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I remember reading some time ago that Tesla's loop-hole for opening storefronts is that they don't actually sell cars to people there... they just inform people
by Rudism 13y ago
I remember reading some time ago that Tesla's loop-hole for opening storefronts is that they don't actually sell cars to people there... they just inform people about the cars and answer their questions. When it's time to actually buy one, they sit you down at a internet terminal and you order over the web just as you would if you were purchasing from anywhere else.
- DanBC 13y agoWould they have been collecting and paying sales tax?
- masonhensley 13y agoI think you pay the sales tax when you register the car, just like you would during a private sale. The only difference is that when you buy a car from a dealer, they probably help fill out that paperwork. I could be wrong, I've never bought a new car & my current vehicles were both gifts from a family member which only carried a flat $10 tax. Texas auto sales tax info: http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/mtr_veh/mv_su.html http://www.window.state.tx.us/taxinfo/mtr_veh/mv_su.html
- nrb 13y agoIn some states, Illinois for example, the dealership can register the car on your behalf and collect tax at the time of the sale. When you leave the dealership, you already have your permanent license plate along with the registration sticker and get to skip the DMV altogether.
- jonknee 13y agoI don't believe Texas even allows for in-store internet sales. Last I heard Tesla couldn't even inform people in the store how much the cars cost. Tesla also cannot deliver the vehicle to the customer, the customer must provide arrangements. Oh, no test drives either. It's absolutely ridiculous. I assume they opened the store just to have a better argument against the dealership cartel. http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2013/04/24/tesla-has-eyes-for-texas-but-will-the-state-make-oblige/ http://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2013/04/24/tesla-has-eyes-f...
- gknoy 13y agoI wonder if they could get around the "no test drives" rule by opening a "Tesla Car Rental" chain, where you can rent a Tesla for a day. This way they are neither selling nor testing cars, but people who are interested would be able to try it out.
- jonknee 13y agoRegardless of the crazy dealership laws I would love to rent a Tesla for a day.
- stephenhuey 13y agoCorrect. They do not sell cars at the Houston Galleria store: http://www.teslamotors.com/houstongalleria http://www.teslamotors.com/houstongalleria
- Florin_Andrei 13y agoSo it's basically a showroom.
- angersock 13y agoRight, however given the amount of oil money floating around and people coming in from out-of-town to shop there, it makes sense.
- dclowd9901 13y ago>they sit you down at a internet terminal and you order over the web How does this work in light of the law in Texas outlawing this?