Allow individual dealers to put their new-car inventory online
Back in late 2001, when I started shopping for my first Lexus (a 2002 IS 300 Manual), dealerships often placed their new car inventory online, making it easy to see which dealer had which vehicle.
Subsequently, either a corporate edict, dealer collusion or a combination of the two seemingly led Lexus to actually forbid their dealers from doing this. In this day and age of increased transparency and information, this strikes me as an ill-advised move.
Potential Lexus buyers fortunate enough to live in an area served by multiple dealers (or one with a very specific car in mind willing to go the distance to get it) should be able to search online and see which dealer has which vehicle (showing colors, options and port-installed accessories) without having to make phone calls and stay on hold eternally to then, possibly, be given mistaken or misleading information.
Subsequently, either a corporate edict, dealer collusion or a combination of the two seemingly led Lexus to actually forbid their dealers from doing this. In this day and age of increased transparency and information, this strikes me as an ill-advised move.
Potential Lexus buyers fortunate enough to live in an area served by multiple dealers (or one with a very specific car in mind willing to go the distance to get it) should be able to search online and see which dealer has which vehicle (showing colors, options and port-installed accessories) without having to make phone calls and stay on hold eternally to then, possibly, be given mistaken or misleading information.
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