Where is auto market headed?

Forgot to mention business office. I’ve seen a few loser deals get turned into profit makers there.

(I’m neutral on this but I make it a point to only work with stores that are straightforward about products)

I think that would be the case if it were something more regional or affected a smaller group, but I think this is significant enough and will last long enough to make an impact on things.

For instance I traveled a lot pre-9/11. It was like getting on a bus. Walk through the metal detector and if no beep, you are good. Now I have to practically get undressed, take off shoes, take off jacket, belt laptop out of bag, not more than 3 oz. liquid, blah blah blah

I think a lot of people who lived through the depression were influenced financially their whole life from that.

I am not saying people will stop all together or at all, but I think they will adapt how they do business. No longer will people want to wait around for hours in a dealership. I know, I know, not how to do it, but many many still do.

I think dealers will have to address this as people will not want to be there forever. Heck we are being told now on the new to act like everyone is infected, including yourself. How will that impact young minds? Not everyone right away but if this lasts all summer or more, it will affect the business model.

A friend went to Home Depot here yesterday. He had to wait outside in a line as they only allow 50 people in the store simultaneously so you have to wait for someone to leave before getting in. So it is OK outside in a line, but not in the store. Crazy, but I think that will push more people to order online and just pickup in store.

Some yes, but they are necessary for the other money makers. Last car I bought the dealer sold my trade in less than a week, I’m sure he made more on that than the new car, but the new car sale brought him the trade. Also new car sales generate service dollars.

It’s all part of the ecosystem of the dealer, I don’t think any individual piece would survive on it’s own.

TSA pre-check makes all the difference in the world these days.

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I’m planning to head there sometime in the next day or two. Should be interesting to see if they’re doing that here too.

Oh yeah: there’s tons of moving parts to deals. When trade involved I usually advise folks to get a competing quote (everywhere is going to be ugly rn, btw) to try to match or at least set realistic expectations…

If we can’t get at least match enough to beat the sales tax it’s better to just do the deal fresh as at some point you’re just robbing Peter to pay Paul. Lenders (captives especially) are particularly understanding of multiple auto loans on your report when deciding if to approve (conditional or not) or decline.

Yes, so I’m told. I stopped flying for work in 2005 before they had that. Now it is just once in a while for vacation and I haven’t looked into it.

BUT, that also goes to my point that things change and adapt after something like this. I am sure a lot more changed behind the scenes that we don’t even know about.

Are you sure? :wink:

I do agree there will be some change. But as stated in a previous post - TSA precheck makes life easy.
As like you, I do agree, things like whats happening now will influence people, but once things settle down, people will eventually return back to being how they are. The people that are the hardest hit will most likely make some changes but those that are working through this pandemic, most likely will continue as is. Many businesses are pushing towards the “order online and pick-up instore”. That’s been happening before the current situation. I’ve been ordering and picking up stuff from stores for years now. It’s just easier then going to the store and browsing and hoping I find what I want.

I agree with you that there will be some change, but i disagree on how businesses are going to change completely. I don’t think that’s going to happen.

All this talk about pre-:white_check_mark:, who remembers the post-9/11 predecessor to pre-:white_check_mark: based on skiing? Black diamond lines were 99% of the time superior.

I have Pre-check and Clear and Trusted Traveler and I still get periodic sexy-time random screenings. I always ask for the pat down (never the naked body scan), and always right there in the line. I think we need more white guys in brooks brothers getting TSA molested in plain site.

But it this changes our society permanently to “it’s always flu season in Asia”, with temperature checks and extra cleaning and fewer crowds: SIGN ME UP. And get your damn flu shot :syringe:

Is that the sequel to It’s always sunny in Philadelphia?

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It’s not a spinoff or sequel, but a reboot with an all Asian cast, mandatory subtitles, and sick Americans with no sick leave locked up in fever clinics. Woke AF.

No need. Just got an Apple news alert that the US now has the highest number of confirmed coronavirus cases.

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Either our friends in red were hiding the real danger or we (Americans) didn’t take it seriously enough. I’m going to say it’s a combination of both.

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Just to be clear about the joke: We should outsource our health departments to south korea. We are the clear laggard in this crisis. Bigly.

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:joy: whenever I get “lucky” I just like to moan a little for added effect.

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Hot take, I actually think the US has done a reasonable job so far. Contact tracing like was done in SK or the authoritarian measures in Hubei is impossible here. Considering how many people here completely distrust the government, I think that there’s been quite a few positive measures so far.

There definitely could have been improvements, such as starting social distancing sooner and ramping up testing faster, but I don’t think a national lockdown would have been received well here.

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I went through Newark last year and got the treatment from some “just hired” agent being watched by his supervisor. Super uncomfortable for him doing the exam and being supervised. I wasn’t in a rush or particularly mad so I told them both “don’t prolong it but you can take your time.”

The next week (to day) he was checking IDs and gave me a double take when I was 2 away and next, he checks and says “you look familiar”. “Yeah you gave me the full experience last week and didn’t even give me your phone number” and as dumb as the joke is he turned red like a bucket of paint fell on him.

The only thing worse than the customer experience is the job itself. And I pay for the privilege.

Agree. I recently read about the methods used in South Korea, and I was like, “I don’t even know if I personally would be okay w/ all of that, and I’m totally left of center.”

I do think it’s far too early to say how we (the US) have done because we’re not on the other side yet, not by a long shot (IMHO).

My heart just breaks for NYC and the surrounding areas right now.

Back on topic… Where is the auto market headed? Have no idea. Nowhere good, in the near future.

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I saw an ad this morning on TV for Gary Barbara in Philadelphia. Never been there and know nothing about them, but the ad said they will “bring the store to your door” and do every thing including bring test drive vehicles at your house.

Regarding TSA pre-check. That is a direct result of a need created by 9/11. We had a life changing event, 9/11, that created turmoil for travelers. People who travel for business cannot be bothers with that turmoil, hence pre-check and they gladly pay for it because it is their business.

When things effect business if when change happens. Like the Home Depot, I know how contractors are, when they need something they hop in the truck and go to the depot and get it. Well now they have to stand in line outside. That won’t work, time is money, so they will learn to use the app to order online for pickup. I bet you will soon see pickup lockers that you will get a combo for in the pickup email. You won’t even have to interface with people.