Mercedes wins landmark court case

[Sprintey]

https://www.drive.com.au/news/merced...ces-australia/

"Mercedes-Benz dealers have lost a multimillion-dollar Federal Court case scrutinising a radical change to the car-dealer business model which led to non-negotiable fixed prices."

"The dealers expressed concern that such a move would dent the viability of their businesses – and that Mercedes-Benz was, in effect, helping itself to each showroom's network of customers."

[Ben73]

This court case makes sure the consumer always pays the worst price possible for their new car

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Ben73

This court case makes sure the consumer always pays the worst price possible for their new car

Not like the last two years were any different anyway - you can wait 24 months or you can pay $30,000 more than RRP for this 'used' one we have on the lot with delivery kilometers.

[Cobra]

Dealers milked the lack of supply to their advantage and now the chickens have come home to roost.

This decision by Mecedes was made independently of the Covid situation, but still, the gravy train is about to run dry for dealerships.

Other manufacturers are sure to follow suit, now that the path has been paved for them.

Times are changing. Elon has really shaken the up the industry and legacy manufacturers have had to adjust their business models.

I'm unconvinced as to whether direct-to-comsumer, fixed-price modelling works to the benefit of consumers, but I guess time will tell.

If my mate's Model 3 purchase was anything to go by, if solid customer service is your thing, you won't like it.

However, for a no-fuss purchase, just head town to a warehouse at (Adelaide) airport and pick up your purchased vehicle that nobody sold you.

Yeah... I'm not sure, yet. Not sold on it either way.

[b0son]

Showrooms are for boomers anyway.... :P

[Franco Cozzo]

Buying a new car is like pulling teeth, its a horrible customer experience and its straight out of the 1980s.

You should just be able to go to a service centre which doubles as a small showroom, test drive it then buy it online and it turns up in your driveway, just like any other purchase.

Went into Subaru to look at the new WRX and the salesman just pulled up Subarus website, and I already knew the pricing, because I'd also looked at Subaru's website earlier.

Ended up going with the i30N, which also looked at the price on the website, which is what was paid for it.

The only function the dealership visit was for the test drive, everything else the sales team are just glorified check out people, just like at Coles or Safeway, there's no movement on price available in this market anyway so its much of a muchness.

I could do without the 50km drive to and from the dealership, I don't need the nice red bow on the car or the photo with it either, it should come to me.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

You should just be able to go to a service centre which doubles as a small showroom, test drive it then buy it online and it turns up in your driveway, just like any other purchase.

Then community FB pages would be full of people complaining their car had been delivered to someone else, and asking if anybody recognised the driveway in the pic the delivery company had sent them.

[Citroënbender]

It already probably happens. I’m sure someone else has accidentally got the glamorous, jet-setting millionaire life I ordered.

[jpd80]

So some MB dealers got to experience what their buyers regularly go through……a right royal shafting.

[Wretched]

Dealerships, the poorest millionaires.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by b0son

Then community FB pages would be full of people complaining their car had been delivered to someone else, and asking if anybody recognised the driveway in the pic the delivery company had sent them.

Signed proof of delivery

Boom - problem solved,

Not everyone is useless as Australia Post

[prydey]

Humans seem to be hard wired to advertise things at a price higher than they actually want to sell it for.

Humans seem to be hard wired to expect to pay less than the sticker price.

Those 2 things create the age old little dance that goes on around transactions.

If manufacturers follow this lead of MB, and Tesla, where the price is the price, surely it becomes much simpler for everyone.


Those who like to believe they orchestrated a bargain will just have to find another way to get their ego stroked.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by prydey

Humans seem to be hard wired to advertise things at a price higher than they actually want to sell it for.

Humans seem to be hard wired to expect to pay less than the sticker price.

Those 2 things create the age old little dance that goes on around transactions.

If manufacturers follow this lead of MB, and Tesla, where the price is the price, surely it becomes much simpler for everyone.


Those who like to believe they orchestrated a bargain will just have to find another way to get their ego stroked.

We don't agree on much but this is one of those rare moments where the stars have aligned

[Citroënbender]

I think the first three paragraphs could also apply to relationships!

[Franco Cozzo]

I don't understand the need for the traditional large scale dealership model anymore.

I saw a Genesis dealership inside Emporium in Melbourne CBD a few weeks ago, that was a bit interesting, it's basically no different to any other shop except it has a few cars in it instead of clothes or the usual retail experience.

[Vekgib]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Signed proof of delivery

Boom - problem solved,

Not everyone is useless as Australia Post

Geez, thanks for that.
As an employee of Australia Post, I have never been accused of delivering to the incorrect address, however, you seem to think that my performance at work is "useless".

How about you get out and have a go.
**** off mate.