New Jersey Governor Christie has stacked the committee that makes the rules for automobile sales in the state. And the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission he has stacked with his own staff and cabinet members has voted to make Tesla’s selling of their cars directly to customers in New Jersey illegal.
The move is seen as a clear bowing to the lobbyists for the New Jersey Coalition of Automotive Retailers. Tesla can still sell cars, under Christie’s plan, if they create and market through a locally-owned and operated Tesla auto dealership.
More below.
Protectionism of business cronies is a Republican hypocrisy, of course, and has been since the inception of the party. Only a very few have resisted it, such as President Teddy Roosevelt with his anti-trust campaign that broke up the Standard Oil cartel. And the Grand Old Party sure hated him for that.
But who is there who will try and pass legislation making the auto dealership monopoly (and therefore a trust) illegal, and perhaps even punishable by jail time?
As a consumer I’d much rather buy a new car through the internet, without going through the unpleasant experience of visiting any dealership. I buy most of my things that way these days, avoiding the drudgery that is the American shopping experience.
Salespeople are, as a class, con-men who are arrogant and obnoxious, assuming everyone a mark who can be fleeced. I have been around this earth for a while now, and am not amused by their almost childish ploys to try and make me buy more than I came for in the first place. They also waste my time, since I do not go out to buy without knowing exactly what I want and what I should pay for it.
So, I place them among lawyers and undertakers in my pantheon of public anoyances. I avoid them as much as possible.
So, let us eliminate dealerships’ monopoly on car sales and allow people to buy their cars directly, should they so choose. I sure would.
Let the market free to decide which is the more efficient and the most successful.