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Businesses Transportation

Amazon To Sell Cars Online, Starting With Hyundai (techcrunch.com) 58

Posted by msmash from the how-about-that dept.
Speaking of things Amazon can or cannot sell on its platform, the e-commerce giant getting into the car business. From a report: The e-commerce giant along with new partner Hyundai announced Thursday at the 2023 LA Auto Show that it will start selling vehicles on its website in the second half of 2024. Hyundai vehicles will be the first vehicles sold on Amazon.com's U.S. store with other brands following later in the year. The Amazon car sales section will allow customers to shop for vehicles in their area based on a range of preferences, including model, trim, color, and features, choose their preferred car, and then check out online with their chosen payment and financing options. Customers will be able to buy a vehicle online and then pick it up or have it delivered by their local dealership, according to Amazon.
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Amazon To Sell Cars Online, Starting With Hyundai More

Amazon To Sell Cars Online, Starting With Hyundai

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  • The general sentiment towards Amazon's venture into online car sales, especially among tech-savvy and geek communities, appears to be a mix of intrigue and skepticism. There's a sense of curiosity about how Amazon will integrate its technology and online retail expertise into the traditional car buying process. The partnership with Hyundai and the integration of technologies like Alexa in cars are seen as interesting developments. However, there's also a cautious approach, wondering how this move will impac

    • well some states don't allow direct sales of cars.

      also it's on the local dealer to do the paper work as well.

      • This sounds like Amazon is trying to be a dealer broker. They make the sale then the dealer takes over (for a fee).

      • Re: (Score:2, Insightful)

        by geekmux ( 1040042 )

        well some states don't allow direct sales of cars.

        Good fucking luck to the state-level asshats still defending that corruption after MSRP + Greed pricing fucked over the consumer, resulting in the disaster market we have today for new car pricing crippling sales.

        No market of capitalism deserved to be destroyed more than the COVID abusing stealership that earned it's nickname in spades. They come second only to car insurance.

        • Re: (Score:3)

          by Shakrai ( 717556 )

          No market of capitalism deserved to be destroyed more than the COVID abusing stealership that earned it's nickname in spades

          I don't disagree vis-a-vis the dealerships that marked up new cars over MSRP. Not all did this though. I had to replace my car at the height of the market insanity and got the new one for MSRP. I did pass on other options because of the "fuck you, that's why" markups over MSRP, including my favorite, a Hyundai Elantra in trim/option set that MSRP'ed at 24k. 39k after the 15k "Market Adjustment" surcharge.

          Banks, credit unions, and auto insurers should have put a stop to that nonsense. Now they hold loa

          • The Civic only made it to 210k? That's disappointing. I bought mine used with 30k on the odometer and am currently near 131k. It's coming up on 14 years old. I'll be disappointed if I get less than 250k miles on it. Hoping for 300k.

            • Re: (Score:2)

              by Shakrai ( 717556 )

              I could have repaired it. It was a failed alternator. I got a stupidly inflated quote (nearly 3k) for that repair bill, with the shop thinking I was a rube who would accept their BS "It's because you have a manual transmission" rationale for the inflated cost. Per Chilton and more YouTube videos than I can count, there was no difference in the repair process based on manual transmission, the alternator was RIGHT THERE and hardly required hours of labor to reach and replace.

              Replacing the alternator mysel

              • Re: (Score:2)

                by Tailhook ( 98486 )

                Alternators are not quite, but damn close to being maintenance items, so replacements grow on trees. Replacing a car because an alternator failed is pretty pathetic.

                In my case the alternator on a transverse V6 FWD car starting fluctuating voltage. Replacing it meant pulling the radiator due to clearance. So I replaced it, the radiator, all the belts and hoses, thermostat, coolant and a tensioner because fuck it, I'm in there. Nothing but hand tools, a floor jack and a net couple of afternoons.

                Since

                • Re: (Score:2, Informative)

                  by Shakrai ( 717556 )

                  Replacing a car because an alternator failed is pretty pathetic.

                  Did you read the rest of the post?

                  I absolutely could have replaced it myself. I have done it before on other cars. It's not rocket science.

                  I chose not to because other things on the car were beginning to fail, things that were beyond my ability to self-repair, and I have no trusted mechanic in my new city. I also work 50+ hour weeks and do not have time to waste trying to find one. Or time to waste doing my own damn repairs. There's a lot I could do myself. In times past, when I was young, brok

                  • Re: (Score:2)

                    by Tailhook ( 98486 )

                    Did you read the rest of the post?

                    Yeah, I read your excuses. I make similar excuses for the things I don't really want to do as well. Just own it; you made a objectively pathetic choice because you didn't want to deal with it. A lot less mental gymnastics that way.

                    • Re: (Score:2)

                      by Shakrai ( 717556 )

                      You're right. I didn't want to deal with it. Thankfully I'm not a pov that needs to rationalize keeping a 16 year old car because I'm too broke to afford a vehicle that doesn't suck donkey balls.

                      Too harsh? You opened the insult can of worms. Lay in the bed you made, asshole.

