It looks like a ton of people are taking advantage of buying a new electric car before the $7,500 Federal tax rebate expires at the end of September. I’ve seen plenty of brand new Tesla Model Ys running around. I would absolutely buy one too, if I didn’t already have a car that I seldomly drive. (I am never selling the M2.) Don’t need another one, that’s for sure.
But if I were in the market for a car, Tesla is the only choice from someone like me who despises hassle. Tesla’s direct sale model, with no haggle pricing and ease of purchasing (do the entire transaction on your phone) is such a gamer changer. Who the heck wants to ever step foot inside a dealership to beg some asshole to please take your money? In a capitalist world where lots of middlemen exist simply to grab a piece of the cake and add zero value, car salesmen are right at the top.
Though I don’t blame them for their ill reputation. It’s the game that’s the problem. The auto dealership sales method creates an adversarial relationship between the buyer and salesperson. Buyer wants to pay as little as possible, and the salesperson wants to sell as pricey as possible (the sales commission alone certainly incentivizes it). Add to that mixture auto manufacturers playing inventory games (looking at you, Toyota), and it’s an instant recipe for bruised egos and hurt feelings.
For those of us outside of 1% earners, car buying through dealerships is just not an enjoyable task. That in it of itself is enough for me to keep the M2 forever. I don’t want to go through the hassle of selling that and buying another car. If the game sucks, we don’t have to play it.
The beacons.