I'm curious how long a local small business used car dealership could last if it was unprofitable. This seems like another example of how technology doesn't 'disrupt' markets via savvy new ways of operating, so much as injecting venture capital and loss leading disrupts markets. I know car dealers that were struggling to maintain inventory during the pandemic because Carvana was driving up the price of cars at the auctions. It's a shame because it's big investors taking that inventory out of the hands of small businesses only to turn around and sell the car at a loss.
Related:<p><i>Carvana to cut 1,500 jobs as online auto dealer’s troubles mount</i> - <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33658716" rel="nofollow">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33658716</a> - Nov 2022 (90 comments)<p><i>Carvana, which bought my car for more than I paid new, has lost 98% of its value</i> - <a href="https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33630970" rel="nofollow">https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33630970</a> - Nov 2022 (15 comments)
I wasn't planning on selling my car and was wanting to buy a new one this/next year.<p>It's nice to just be able to sit back, but I understand many people couldn't -- but also many people famously do overpurchase their car and did use the "free" money from pandemic to get a car, that, they still could trade in today for the "same price" they bought new. Which is crazy.