With the internet and sites like stingerforum.org, as a generalization, buyers are much more educated these days, having done extensive research online before making a major buying decision. This is different than a generation ago. This is especially true with large purchases by "up-scale" or "educated" buyers. The days of dealerships selling monthly payments instead of cars is waning. Sure people buying a $10,000 used car may only be focused on the monthly payment, but a prospective Stinger buyer is likely to be an experience new car buyer, being well read on the car before even walking into a dealership. Couple that with the fact that shopping online for a new car is the the new norm, the old model of a dealership where you develop a relationship with a salesperson who you go back to again and again every time you buy a new car, or a developing a relationship with the service department of the dealership where you purchased the car are going the way of buggy whips.
The new reality is that people will educate themselves online as to what's out there, both in choice of vehicles, available inventory and best pricing well before they step inside a dealership.
This is the way I bought my car, and I think I am far from unique:
1. Shop online and see what the market has to offer. Decide on a car that is the focus of the purchase.
2. Visit a local dealership, take a test drive, and try to see what deal can be found there.
3. Then price shop online, and see what the best deal is out there. Bring that deal to the local dealership and try to get them to match it.
4. Buy the best deal you can get, whether it be local or distant.
5. Bring the vehicle to whatever dealership you want for servicing; usually the local one. With regard to servicing, modern cars (Korean) need very little servicing. Oil changes and tires can be done anywhere. Rarely there is warranty work, and nothing major needs to be done before 100,000 miles.
Dealerships know this and the survivors have adjusted already.
