Originally posted by mee I was thinking about this last week when looking at cars online. A lot of the ones I looked at didn't have options. Instead one could simply pick model, a generic trim level A B or C, and then decided if you wanted mudflaps or floormats. About it.
Society has long been refining itself. Most everything today gets refined. And in refinement there are less choices.
At least with cars it makes it easier to compare pricing. Your 2020 Traverse LT is the same on Lot 1 as Lot 2. Not much room for the dealership to hem and haw at the pricing because this one has the upgraded butt warmers and a 4 speed in primo blue and the one on the other lot doesn't have butt warmers but does have a 5 speed in mondo red.
Plus it's probably easier to repair knowing an LT is an LT when it comes in to the shop.
Best way of getting the best price on a new vehicle , in my experience is factory ordering...through a dealer.
For a couple cars we used this process and ordered from the factory, through dealers. We knew exactly what we wanted, even to the option RPO #...or regular production option #....of the particular options/option package we wanted. Therefore the sales associate didn't have to spend a couple of hours talking about different products, showing us vehicles for test rides, etc. All they had to do was give us their best price for this specific vehicle, as of yet, unordered and unbuilt.
I sent the make/mode,. exact options on the same vehicle and to 4 GM dealers and asked each one to give us their absolute best price on that model, make, options. The successful dealer would then be asked to order the car from the factory. I explained the process to each dealer and indicated I would make the choice based on best price, among the 4 dealers.
Sort of like tendering.
Only three dealers participated but I did get an excellent price. Last one we factory ordered, was back in '97 and the prices ranged from $ 33, 500, $ 27,000 to the best price of $ 23,000. All for the exact same vehicle. Significant difference in price.
Did we hose the dealer ? Nope, I don't think the consumer ever hoses the dealer. They know their costs, their true invoice, etc. and we don't. Advantage dealer.
The best the consumer can hope for is a good deal. Other factors we spoke to the dealers about was that the vehicle we factory ordered, would not be on their lot for any length of time...so no additional interest costs, etc, We would take it as soon as it was off the truck and had the mandatory dealer preparation, etc.
It would be fast and efficient for them. In and out quickly.