business model of buying directly from Tesla. Stealerships are a drain on the consumer. All that land they own can be used for productive economic activit…

>Consumers should have the option to purchase directly from the manufacturer.

They should have the option, sure.

But what difference do you think this makes in reality? The process ends up being the similar.

>but I admire the business model of buying directly from Tesla

A lot of people don't want to buy a $40,000+ item online. Tesla understands this, which is why they opened "showrooms" to have real people walk you through the process.

Oh, and let's not get started on surprise repair costs from Tesla, as if they are immune to that ridiculousness.

Saying "no stealerships" (so clever) doesn't change the fact that there's a manual process involved with buying a car.

Re: Car dealerships revert to pens and paper after cyberattacks on software provider

#34

Post by toomuchtodo »

n4r9 wrote: post #13

This is what happens when a single player (CDK Global) has massive market share (90% when measured by number of vehicles sold [0] --- EDIT: this is actually the combined market share of CDK + Reynolds, who have a non-compete agreement ---). The entire industry becomes fragile to product issues and/or malicious attacks. Anti-trust is important. [0] https://casetext.com/case/loop-llc-v-cdk-global-llc-in-re-de...

I encourage a complaint to be filed.

https://www.justice.gov/atr/complaint-center

https://www.ftc.gov/advice-guidance/competition-guidance/ant...

Re: Car dealerships revert to pens and paper after cyberattacks on software provider

#35

Post by bcrosby95 »

kevingadd wrote: post #25
SSJPython wrote: post #15

Related note: car stealerships are a relic of the past. There is no reason why a middleman should exist when buying a car. Consumers should have the option to purchase directly from the manufacturer. I am personally not a fan of Tesla as a vehicle, but I admire the business model of buying directly from Tesla. Stealerships are a drain on the consumer. All that land they own can be used for productive economic activit…

It's interesting, because in theory the requirement for independent dealerships could promote competition - they can compete to offer the lowest markup over MSRP, offer different addons, or offer better service. Just like going to a specialist shop for computer parts or audio gear or whatnot. But instead we ended up with a system where car dealerships basically own local lawmakers and got laws passed that not only pr…

It did work that way though. I've never payed MSRP on a brand new car. Good luck doing that if all you can do is order from the manufacturer's website.

Re: Car dealerships revert to pens and paper after cyberattacks on software provider

#36

Post by AlexandrB »

SSJPython wrote: post #15

Related note: car stealerships are a relic of the past. There is no reason why a middleman should exist when buying a car. Consumers should have the option to purchase directly from the manufacturer. I am personally not a fan of Tesla as a vehicle, but I admire the business model of buying directly from Tesla. Stealerships are a drain on the consumer. All that land they own can be used for productive economic activit…

> All that land they own can be used for productive economic activity or housing.

No it can't. You still need places where cars can be repaired as well as storage for parts/cars inventory. The only way you reclaim some land is if service gets worse.

Edit: For example, Tesla sells direct to consumers but there's still a Tesla "showroom" in my town. In terms of footprint/appearance it's basically a dealership. So where are the land savings?

Re: Car dealerships revert to pens and paper after cyberattacks on software provider

#37

Post by DowagerDave »

SSJPython wrote: post #15

Related note: car stealerships are a relic of the past. There is no reason why a middleman should exist when buying a car. Consumers should have the option to purchase directly from the manufacturer. I am personally not a fan of Tesla as a vehicle, but I admire the business model of buying directly from Tesla. Stealerships are a drain on the consumer. All that land they own can be used for productive economic activit…

I'm not sure why you hate car dealerships so much, doesn't your opinion apply to any distributor between the manufacturer and the end consumer? This is a the same narrative that people said about bicycle retailers as well, but there are significant problems with the DTC model, notably service and support. And if you look where dealerships are located nobody wants to build housing in a big strip beside the freeway.

Re: Car dealerships revert to pens and paper after cyberattacks on software provider

#38

Post by xnx »

jameshart wrote: post #31
SSJPython wrote: post #15

Related note: car stealerships are a relic of the past. There is no reason why a middleman should exist when buying a car. Consumers should have the option to purchase directly from the manufacturer. I am personally not a fan of Tesla as a vehicle, but I admire the business model of buying directly from Tesla. Stealerships are a drain on the consumer. All that land they own can be used for productive economic activit…

Why is this a related note? Is the regulatory framework around car retail a contributing factor to their vulnerability to ransomware? This feels like a reflexive response to the mention of the word ‘car dealerships’, not something that will lead to a discussion of the substance of this article.

I suppose dealerships couldn't get hacked if they didn't exist.

Re: Car dealerships revert to pens and paper after cyberattacks on software provider

#39

Post by kube-system »

legitster wrote: post #32
SSJPython wrote: post #15

Related note: car stealerships are a relic of the past. There is no reason why a middleman should exist when buying a car. Consumers should have the option to purchase directly from the manufacturer. I am personally not a fan of Tesla as a vehicle, but I admire the business model of buying directly from Tesla. Stealerships are a drain on the consumer. All that land they own can be used for productive economic activit…

It is kind of a crazy model. You don't go to the Pepsi store for Pepsi and the Coke store for Coke. The exclusivity dealerships get enshrined in law is kinda nuts. Still, I think there is something to be said for independent dealerships overall for service quality. Trying to get a Tesla serviced is still something of a nightmare. In comparison the service departments of dealerships have are much more robust.

I'm not sure that's a good comparison. There are several middlemen before you buy a Coke or Pepsi.

Usually, your soft drink is manufactured from the brand's syrup by a bottling partner, which is then distributed to a retailer, who you buy it from.

e.g: https://www.coca-colacompany.com/content/dam/company/us/en/a...

Re: Car dealerships revert to pens and paper after cyberattacks on software provider

#40

Post by xnx »

bcrosby95 wrote: post #35
kevingadd wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's interesting, because in theory the requirement for independent dealerships could promote competition - they can compete to offer the lowest markup over MSRP, offer different addons, or offer better service. Just like going to a specialist shop for computer parts or audio gear or whatnot. But instead we ended up with a system where car dealerships basically own local lawmakers and got laws passed that not only pr…

It did work that way though. I've never payed MSRP on a brand new car. Good luck doing that if all you can do is order from the manufacturer's website.

Would iPhones be less expensive if you could only get them from local dealers and not Apple?
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