zlacker

>>isp+(OP)
Car dealership websites are some of the worst on the planet. There is so much inbound sales automation glued together it is remarkable they even work at all. Integrating ChatGPT is the icing on the cake.

>>whales+Tf
My favorite is what I call the “design to disappointment” flow. “Design your new BMW here!” You put in all features you want, it generates a configuration, and then you put in your zip code so it can tell you “Oops! That configuration isn’t available, give us your contact information so we can have a dealership tell you what they have in stock.”

>>bhpm+Tg
To be fair, it probably isn't available in that exact build configuration. You can however, walk into a dealership and say I'd like a BMW with XYZ and the will submit your order and you'll receive it 4-6 months later. The cars on the lot have popular build configs that customers often request.

>>giarc+tk
Meanwhile, I ordered a Tesla while I was in the shower. I even got financing. It showed up a week later.

>>bhpm+bm
Because Tesla has too much inventory and very few options to configure? What's your point?

>>rondin+2y
As a car buying customer, I care about four things:

(1) Getting the car I want

(2) at a price I think is fair

(3) as quickly as possible

(4) with little effort on my part.

The manufacturer or dealer’s inventory does not concern me. The number of configurations does not concern me. If the manufacturer has exactly one car and it is what I want and they will sell it to me for a price I think is fair and will deliver it in a timely manner and won’t waste my time, then I will buy that car.

Traditional dealerships fail on all these aspects. They don’t have the car I want, they tack on fees that are bullshit, they take forever (last time I bought a Toyota it took five hours. Five. I walked in at 2pm on a Saturday and barely made a 7:30pm dinner reservation), and they make me do a bunch of work that I don’t want to do.

I opened my web browser to spend $70,000 and only one company was able to take my money.