                      Look at me, living the high life, with my entry level sedan. These are the kinds of fine things you can afford when you have money. If you work hard enough and pull yourself up by the bootstraps you can be here too one day. ;-)

          • No market of capitalism deserved to be destroyed more than the COVID abusing stealership that earned it's nickname in spades

            I don't disagree vis-a-vis the dealerships that marked up new cars over MSRP. Not all did this though. I had to replace my car at the height of the market insanity and got the new one for MSRP. I did pass on other options because of the "fuck you, that's why" markups over MSRP, including my favorite, a Hyundai Elantra in trim/option set that MSRP'ed at 24k. 39k after the 15k "Market Adjustment" surcharge.

            If not all did that, one would think you would have found at least one to sell you the trim/option package you really wanted to validate your point.

            Regarding bank loans, I'm still struggling as to how the hell they ever warped the definition of GAP insurance to cover fuck-you-that's-why pricing markups. Hell of a shit-uation for insurance adjusters, lenders and those left holding a loan for a bag of totaled nothing. Car pricing should be quite interesting for a while as stealerships burn.

      • Can I take the car back Amazon style too if I donâ(TM)t like it?

    • Re:From Shopping Carts to Shopping Cars (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Powercntrl ( 458442 ) on Thursday November 16, 2023 @04:58PM (#64010529) Homepage

      I'm really starting to think OP is an AI bot. The prose sounds like something AI would come up with and they've hit-and-run every story with just a single post each time.

      • I'm really starting to think OP is an AI bot. The prose sounds like something AI would come up with and they've hit-and-run every story with just a single post each time.

        Hmm, lets see:
        You:
        Write me a slashdot style comment for the following story summary
        [...]

        ChatGPT:

        Slashdot Comment:

        Title: Amazon Drives Into Car Sales, Vrooms with Hyundai

        Comment: In true Amazon fashion, they're now venturing into car sales, partnering with Hyundai. At the 2023 LA Auto Show, they dropped this bombshell, aiming to transform our car shopping experience. Just imagine browsing for cars like you do for books or gadgets on Amazon! Selecting a car based on model, color, features - all from the comfo

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by ruddk ( 5153113 )

        It does have the classic ChatGPT structure.

    • Re:From Shopping Carts to Shopping Cars (Score:4, Informative)

      by nomadic ( 141991 ) <nomadicworld@@@gmail...com> on Thursday November 16, 2023 @05:01PM (#64010535) Homepage

      "wondering how this move will impact traditional dealerships"

      Ideally, burn them to the ground. Metaphorically. Or actually if they want.

      • Ideally, burn them to the ground. Metaphorically. Or actually if they want.

        Oh, there's nothing metaphoric about the property insurance payouts to cover massive losses that will never be recuperated at current MSRP + FuckYou pricing.

        They actually want. Rest assured.

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        Buying cars online can be just as bad as from a dealer. If you have issues, you are going to have to negotiate with Amazon to get them fixed.

        As an example one car I had needed a windscreen washer pump replacing. Easy enough to get the dealer to do it under warranty, but if it was Amazon... Are they going to authorize a local dealership to fix it and bill them? Bill me and I pass them the invoice for a refund? Send someone out to do it? Okay but what if they can't fix it at my home and need to take it away?

        I

    • Why are you wondering about dealerships, it's in the summary: 'Customers will be able to buy a vehicle online and then pick it up or have it delivered by their local dealership'

      If a conventional dealer is also involved I fail to see how this would be price competitive. Why would I willingly cut Amazon into any of my money? How many damn middle men do we really need?

      • They could exclusively sell cars nobody wants, which would be on brand.

        Or they could open their own dealerships with no salespeople in them, which would go a long way towards improving them.

        • Or they could open their own dealerships with no salespeople in them, which would go a long way towards improving them.

          You just basically described a Tesla showroom. One nearest to us is just a warehouse full of cars with a little area for waiting for your test drive appointment and browsing the cars they have on display.

          It's a little weird, because if you have any questions about the car, you're just supposed to Google it on your phone I guess. Yeah, if you have an appointment for a test drive eventually there will be a human to talk to, but if you're used to a shopping experience where someone rushes over to "help", thi

          • I kinda miss the showrooms Tesla opened in various malls around 2012. Sitting in a Tesla back then felt like *the future* since the design was and is straight out of star trek (kelvin-verse, of course). Lots of sales people, lots of excited passerby sitting in the cars. Pity about the price tag though. I'd have gotten one if it was 20 grand or thereabouts.
      • Why not the best of both? Get your quote from Amazon and then go to the local dealer and ask them if they can do better and still make more than they would from their cut of the Amazon deal.

      • I'd think that for some of these Amazon will end up owning the dealership which won't have any actual inventory and will just handle the pickup process.

        Or they'll take some measure of profit just to handle the paperwork.

        The main thing people probably want to avoid is price negotiation and nickel and diming over additional fees.

        • I'd think that for some of these Amazon will end up owning the dealership which won't have any actual inventory and will just handle the pickup process.

