Originally Posted by Chris
Market theory aside, price gouging always seemed like a penny-wise, pound foolish policy to me. Say a customer comes in looking for a Challenger. Joe Blow Dealer says, "Pay me $50,000". Customer leaves. Maybe he finds another dealer selling at MSRP, maybe he waits until 2009, maybe he gets something totally different. Fact is, when that customer is looking again, for a Durango or a Charger, that customer is never coming back to Joe Blow dealer and he's telling his friends, "don't ever go to Joe Blow Dealer". So maybe Joe Blow Dealer lost 4, 5, 6 sales and maybe cost Dodge as a brand some customers. So maybe gouging isn't the best policy in the long run, even if the dealer is entitled to get as much profit as he wants.
Although I still do not feel you can gouge on a product readily available, cars, it is not wise to alienate customers.
If Dodge dealerships are conspiring to fix prices, that is illegal. If they are not, the Attorney General in whatever state is investigating is wasting his time and more importantly, tax payer money...
Simply put, if you HAVE to have a 2008, as the title says, bring your wallet!