AI Summary
A business student asks automotive professionals where dealerships source their inventory, and a community member provides a comprehensive breakdown covering trade-ins, lease returns, wholesalers, auctions like Manheim, online wholesale tools, private purchases, and a humorous reference to manufacturer-direct supply. The thread confirms that dealerships acquire vehicles through multiple channels rather than solely from manufacturers, with trade-ins and auctions being primary sources in the modern market.
Hello,
I'm Gus, a freshman business student at UIUC. I'm doing a project on cars' lifecycle from sale to scrap and I am hoping to better understand what it is actually like to be a dealer. I'm especially confused about where dealerships get their cars. Can anyone explain in the comments?
Respectfully,
Gus
PS
If you are willing to answer a few additional questions, please email me at
Wofsen@protonmail.com.
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- Customers trade in vehicles when they buy their new vehicle
- Customers end their lease and return the vehicle to the dealership
- Wholesalers buy vehicles from an auction or a dealer and sell to another dealership
- Dealers use auctions like Manheim to purchase cars online or in-person
- Dealers use tools like DealRev to purchase cars wholesale off of dealers
- Dealers can also buy privately owned vehicles from any marketplace and recondition and resell them
Back in the day, the manufacturer would also create brand new vehicles and send them to the dealership to be sold as new.
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True Refresher
Back in the day, the manufacturer would also create brand new vehicles and send them to the dealership to be sold as new.
Craig Hooghiem folks... He'll be here all week... Don't forget to tip your waitresses!
(
@craigh that was really funny. Thanks for the laugh.)
Back in the day, the manufacturer would also create brand new vehicles and send them to the dealership to be sold as new.
Best thing I've read all week!!
