4 ms·

I trust Amazon up to about $500. Above that price point I want all the assurances of any industry's ancien régime.

glimshe 3y ago
What kind of assurances do you get from dealers? My experience with dealers makes me want to pay for the car, buy no optionals and never go back again.
- subpixel 3y ago
  I actually bought a Hyundai from a dealership 3 hours away and the salesman drove down to where I live (with his dad!) to deliver it. That was nice, but the main assurance is that I know who sold me the car and there will be no passing of the buck on warranty service or anything else. Amazon has no place in the transaction - even if they offered some or other thing, I don't trust them trying to weasel into the deal. I'd probably wind up with an expensive Armor All subscription I need to cancel.
  - solardev 3y ago
    Do you ever see the salesperson again after the sale? I just went straight to the service department.
    - 8ytecoder 3y ago
      I hate dealerships in general - but - I've been lucky to have good sales people in the two car purchases I've made so far. The trick for me was to be very blunt and clear on what I'm trying to do. Usually I do the research about the car and what I want ahead of time. I've also researched what kinda pricing is normal. I'm also ready to sign the car if the price is right and I like it or walk out if I don't like. My sense is that salespeople are primed by people who haven't done any research on what they want and doing all that on the spot at the dealership. They're also not exactly sure what they want and are susceptible to be convinced one way or the other. Even when they like a car, most people tend to be not sure and want to try another car or dealership. Hence the usual deal with pricing it higher, offering free accessories, offering a discount and all that jazz.
- a_subsystem 3y ago
  I recently bought a used vehicle from a dealer. I immediately took the vehicle on a 3 hour car trip. The car broke down at near the end of the trip, surging engine, then died, then wouldn't restart. It restarted after a few minutes and I limped (under 60) the rest of the way to destination. The dealer had 2 drivers bring me a (free) loaner car for 5 days while they fixed my vehicle for free. I used to work at a few other car dealerships and at least at those places as well as the one I bought from, this is pretty standard operating procedure. Amazon going to do that?
  - topspin 3y ago
    I had a similar experience. Bad antilock manifold on a new model Nissan. Took three weeks for the part to appear. I suspect there was a design defect that Nissan had to figure out. Meanwhile I drove a dealer loaner for free. All warranty work, recall work and other repairs were handled correctly over a 12 year period. Last year I bought a used truck sight unseen from a dealer on the other end of the continent. They handled all the shipping hassle competently, working with the shipper, bank, title stuff in both states and everything else. They were 100% forthright on everything about the vehicle, including live video inspection, proof of maintenance, etc. I got exactly what I expected.
- dmitrygr 3y ago
  I’ve had great success, strongarming two Chevrolet dealerships into doing what they should’ve done anyways by threatening (and in one case, actually, following through) to write a letter to Chevrolet, explaining how a particular dealer was making them look very bad.
topspin 3y ago
Hmm. A $1200 generator I bought on Amazon was a lemon; the control board somehow didn't work properly and it wouldn't start reliably. After a local rep attempted repairs the manufacturer told me to obtain a refund from Amazon and they would take the bad unit. Amazon refunded every cent, sight unseen with one phone call, and placed no obligation on me to return the original unit; "dispose of it as you wish." Shortly after, the manufacturer said they were shipping me a replacement. Despite being told about the full refund the manufacturer didn't care and freighted me the replacement. Free 9KW Westinghouse generator.
- lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
  > Free 9KW Westinghouse generator. Isn't it 2 (or like 1.5) free generators, or did I get lost somewhere along the way? - Buy faulty generator - Get refund without return (free faulty generator!) - Get replacement generator (free generator!) It's also amazing how inefficient Amazon can be in some cases while still being one of the most profitable companies in history.
  - topspin 3y ago
    Perhaps I wasn't clear. The bad one went to the manufacturer and they replaced it. Amazon just refunded the purchase. I'm left with 1.0 working generators I didn't pay for. Maybe it's all down to being Prime for I don't know how long. Amazon just said "here's your money, kthxbye."
    - lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
      Ah, that makes sense. I would bet Amazon was aware that the manufacturer would ask for it back if that’s the case. Presumably also the manufacturer footed the bill.

