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Trouble in Missouri

teslamotors.com

1–10 of 56 posts

Re: Trouble in Missouri

#2
Can someone explain to me why it should be illegal for Ford or Chevy to sell their cars directly? Is it really anti-competitive? Apple sells their phones directly, AT&T sells Apple phones directly, and resellers like Best Buy or Radio Shack sell Apple phones, and they're all doing pretty well economically.

Not even arguing that Tesla should be allowed to sell cars without a dealership, why bother preventing direct sales from manufacturers, but only for this specific product category?

Re: Trouble in Missouri

#3
Yet another disgusting misuse of legislation by the dealership industry. I hope that Tesla is able to get enough last minute representation to ensure that this does not pass.

Re: Trouble in Missouri

#4
I've always found a lot of the anti-regulation, pro-"disruption" rhetoric in startup culture to be short-sighted, over-simplified, and at times just outright boneheaded, but...

Screw car dealers. Consumers deserve choice, and cowardly attempts to sneak in and remove it in the dead of night like this are horrible. May they all end up out of business and starving in a ditch.

Re: Trouble in Missouri

#5
I live in Kansas City, MO (Independence, actually). I just called my representative's office. You can find yours here: http://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/default.aspx/default.as...

My statement was as follows if anyone cars to piggy-back/draw inspiration.

Hello, I am a constituent and I'd like to voice my opposition to House Bill 1124 in its current form. It has recently had anti-competitive and anti-consumer language attached to it regarding the protections car dealerships receive from the state. If it passes in its current form HB 1124 will cost MO jobs and money by stifling competition and limiting choice in the car buying market.

Re: Trouble in Missouri

#6

Can someone explain to me why it should be illegal for Ford or Chevy to sell their cars directly? Is it really anti-competitive? Apple sells their phones directly, AT&T sells Apple phones directly, and resellers like Best Buy or Radio Shack sell Apple phones, and they're all doing pretty well economically. Not even arguing that Tesla should be allowed to sell cars without a dealership, why bother preventing direct sa…

Because money flows from dealerships to politicians, that's why.

Re: Trouble in Missouri

#7

I live in Kansas City, MO (Independence, actually). I just called my representative's office. You can find yours here: http://www.senate.mo.gov/LegisLookup/default.aspx/default.as... My statement was as follows if anyone cars to piggy-back/draw inspiration. Hello, I am a constituent and I'd like to voice my opposition to House Bill 1124 in its current form. It has recently had anti-competitive and anti-consumer langu…

As a fellow KC resident I was looking for exactly this. Thanks.

Re: Trouble in Missouri

#8

Can someone explain to me why it should be illegal for Ford or Chevy to sell their cars directly? Is it really anti-competitive? Apple sells their phones directly, AT&T sells Apple phones directly, and resellers like Best Buy or Radio Shack sell Apple phones, and they're all doing pretty well economically. Not even arguing that Tesla should be allowed to sell cars without a dealership, why bother preventing direct sa…

There's an excellent Planet Money episode on this issue: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2013/02/12/171814201/episode-...

But in brief, there is basically a vested power that does not want to allow innovation to disrupt their highly profitable industry. They rely on some fairly outdated laws to protect themselves.

Re: Trouble in Missouri

#9

Can someone explain to me why it should be illegal for Ford or Chevy to sell their cars directly? Is it really anti-competitive? Apple sells their phones directly, AT&T sells Apple phones directly, and resellers like Best Buy or Radio Shack sell Apple phones, and they're all doing pretty well economically. Not even arguing that Tesla should be allowed to sell cars without a dealership, why bother preventing direct sa…

As an example - Official Apple Stores have hurt mom&pop Apple stores. Apple ultimately makes money either way, but they make more money if they sell them at their own Apple store. Why would you go to the mom&pop store if an Apple store were nearby? There have also been reports that they don't give the 3rd party shops new models until much later, so they are at even more of a disadvantage. Try buying that new Macbook Pro the day it's released at a 3rd party store. It probably won't be available.

Back in the day, the dealers banded together so that wouldn't happen to them by making it law.

Re: Trouble in Missouri

#10

Can someone explain to me why it should be illegal for Ford or Chevy to sell their cars directly? Is it really anti-competitive? Apple sells their phones directly, AT&T sells Apple phones directly, and resellers like Best Buy or Radio Shack sell Apple phones, and they're all doing pretty well economically. Not even arguing that Tesla should be allowed to sell cars without a dealership, why bother preventing direct sa…

Dealerships fear if auto companies sold directly to the public they would undercut their prices.
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