The absurdity of Donald Trump

[Undertoad]

We should let LJ weigh in on this, but --

How long before they can freely sell the things they create? (In a free market?)

Anyone should be able to sell anything to anyone, as long as it's legal. It seems to me that many/most car companies will still want the leave the messy business of dealing with the general public to some other... entity.

Tesla's early market is people looking for a car averaging $100K. They are all early adopters; they've drunk the kool-aid. I suspect it will be a very different experience selling to average Josephine -- who walks in, with a credit rating lower than mine, and still wants the premium cupholders (and expects to charge the thing through a wall outlet and an extension cord out the window).

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

It seems to me that many/most car companies will still want the leave the messy business of dealing with the general public to some other... entity.

I'm not so sure

Automakers General Motors Corporation (GM) and Chrysler LLC have received $17.4 billion in loans under the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and have indicated that they may need up to an additional $21.6 billion in federal assistance to restructure their operations. As a condition of the loans, the companies are required to develop plans to achieve profitability. Much attention in the plans has centered on getting labor costs under control.

Among other measures addressed are ways to cut distribution costs. As part of its cost-cutting effort, GM has announced that it will reduce its dealership network from over 6,200 dealers today to 4,100. The cost of the auto distribution system in the United States has been estimated as averaging up to 30 percent of vehicle price. With dealer networks being rationalized as part of cost-cutting initiatives, direct manufacturer sales to car buyers may present an additional opportunity to lower distribution costs.

Such sales might range from consumers’ simply ordering assembled vehicles of their choice directly from automakers to a scenario along the lines of the “Dell Direct” build-to-order model that revolutionized the personal computer production and sale process.

GM initiated a build-to-order sales model in Brazil for its Chevrolet Celta economy car over eight years ago. In 2008, the Celta was among the sales leaders in Brazil. At the time of the Celta’s introduction, an auto analyst said that build-to-order could result in “spectacular improvements in the company’s competitiveness and profitability.”

link

[Pamela]

I can envision the day when I can go to Amazon and order a car to my specifications and have it delivered to a dealership nearby. Or perhaps they can deliver to ANY dealer, like ordering tires and having them delivered to my tire shop.

Also, I can see porch pirates moving up to grand theft auto if they deliver to my door and I'm not at home. I dunno how my UPS mail store, who so ably handles my packages for me, would handle THAT!

[Glinda]

Originally Posted by Pamela

I can envision the day when I can go to Amazon and order a car to my specifications and have it delivered to a dealership nearby. Or perhaps they can deliver to ANY dealer, like ordering tires and having them delivered to my tire shop.

Also, I can see porch pirates moving up to grand theft auto if they deliver to my door and I'm not at home. I dunno how my UPS mail store, who so ably handles my packages for me, would handle THAT!

Your dream has come true!

[xoxoxoBruce]

That's used cars though.

[Glinda]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

That's used cars though.

Yabbut. Online shopping(!), plus they bring the car to your door (or send a token to get it out of a vending machine). You get a week to decide if you like it, and they'll take your old car in trade. How nutty is that?



And in my own personal opinion, buying a new car is a losing deal - the car loses value the second you drive it off the lot, and insurance companies don't give a rat's ass if you wreck it on the way home from the dealership - you will NOT get full replacement value.

When you buy a "certified" used car, the vehicle has presumably been gone over by a crew of professional repair dudes, you can research typical problems with that particular make/model, and check costs against other similar vehicles sold in your area (price comparison tools), thereby ensuring that you're not paying too much for a decent vehicle.

You know, if I ever thought I would need another vehicle, I'd definitely consider this service. My Chevy Silverado (285,000 miles) and Volvo station wagon (82,000 miles) are both 20 years old and in excellent condition. I fully expect them both to outlive me, but if they don't, I'd definitely do some research on the Carvana webite.

[Griff]

With Chevy's new design your old Silverado's value just went way up!

[xoxoxoBruce]

Originally Posted by Glinda

Yabbut. Online shopping(!), plus they bring the car to your door (or send a token to get it out of a vending machine). You get a week to decide if you like it, and they'll take your old car in trade. How nutty is that?

Fine but keep in mind you're paying for all that, plus buying a car sight unseen.

When you buy a "certified" used car, the vehicle has presumably been gone over by a crew of professional repair dudes, you can research typical problems with that particular make/model, and check costs against other similar vehicles sold in your area (price comparison tools), thereby ensuring that you're not paying too much for a decent vehicle.

Professional repair dudes know what they have to take care of, and what can be hidden so it won't be a problem until it's your problem. You're still buying a pig in a poke for probably more money than a private sale, but if you trust them, and you're willing to pay for the convenience, that's cool.

[Gravdigr]

Remember the old square-bodied pre-1987 Chevy/GMC pick-em-up-trucks?

I used to joke that, because they were made for so long, you could set one on fire, push it over a cliff into a pond, then come back a year later and $500 would put that sumbitch back on the road.

As long as ya didn't mind holes in your cab corners.

And the rocker panels.

And the bedsides.

And the bed.

[Glinda]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

Remember the old square-bodied pre-1987 Chevy/GMC pick-em-up-trucks?

I used to joke that, because they were made for so long, you could set one on fire, push it over a cliff into a pond, then come back a year later and $500 would put that sumbitch back on the road.

I still see those old trucks on the road all the time, out here. They're usually pretty beat up, but they're still rolling and that's saying something.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Yeah, 240,000 miles.

[Gravdigr]

That'n yourn?

[xoxoxoBruce]

Yeah, but when I was driving it daily and keeping it clean. Now I drive it about twice a year and that red paint is impossible to prevent oxidation without steady maintenance. My state inspection expired... about 4 years ago.

[tw]

As if he is not dumb enough, well, everyone has learned what happens when Phase Four planning is eliminated. Because George Jr pulled out of Afghanistan to unilaterally attack Iraq (for no purpose), then the Taliban took back most of Afghanistan. That mistake means we spent over a $trillion in constant war in Afghanistan.

Principles were clearly defined in Art of War over 2500 years ago. But we have a man whose dic is his brain. So he will now harm more allies - in this case Kurds and others. No phase four planning because Trump want to preach to our wacko extremists how smart he is. He wants to create a massive power vacuum by pulling 2000 Americans out of Syria. And says to all American allies that no longer respect them. To even advance potential American adversaries - including Taliban, ISIS, Assad, Russians, and Chinese.

This asshole has no successes. Not only has he massively increased the Federal debt and deficit. He even agreed to let North Korea build launch sites to deploy missiles that can strike US territories. While preaching to the naive that he solved the N Korean problem. He has forced nations bordering the South China Sea to stop becoming American allies and become Chinese allies. And now he wants to create a potential massacre of American allies such as Kurds.

[sexobon]

It has already been compared to Obama pulling us out of Iraq so ISIS could flourish.

It's not the same though. Trump is looking for government agencies to tap for money to build the Wall. He can pull us out of our current military engagements to get the money if Congress won't give it to him. He can shut down the government so they can't do anything about it either.

It's also good to pull our troops out of areas where we may want to use tactical nukes. Why waste all that manpower just to achieve stalemates at an exorbitant cost. If we don't like what happens over there after we're gone, we'll just teach 'em to do the neutron dance from afar.

What a clever way to pay for a beautiful new wall that will be the envy of all our allies. It's a wonderful world.