NuclearPowered
Member
Well done, ppl. Even though I live in Illinois where direct Tesla sales and service is not being impeded, you inspired me to send the following message to The FTC's Bureau of Competition whose e-mail address is [email protected] :
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Dear FTC:[/FONT]
[FONT=&]My brother cannot buy a Tesla Model S electric car in North Carolina. My cousin cannot buy one in Virginia. Others cannot buy one in Texas.[/FONT]
[FONT=&]If someone in one of those states does pay to have a new Model S shipped to them from another state, their state is perfectly willing to register the car and accept payment of sales tax. Therefore there are no safety issues.[/FONT]
[FONT=&]The problem is state laws mandating that cars be sold and serviced by franchised dealerships. The requirement that consumers endure the added expense of middlemen was originally intended to keep manufacturers from stepping on the toes of their own franchised dealers. Polls indicate that consumers overwhelmingly would prefer Tesla’s methods of direct sales and service. Yet state legislators influenced by the campaign funding from the dealership lobbies actively work against the wishes of their own constituents.[/FONT]
[FONT=&]Tesla Motors has never had any franchised dealers. In most states they have stores for demonstrating their cars, but they are sold through orders taken online. [/FONT]
[FONT=&]Dealerships make most of their money through service. The Tesla service division has been mandated to add no profit to the company. Electric cars rarely have problems, but in the event one does a Tesla Ranger brings a Model S loaner to the owner and drives the owner’s car back to a Tesla service center. Would a dealer be willing to do this? And at no profit? [/FONT]
[FONT=&]Consumers desires are being ignored while state legislatures ignore the US Constitution’s requirement that interstate commerce be unimpeded. I would hope that the FTC will perform its proper duty to American citizens by insuring that free interstate commerce overrides antiquated state laws requiring cars be sold and serviced through franchised dealerships.[/FONT]
[FONT=&]Regards,[/FONT]
[FONT=&]Curt Renz[/FONT]
Curt, I stole your copy and posted it to the recent Reddit article relating to this issue. Hope you don't mind.