The global pandemic has had an extremely negative impact all over the world. The economy has almost completely collapsed. The only elements that maintain it are the technological fruits that we have been able to bear. Online shopping is the one thing that has held it back a bit. Now that the pandemic is fading, things are returning to normal. But people got used to some things. Will this or will it not change?
After the pandemic, the prices of cars and electronics have absolutely increased. Not only new cars, but even used cars have gone up in price. You can check the Used Ford Edge Price from a year ago and check them out now. Every car, whether new or old, has exploded in price. However, that is not the subject here. The point is how the pandemic has shaped our shopping experience.
You see, every time you buy a car, you definitely go to the showroom, look around, and inspect the car. Then you would talk about the specifications and features of the car. You would talk about the trim levels. Then, depending on your budget, you would choose a car and test it. If you like it then this is perfect for you. If you don’t like it, you can easily move on to the next car; or even go to the next dealership. That was how we bought a car, wasn’t it?
But now that has changed. People are forced to stay at home. Even those who might go out are afraid to do so for fear of getting infected. For this reason, most of the people have resorted to online shopping. However, you can also buy cars online. You can book your car, make payments and the car will be delivered to your door. Isn’t that cool and very practical? This is how people adopted online shopping for cars.
Online shopping is understandable and great for new cars. But if you want to own a used car, what about? Well luckily due to the pandemic some dealerships have also been listing used cars online. It would be essentially the same experience as buying a new car online, but in this case it would be a used car. The only problem is the price.
If you are not aware, there is a big global semiconductor shortage. Semiconductors are used to make chips used in electronics. If you wanted to buy a computer recently, you would have noticed how expensive some parts are. It’s because of this semiconductor shortage.
Now, semiconductors are used everywhere. It also includes cars. Major manufacturers are suffering from a severe shortage of chips. Electronics in cars are left incomplete. No one would want to buy a car without electronics in the 21st century. Therefore, automakers like Ford and GM are forced to create vehicles without semiconductor chips and store them in their batches, while waiting for the chips to arrive.
Such a situation was totally unforeseen. This severely affected supplies. But the demand? Well, the demand was already there. In fact, the demand is increasing every day. With the demand so high and manufacturers unable to meet it, the prices have gone up than usual. The average transaction for a new car now exceeds $ 40,000, which is a huge increase. But that’s for new cars. Why are used cars expensive?
Well, when the pandemic struck and the lockdown ensued, most car rental companies had to sell their entire fleet to survive. Now that it’s all settled and people are getting out, these companies are trying to make the most of it. They are trying to buy back entire fleets of used cars that they had to sell. This is why ordinary people who want to buy a used car cannot do so. Once again, the question of supply and demand arises and the used car prices have exploded significantly over the past year as well. Yes, things are very serious for the automotive market.
But now the question arises, will this continue? Will this mode of online shopping continue for cars in the future? We know things are getting back to normal and people can actually get out now. But just because they can, does that mean they mean? Well, he has a more complicated answer than that. You see, it depends on the person and what they consider to be a convenient and more reliable method of purchasing. Online shopping has both advantages and disadvantages.
If you are buying a car online, you can review the car and purchase it from the comfort of your home. You don’t even have to leave your house. It would not put you in any danger, specifically the virus, and you can easily get your car back as well. However, there may be more downsides. Online shopping for a product like a car is not always feasible. You have to be in the showroom, see and feel the car for yourself. Check everything out and see how it actually turns out in real life. You can basically pick and choose your own favorite car from the bunch. Moreover, the biggest advantage is that you can test drive the car and see for yourself if it meets your needs.
So, online car shopping may have more drawbacks than benefits. However, dealers are ready to change that. They now offer you the possibility to car to be delivered to your home, so that you can try it out for yourself and get a first-hand look and feel of the car. If you like it, you can easily buy it. Ordering a car is easier than ever.
So, to answer the question, yes, the pandemic will surely influence the way we buy cars long-term. However, there is no guarantee. People will always need to smell the car and try it out before they decide to buy it. So if dealers are willing to allow online shopping with such modifications as allowing a test drive, then they might as well see their online sales increase. But going to the showroom and being able to choose and choose your own car from a fleet of cars will always remain relevant. It’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
Interesting related article: “Why is there such a great demand for cars?” “