          Putting aside that limited-edition ideology of MSRP+Greed pricing for a moment, a stealership more earned its nickname from the considerable business generated in the maintenance department.

          Amazon may end up owning it and eradicating the concept of a salesperson, but I kind of doubt they're going to simply walk away from the maintenance revenue stream and reduce a dealership to a glorified Amazon locker.

      • More importantly, how big of a cut will I get with my Amazon Affiliate Program?

      • Re: (Score:2)

        by AmiMoJo ( 196126 )

        Often the lowest prices are found on sites like CarWow, where a customer tells the site what car they want and dealers can submit offers. The customer can then select the cheapest one, or use it as a bargaining chip with their local dealer.

        Presumably Amazon will do the same. Dealers sign up, Amazon selects one based on price and proximity to the buyer. That said, buying remotely can work out okay in countries with decent consumer protection rules. For warranty stuff the local dealer will do it if they can b

  • will the local dealership still jerk you around?

  • I can't wait until people start receiving their drop-shipped "Hoonday" cars from 3-rd party sellers.

    • If it's a Ken Block-inspired car then hell yeah. Otherwise no thanks!

      • If it's a Ken Block-inspired car then hell yeah. Otherwise no thanks!

        I highly doubt you're going to find a Ken Block-inspired anything on Amazon beyond a black-market copy of a Hoonigan window decal from an "authorized" reseller...

    • I can't wait until people start receiving their drop-shipped "Hoonday" cars from 3-rd party sellers.

      Practically mint condition used. Wasn't involved in a flood. Honest. Pinky swear. Trust our reviews.

  • You know, as much as I might dislike some aspects of Amazon, no business is more despicable than a car dealership. Anything to cut them out of the loop is great.

    • But we already know Amazon's business model: Accept ads from any and every scum-sucking weasel [cnbc.com] who claims to sell what you want without making any effort at vetting the company or their products. All they want is the advertising revenue for making sure that product shows up high in your search results.

      "Honey, look! Everyone else wants $55,000 for a 2023 Prius but here's one called LuckyCarLily offering a 2024 model for only $6000! and they include free shipping!"

      Car dealers are the embodiment of evil, to be

    • What an endorsement of Amazon. "We are better than a car dealership"

  • I would imagine anyone in the market for a Hyundai is probably going to want to try haggling a better price, because, well, it's a Hyundai. They aren't exactly the first choice of folks with larger budgets.

    I'm sure it's an unpopular opinion here, but I've always gotten better deals on cars by going to the dealership and playing their stupid mind games. When my partner and I went to go buy his new Chevy Bolt EUV about two months ago, I was absolutely sure we'd be walking because we asked the dealer to pay

    • I would imagine anyone in the market for a Hyundai is probably going to want to try haggling a better price, because, well, it's a Hyundai. They aren't exactly the first choice of folks with larger budgets.

      Hate to point out the obvious, but folks with larger budgets aren't buying Hyundais off Amazon at 10% interest + a free Prime membership.

      Regarding how you fuck with/win with local stealerships for the best price, go find the exact car you want. Down to the VIN number. Then call at least five dealers closest to wherever that car is located, and tell them to contact you when they have their best price. Make THEM work for it. Against each other.

      Bought my last three cars this way. Patience will pay off in

  • Do they come with a free USB cord (Score:4, Insightful)

    by Osgeld ( 1900440 ) on Thursday November 16, 2023 @05:32PM (#64010643)

    Just asking for a friend

  • It is going to really suck finding a box big enough to return it in nevermind how much tape it will require.

  • if the cars ever become self driving, will it be classified as drone delivery?

    • I don't hear the word "drone" refer to ground-based vehicles much. Which actually makes sense because the word comes from the droning sound, which is a constant problem with flying vehicles.
      • Comment removed based on user account deletion
        • I guess you're right, I figured 'drone' bees or 'droning' noises one had been named for the other (long before it was applied to RC aircraft), but this says they came to be separately

          https://www.etymonline.com/wor... [etymonline.com]

          and the aircraft were named for the bee. That said, the flying aircraft was named in reference to the flying bee so that doesn't really settle whether 'drone' ought to also refer to land or sea robots. Not that it really matters.

  • Queue the counterfeit cars and Alexa powered monstrosities on wheels! Yipee!

  • self-driving delivery. Of maybe a drop off via a drone. And a self-driving car can take itself to Amazon's service center and come home once service is complete.

  • Can I get mine overnight via drone?

  • I will never buy w/o actually sitting in and driving a car first, even brand new. How do the seats feel, armrests, comfort, controls, how it drives, etc.
  • Around 1999 I was doing some business with GM and was dealing with their top marketing guy. He had great hopes "this internet web thing" would allow GM to finally bypass the dealer network. He knew it would take many many years, but he so very much hated the dealers. He blamed many of GM's problems on them.

    I see in these announcements that you are still effectively going through a dealer. These dealers will figure out a way to fuck over the customer. This is what they do. this is who they are. Fucking cu

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