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VIN Lookup Database for all Brands?

Hey Joe isn't Carmax already doing what you say is the future? I don't think it will catch on... just like most people still go touch and feel TV's at Best Buy before they buy them instead of just getting it shipped from a discount retailer instead.

Sure you will get the occasional person who knows what they want and would pull the trigger online but most people like to touch and feel their expensive purchase.
 
Hey Joe isn't Carmax already doing what you say is the future? I don't think it will catch on... just like most people still go touch and feel TV's at Best Buy before they buy them instead of just getting it shipped from a discount retailer instead.

Sure you will get the occasional person who knows what they want and would pull the trigger online but most people like to touch and feel their expensive purchase.

Good points Ecurb.
Many, many People want the touch, smell, feel experience. Others HATE the dealer visit like they hate the dentist. It won't happen overnight, but, it'll be a rising tide that won't be denied (hey! is that in a country song??)

KMX (CarMax) is missing the parts needed to go fully automated. They have a strong brand, they could lead the market with detailed condition reports, that would force dealers in their area to put them up or shut up (hey! is that in a country song too?? ;-)

It's very likely that people will go to the dealer and get the touch and feel experience, then go online to buy it (or... 1,000 variations that revolve around that on-line/off-line scenario).
 

✨ AI Highlights

Bryan Barnett raises a long-standing frustration about the lack of a centralized VIN lookup system accessible to all dealers for determining accurate trim levels and factory-installed options on non-franchise vehicles, making appraisals and online marketing difficult. While respondents confirm this is a widespread industry pain point and suggest workarounds (elimination process, physical inspection, inventory management tools like IOL), no comprehensive solution emerges beyond brand-specific dealer access. Joe Pistell offers a contrarian perspective, arguing that centralizing this data would accelerate the commoditization of used car sales and ultimately diminish the dealer's role in transactions.

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