Tesla to open more "Dealerships" in PA

Excellent!...now if the "knights of the keyboard" would learn to start referring to Tesla's retail outlets as stores...

Jaff said:

Excellent!...now if the "knights of the keyboard" would learn to start referring to Tesla's retail outlets as stores...

Click to expand...

People are so used to dealerships being the only business model for selling new cars that they use the word "dealership" to mean "car store" even when they contradict themselves in the same sentence. A dealer is a business that sells someone else's product. We should correct this language every chance we get to help people understand there is an alternative to the auto dealer cartel.

These guys are supposed to be professional scribes...'bout time their efforts reflected this...you are right insofar as "if we don't start correcting them now..."

Yes, this is really great to see!

Electric700 said:

Yes, this is really great to see!

Click to expand...

Agreed.

Still completely idiotic that the law places a limit on the number of stores. Huge eye-rolly there.

TexasEV said:

People are so used to dealerships being the only business model for selling new cars that they use the word "dealership" to mean "car store" even when they contradict themselves in the same sentence. A dealer is a business that sells someone else's product. We should correct this language every chance we get to help people understand there is an alternative to the auto dealer cartel.

Click to expand...

++1

TexasEV said:

People are so used to dealerships being the only business model for selling new cars that they use the word "dealership" to mean "car store" even when they contradict themselves in the same sentence. A dealer is a business that sells someone else's product. We should correct this language every chance we get to help people understand there is an alternative to the auto dealer cartel.

Click to expand...

Am I right in that the word "dealership" basically applies to franchise stores, where they are using someone else's brand and selling that someone else's product by permission? This probably being the predominant way car dealerships are structured as well? As opposed to a store that would simply sell someone else's product under their own name (say, Walmart selling Apple products). Considering that most stores usually sell someone else's goods, a "car store" could mean more than just a manufacturer's own store, it could also refer to Billy Bob's Used Car Parlour.

Would "retail outlet" be the correct term when manufacturer sells their own goods in their own stores, like in the case of Tesla? Of course they could be called stores and shops, too.

I understand that the word "car dealership" has probably evolved beyond these origins anyway, so people talk of car dealerships even if it isn't a franchise store (as may be the case not everywhere in the English speaking world).

Tesla always uses the word "store" for its retail points of sale. A completely standard word, used by the vast majority of retailers. It shouldn't be that hard to get the press to use the correct, default word.

Or they could revive that old favorite of song and saga: 'Company Store'.
--

Really, a "store" should actually have inventory (consider the roots of the word, which are the same as "storage"). A "dealer", generically, is anyone, who buys and sells things. If they just sell and never buy, it really ought to be an "outlet". And if they're showing off samples but have no inventory, "showroom" is correct... eh, whatever, all the words are close enough.

neroden said:

Really, a "store" should actually have inventory (consider the roots of the word, which are the same as "storage"). A "dealer", generically, is anyone, who buys and sells things. If they just sell and never buy, it really ought to be an "outlet". And if they're showing off samples but have no inventory, "showroom" is correct... eh, whatever, all the words are close enough.

Click to expand...

No, not "whatever". It's important to emphasize to the public that Teslas are not sold through dealers, meaning third parties, but are sold directly by Tesla. People need to know there is an alternative business model to the auto dealer cartel. It's one of the best things about buying a Tesla.

TexasEV said:

No, not "whatever". It's important to emphasize to the public that Teslas are not sold through dealers, meaning third parties, but are sold directly by Tesla. People need to know there is an alternative business model to the auto dealer cartel. It's one of the best things about buying a Tesla.

Click to expand...

I agree. When a sentence contains the words car and dealership in it, there's only one thing people think about and it's not pleasant.

The do sell of inventory cars, so I guess calling them "stores" is fair enough. Dealer doesn't make sense.

I think "buy direct from manufacturer" conveys the situation clearly, and that's how I usually say it in personal conversation.