Sunday Strategist: The Internet Comes Calling for Car Salesmen
Breaking Down the Boldest Bets in Business
An employee wearing a protective mask at a Carvana location in Westminster, California.
Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/BloombergIt took three phone calls to realize how little car shopping has changed in the COVID economy.
In early August, I resigned myself to buying a new minivan; I knew precisely the one I wanted and found several online that were nearby and listed at fair prices. Yet, I could not manage to click my way to a “buy” button. Time and again, the digital threads ended with the promise of a phone call to finalize the details. That’s when the salesmen (they were all men) stepped in with near identical lines of patter. First, they asked what vehicle I was inquiring about to “make sure it was still available.” Second, they said that I would have to qualify for the price listed online. Finally, the kicker: “When can you come in?”