What kind of assurances do you get from dealers? My experience with dealers makes me want to pay for the car, buy no optionals and never go back again.

subpixel 3y ago
I actually bought a Hyundai from a dealership 3 hours away and the salesman drove down to where I live (with his dad!) to deliver it. That was nice, but the main assurance is that I know who sold me the car and there will be no passing of the buck on warranty service or anything else. Amazon has no place in the transaction - even if they offered some or other thing, I don't trust them trying to weasel into the deal. I'd probably wind up with an expensive Armor All subscription I need to cancel.
- solardev 3y ago
  Do you ever see the salesperson again after the sale? I just went straight to the service department.
  - 8ytecoder 3y ago
    I hate dealerships in general - but - I've been lucky to have good sales people in the two car purchases I've made so far. The trick for me was to be very blunt and clear on what I'm trying to do. Usually I do the research about the car and what I want ahead of time. I've also researched what kinda pricing is normal. I'm also ready to sign the car if the price is right and I like it or walk out if I don't like. My sense is that salespeople are primed by people who haven't done any research on what they want and doing all that on the spot at the dealership. They're also not exactly sure what they want and are susceptible to be convinced one way or the other. Even when they like a car, most people tend to be not sure and want to try another car or dealership. Hence the usual deal with pricing it higher, offering free accessories, offering a discount and all that jazz.
a_subsystem 3y ago
I recently bought a used vehicle from a dealer. I immediately took the vehicle on a 3 hour car trip. The car broke down at near the end of the trip, surging engine, then died, then wouldn't restart. It restarted after a few minutes and I limped (under 60) the rest of the way to destination. The dealer had 2 drivers bring me a (free) loaner car for 5 days while they fixed my vehicle for free. I used to work at a few other car dealerships and at least at those places as well as the one I bought from, this is pretty standard operating procedure. Amazon going to do that?
- topspin 3y ago
  I had a similar experience. Bad antilock manifold on a new model Nissan. Took three weeks for the part to appear. I suspect there was a design defect that Nissan had to figure out. Meanwhile I drove a dealer loaner for free. All warranty work, recall work and other repairs were handled correctly over a 12 year period. Last year I bought a used truck sight unseen from a dealer on the other end of the continent. They handled all the shipping hassle competently, working with the shipper, bank, title stuff in both states and everything else. They were 100% forthright on everything about the vehicle, including live video inspection, proof of maintenance, etc. I got exactly what I expected.
dmitrygr 3y ago
I’ve had great success, strongarming two Chevrolet dealerships into doing what they should’ve done anyways by threatening (and in one case, actually, following through) to write a letter to Chevrolet, explaining how a particular dealer was making them look very bad.

topspin 3y ago

Hmm. A $1200 generator I bought on Amazon was a lemon; the control board somehow didn't work properly and it wouldn't start reliably. After a local rep attempted repairs the manufacturer told me to obtain a refund from Amazon and they would take the bad unit. Amazon refunded every cent, sight unseen with one phone call, and placed no obligation on me to return the original unit; "dispose of it as you wish." Shortly after, the manufacturer said they were shipping me a replacement. Despite being told about the full refund the manufacturer didn't care and freighted me the replacement. Free 9KW Westinghouse generator.

lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
> Free 9KW Westinghouse generator. Isn't it 2 (or like 1.5) free generators, or did I get lost somewhere along the way? - Buy faulty generator - Get refund without return (free faulty generator!) - Get replacement generator (free generator!) It's also amazing how inefficient Amazon can be in some cases while still being one of the most profitable companies in history.
- topspin 3y ago
  Perhaps I wasn't clear. The bad one went to the manufacturer and they replaced it. Amazon just refunded the purchase. I'm left with 1.0 working generators I didn't pay for. Maybe it's all down to being Prime for I don't know how long. Amazon just said "here's your money, kthxbye."
  - lcnPylGDnU4H9OF 3y ago
    Ah, that makes sense. I would bet Amazon was aware that the manufacturer would ask for it back if that’s the case. Presumably also the manufacturer footed the bill.