Ur-Turn: Transparency In The Car Buying Process. What Is It Really?

Ur-Turn
by Ur-Turn

This week’s Ur-Turn comes from David Ruggles, a noted industry figure, prolific TTAC commenter and author of the Autos and Economics blog.

In my 44 years in the auto industry there have been a couple of continuing themes I have observed. First, there is never ending change. Second, consumers are uncomfortable with the negotiating process required when buying a vehicle. These days vendors to auto dealers are trying to sell dealers on the concept that “transparency” is the key to success in selling cars.

They demonize “traditional” dealers to sell their wares to those dealers who want to set themselves apart in the transparency war, as if the winners will take the lion’s share of the business. Scott Painter and TrueCar is a prime example. In our industry, there is a discussion taking place about what “transparency” actually is. I contend that true and absolute transparency has a precise definition, brought to us from the world of economics.

True market transparency is when buyers and sellers have the same information and the equal ability to interpret that information. This is called “symmetrical information. This leads to turning the product into a commodity which leads to an “efficient market.” “Efficient markets” lead to “disintermediation,” or the elimination of the middle man.

Yes. I know there are many consumers who think that would be a wonderful thing, as if buying a vehicle direct from the manufacturer could actually work on any kind of scale.

But these vendors have their own definition of transparency, which I find to be highly deceptive. I believe TrueCar and the others are trying to create the “perception of transparency” or “relative transparency,” NOT true transparency. In fact, it’s just another marketing strategy to make money on a car deal, perhaps a good one. But it isn’t “transparent.” It’s also a strategy to get dealers to participate in their own demise. We saw how that ultimately worked out with TrueCar. Dealers woke up and pushed back.

To be clear, I have no problem with dealers making money on car deals. And auto dealers should abide by both the spirit and letter of the law on “legal transparency.” But there is no other retail business I can think of where consumers feel entitled to “symmetrical information.” They couldn’t interpret it the information anyway, but that’s another discussion.

In my world, true transparency is when a consumer asks the F&I manager, “What is your cost on that Service Contract,” the F&I manager answers truthfully. If the consumer asks, “What rate markup are you charging me,” the F&I manager answers truthfully. If the consumer asks the dealer, “What is your net cost on the vehicle you are selling me,” the dealership answers truthfully. A dealer being evasive when asked a direct question like that is justified, but it just isn’t “transparent.” Consumers have the right to ask these questions. Sellers have the right to say, “It’s none of your business.” Hopefully, this is done artfully when necessary.

I think TTAC has a relatively broad cross section of consumers as readers and contributors. My question isn’t about how one thinks things should be. MY question is, “What is the true definition of “transparency.” Mine or Scott Painter’s new definition?

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  • U mad scientist U mad scientist on Feb 12, 2014

    So would you say that the rest of your claims are more honest, less honest, or about the same as trying to pretend that customers actually want dealers to price fix?

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    • U mad scientist U mad scientist on Feb 13, 2014

      @ruggles Pointing out that someone habitually distorts the truth is a matter of fact, not unlike pointing out the sliminess of many in the car sales industry, or that the sky is blue. People state facts not because they're concerned about how the sky or liars feel, but because facts illuminate the topic at hand. For example, it's a fact that I've covered that question above, and you're just feigning interest. It's a fact you play these little games, just as you told TTAC this article was about posing a question to customers when you never cared what they thought in the first place; it was just an opportunity to post a hit piece against a company you dislike. In the end, this whole tread only reinforces the prevailing reputation of an industry buyers should always be cautious when dealing with.

  • U mad scientist U mad scientist on Feb 12, 2014

    > Heck, you can just make stuff up and there’s no accountability. Never thought I'd hear that from a car sales industry rep. What good is knowledge when you can't tell the truth?

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