Not sure how to title it but I was thinking of starting a division at my company which would purchase new vehicles and install lifts, tires, wheels, accessories to customers requests but not sure what demand for this type of situation would be. The pros would be all aftermarket equipment would be put into the price of the vehicle so you're not paying out of pocket expenses right away but it would be in your loan already. Setback would be you would have to pay to ship the truck to you. Thought of this because we currently do that with the current local dealers (they write us a check and put it on customers loan) and then you get what you want immediately. Customers would have to pay up front obviously because we can't be sitting on $30000 trucks with $8000 worth of accessories on it, and we would put whatever accessories customers want and would be much cheaper than a dealer would charge. Another advantage is if it took off then I would get fleet pricing and I could save customers major bucks due to quantity buying. Opinions please

 

A lot of dealers in Texas (San Antonio) and Cali already do that. They put a "basic" lift, rims/tires on, then they add on an extra $10k on the sticker for only $5k worth of accessories!! Ridiculous!

 

I'm just playing the "devil's advocate" here, but how would the "stealership" make a profit off of this?

 

I've had good luck doing the same thing on "good" used trucks/jeeps.

 

Oh, OK...how would you advertise?

 

It would depend on your pricing. People all want the best deal they can get, it's just human nature. Your price on the truck pre add-ons would have to be the same as someone could go into a dealer and pay. (including rebates, special incentives, etc.) In most cases this would be under invoice so all of these savings would have to apply to your price. Also, as stated above it would depend on what you charge for your extras.
Most people that are going to buy high dollar extras are savvy on what it costs to do this stuff and if you are marking it up more than they could get it done for on their own, I think they will pass. Just my .02

 

Havent' got that far yet, the idea has just been sort of looming in the back of my head and I think it's a good one because it would make me money and save money for people who are looking to enhance their vehicle (everyone wins except dealership but so what for them, and even they do by selling more trucks). I've got a website which I sell mostly leaf springs and suspension products on but not many peeps go there for new trucks because that's not what I do at the present time. I could easily build a website for this and once some start doing it and if it catches on then who knows. I don't have a plan of attack yet, just an idea in my mind.

 

A dealer around my city does that also. Price is crazy. Last one I looked at was a 06 reg cab with fabtech 6in and pro comp wheels and tires. They wanted like 43,xxx for it. Hate to see what a supercrew would cost.

 

Again, if I did that same truck you would be looking at way less money and the exact suspension, tires, wheels and accessories you wanted and not what the dealer put on because they think that's what you want

 

It's my understanding that the dealerships will warranty the mods and the installation of them when they offer them on new vehicles; This may be the reasoning behind the inflated cost. Just a thought.

 

Wouldn't you have to get licenses and insurance for being a "dealer" and a suspension shop? Plus you would have to figure out how to advertise and that wouldn't be to cheap. Then you have to come up with the capital to purchase the first few trucks and accesories.

I don't know what type of financial situation you are in, but to me it doesn't seem as if it would be a profitable venture. A lot of dealerships are already offering lifts on trucks at the time of purchase, or are more than happy to install them afterwards too.

I just don't see how you would be able to get this rolling.

 

Are you not looking to make any profit? Seems like a lot of work to turn around and sell it for what you've got into it. However, IMO most people are not savvy with this type of stuff and will pay extra = profit.

 

The way I had it figured earlier will not work due to sales tax. I can't cover the tax and sell the vehicle along with dealership license. Got a new plan and it would involve me working with dealership in which I basically sell the vehicle and they can take care of tax, titling, etc. Let's say John called me up and wants a F150 and it invoices plus rebates for 29000. Then he wants fabtech lift, moto metal wheels, nitto terra grappler tires and his cost is now 34000-35000. I make x amount and split it with the dealership and instead of him getting reamed for 43000 for the dealership because I did the work he saves around 7000 and his payments are now in his loan. I make my money and the dealership makes theirs. My dad was general manager of a dealership out here (pastor now - big switch I know) and he said as long as the dealership profits about 500-1000 then they'll always go for the sale. So I make a 500-1000, they make a 500-1000 and you got your truck for 7000 less and now get to put the aftermarket equipment in the payment. Advertising I know is an issue but that's what the web is for. Little seo work and we're up and running. No cart on this site so it costs me 7 bucks a month for a host. Even if you paid the exact same amount as you would and then got your parts later you would still be at an advantage because no big money would come out of your pocket but rather it would be in the loan

 

Good idea but seems pointless. You need a ton of money and be like Jack Roush, Steve Saleen or hell Gale Banks.

 

KansasJoe, it wont work as much as you think it will. Ther best thing to do is go down to your local dealerships and introduce yourself, and try and get them to send a vehicle your way so you can fix it up. If it sells on their lot quick you will have more coming your way (thats IF you can modify it per the dealer).

Let them handle the sale of the vehicle. And unless you are a FoMoCo dealer you just cant not title the vehicle, it would be in your dealers name, and then the person actually buying it would be second owner.

And most people who buy trucks already modified from dealerships are stupid anyway. They complain about gas mileage, mud terrains slightly vribrating the steering whell, etc...