zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Buying
/
Online Shopping Is Killing Car Dealer Inventories
Online Shopping Is Killing Car Dealer Inventories-August 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:09:55

With the various car-buying services offered online, hardly anyone goes to a car dealership just to browse anymore—they do a lot of that on the internet beforehand. That, then, makes car dealerships question why they keep such large inventories on their lots anymore.

Dealerships and dealer groups are reacting to this shift in car shopping in different ways, reports the . Some are moving their inventory to less expensive off-site real estate. Others are selling off underperforming dealerships. From the story:

Nearly 90% of car shoppers use the internet to shop for a vehicle, according to a 2016 study by the third-party shopping site Autotrader.com conducted by the research firm IHS Automotive. Of the customers who use their smartphones at a dealership, the study found 59% are comparing prices for vehicles at other dealerships while 38% are comparing inventory at other dealerships.

Brad Carter, the principal of Greystone Valuation Services, specializing in auto dealerships, compared what’s happening to dealerships with what has been happening to bookstores. Small neighborhood bookstores have been gradually losing out to megastores like Barnes & Noble, which faces tough competition from Amazon.

Meanwhile, also make dealerships wonder why they are paying so much for land that doesn’t necessarily guarantee a return on their investments.

While this may be trouble to dealerships, it’s actually a good thing for the consumers. The internet has helped consumers walk into dealerships more well-informed and savvier than ever before, which leads to more options, and, hopefully, better deals.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Buying
Would You Pay $7,995 For This 2003 BMW 325XiT… Or Are You Yella?
Would You Pay $7,995 For This 2003 BMW 325XiT… Or Are You Yella?
The seller of today’s 325XiT say’s it’s the only Dakar Yellow wagon in existence. We’ll justhave to see if its price has you seeing red. When it comes to colors, yesterday’s was all about the silver and gold. That’s because it was painted in a metallic silver, and it asked...
Aug 31, 2026
These People Asked Jalopnik For Car Buying Advice! Here Are The Cars They Bought
These People Asked Jalopnik For Car Buying Advice! Here Are The Cars They Bought
We launched the series in an effort to give real people car buying advice. One of the most common comments in these posts, other than “This person should just buy a Miata!”, is “So what did they actually buy?” Well, to be honest, getting folks to follow up and spill...
Aug 31, 2026
These Are The Cars That People Keep The Longest
These Are The Cars That People Keep The Longest
While some people prefer to get a new car every few years, there is a certain freedom to owning a car long after the loan has been paid off. Here are 10 models that owners are likely to keep for a very long time. The folks over at analyzed more...
Aug 31, 2026
For $2,000, Could This 2004 Saab 9-5 Be An Arc You Covet?
For $2,000, Could This 2004 Saab 9-5 Be An Arc You Covet?
I like wagons. Today’s Saab 9-5 is a wagon, so, obviously I like it. Maybe its price will be something we can all like. Considering its reputation for customer loyalty, I’m guessing that few of you are present Subaru owners. How else can you explain the 65-percent Crack Pipe loss...
Aug 31, 2026
For $8,999, Could This Tastefully Modded 1980 Triumph TR8 Have You Shouting The British Are Coming?
For $8,999, Could This Tastefully Modded 1980 Triumph TR8 Have You Shouting The British Are Coming?
Today’s Triumph was once touted as the shape of things to come. That was a long time ago, but we’ll now have to see if this TR8’s price has it coming or going. There was some intrigue surrounding yesterday’s . I don’t mean about its claim of being the only...
Aug 31, 2026
For $13,500, This 2000 Honda Insight Hides A Pretty Big Secret
For $13,500, This 2000 Honda Insight Hides A Pretty Big Secret
You‘ll need some literal insight to see just what’s so special about today’s Insight, but will its price prove that particular perspicacity to be all for naught? Rather than looking inward, let’s—for the moment at least—look back, to last Friday in fact. There we had a , the last and...
Aug 31, 2026
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved