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
Tesla customization is limited to paint color, wheels, battery capacity, and your choice of 2 interior colors.

For comparison, BMW's models (electric and ICE) offer more paint options, more wheel options, 4x as many interior color/upholstery options, 6 interior trim options, and multiple add-on packages.

Yes, it takes longer, because when you customize your BMW (or any other non-Tesla automaker's cars) you can actually customize it to your preferences, and the customized interior is what can take a few months because BMW (or whichever automaker you went with) is actually building your car based on your customizations, and if you select an uncommon interior/trim/package combination, it can take some time to get to the front of the queue.

You get your Tesla in a week because you're not actually customizing anything. You're just getting whatever Tesla already built.

And if you want a non-customized car and getting it quickly is a priority, you can just go to your nearest car dealership and get a new car in an hour, and whatever that new car is will have better build quality and range then your Tesla. And with Tesla's recent price cuts killing the used Tesla market, your non-Tesla will also have better resale value when it comes time for your next car.

>>gamblo+ii1
It’s not about the time it takes to build the car. It’s about the fact that I can’t start and end the purchase in a single session, even though the purchase flow mimics the purchase flow of other online goods.

If BMW let me configure a BMW, put down a deposit, and provided me with a delivery estimate, I’d do it. In a heartbeat. But I can’t.

Imagine if Amazon worked this way. You do a search for a new backpack. You get to the page with the backpack you want. You select the size, color, number of pockets, everything. You add it to your cart. Then when you go to pay, Amazon puts up a screen that says “Thanks! Give us your phone number and someone will get back to you. Or, just visit your local BackpackMart and show them the configuration you want.” Hell no! Amazon has perfected the frictionless checkout. Car markers haven’t, because they’re stuck with these worthless middlemen who provide no value to the process whatsoever.

The fact is, I don’t really even want to customize my car down to the stitching. I just do it because the interface on the website makes me do it.