The quote was from a guy who worked for GM, Ford & Volvo and he was talking mostly about the US and northern Europe

Aug 14, 2019,09:02 AM
 

The manufacturers are stuck with authorized dealers in the US due to protectionist legislation in almost all 50 states. Tesla is the only one bucking the system today, trying to sell direct and service at your home, work or in a factory service center. 


This situation began early in the 20th century because the US is so large. The mfrs couldn't manage service all over a 3000-mile wide continent, so to maintain mobility the situation arose that most service was done in "aftermarket" shops (not dealers). The local garage was closer to the customer, less expensive, and more congenial to performance enhancements, customization, work to suit limited budgets, etc. 

These 150,000 businesses (gas stations, tire stores, lube&tune, independents, body shops, etc.) bought data (shop manuals, labor time, parts guides, collision estimating systems) from Mitchell Manuals, where I was head of service information. The other two main publishers were Chilton and MOTOR Manuals. This trio dominated the information market from the 1920's until 1990's when other competitors emerged. Chilton folded and sold out but Mitchell and Motor are still in the game. 

Similar publishers supported Do-It-Yourselfers -- these included Autodata, Bentley, Clymer, Haynes, etc. The Internet (specifically YouTube), hotline call centers, the factors you mentioned, and the rise of fiendishly complex cars has largely killed the market for DIY service (and information). 

These challenges have both helped and hindered the independent shops. All along, the manufacturers and their authorized dealers have sold parts to the aftermarket while doing their best to steal customers away (or back, depending on your point of view). 

For example, there are 3 Volvo dealers in San Diego county, about 100 mile diameter, which has 3 million registered vehicles (of all types and brands). Same with Mercedes - 3 dealers, each about 30-40 miles apart. It's easier to get your work done closer to home than drive across an entire county for an oil change and filter with a million other drivers on the road at the same time. That's my biased view, anyway. 

However, today I am looking at the recommended services for my 2 new vehicles. The Honda needs an oil change once a year, and the Volt once in 2 years. I have enough of the right oil in stock in my garage, so that's it for me until 2021. Yay! 

 Mike 

 PS Captain/Uncle Brownie says hello to Jurry, another fighter pilot!




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We make money by making customers do what they hate most, which is going back to dealers

 
 By: cazalea : August 7th, 2019-08:24
" It's always a bit provocative when I say this, but there is something not very ethical about the car industry as a whole. We have traditionally made money on servicing cars, not selling them. So, we make money on making customers do what they hate most,...  

Buy a Tesla

 
 By: hewitgar : August 7th, 2019-09:03
not a lot of moving parts

not much emotion

 
 By: Weems@8 : August 7th, 2019-09:33
There are cars with not much emotion like Toyota. It are mostly not the cars, your neighbour think you won the jackpot. It are cars that always open the hood with a cable which do not break. If the cable break, and your Toyota is old, than even a Toyota d... 

This is probably a major reason for the prevalance...

 
 By: vitalsigns : August 7th, 2019-09:38
...of leasing (although there are other important reasons as well), where the lease term is at least coterminous with the warranty. …and the ascendancy of the Japanese import (made extremely well, and much cheaper to fix). I would not want to be out of wa... 

Be nice guys

 
 By: Jocke - Bad Santa : August 7th, 2019-10:37
The auto mechanic's needs to finace the watches in some way. LOLOL I have done this stuff everyday for 3 decades now.

He he he... [nt]

 
 By: amanico : August 7th, 2019-10:58

This is why I bought a Tesla...

 
 By: patrick_y : August 7th, 2019-11:55
I'm hoping the Tesla will be more reliable in the long run. We shall see!

Not sure I agree

 
 By: Jurry : August 14th, 2019-08:34
I’m not so sure if I agree on the statement made. 30 years back, yes I would have fully agreed. Authorised dealers were bloody expensive, body shops and “all brand repair” shops were unreliable at best. But since then a lot has changed: - reliability is w... 

The quote was from a guy who worked for GM, Ford & Volvo and he was talking mostly about the US and northern Europe

 
 By: cazalea : August 14th, 2019-09:02
The manufacturers are stuck with authorized dealers in the US due to protectionist legislation in almost all 50 states. Tesla is the only one bucking the system today, trying to sell direct and service at your home, work or in a factory service center. Th...  

For Captain Brownie

 
 By: Jurry : August 26th, 2019-05:10
I’m sure the pictures below will bring a smile to his face ...  

Hi Mike

 
 By: Jurry : August 14th, 2019-11:27
Obviously the situation in the US is completely different. You’re either in an area with towns and villages spread pretty far apart or you in highly densely populated areas and metropolises If you’ve only got 3 dealers each 40 miles apart, then having an ... 

I got my maid/nanny/gardener/nurse to help me change the oil

 
 By: cazalea : August 14th, 2019-12:00
Actually she just posed as if she were doing it herself. I have this nifty marine oil extractor - you pump the handle once or twice like bicycle pump; that creates a suction, and it pulls all the oil out the dipstick tube. You don't even get dirty hands. ...