Seems as buck is a high priced dealer and whines about it on all the threads LOL..
Dealers in business for the long haul and doing it right will have higher prices than a guy about to fail who is trying to clear his credit line to pay the phone bill.
It takes a few percent of the gross margin to pay overhead, and if you then want to actually make a profit, you'll need to add that on top. A dealer in business for the long haul will pay his employees fairly, train them, give them benefits etc. Plus a business in it for the long haul will keep the shop stocked with the proper special tools, keep delivery trucks and forklifts updated, keep the building in decent shape, stock thousands in parts, and other overhead expenses.
A dealer that services what he sells will end up absorbing quite a few small things, as well as a certain amount of hauling and service calls. Most small warranty issues are absorbed by the dealer. When a customer leaves with a couple of hats and a t-shirt, that costs as well. All minor things, but if a dealer is selling at cost, he can't offer the sort of buying and owning experience that you can get from a dealer like EFC. Some customers don't care, they are price driven only, but most do care and a good dealer will offer the best value, not just the best price.
I think if another successful and healthy brick and mortar business in a similar geographical region is substantially less, then you have a fair argument. But in this economy if you shop far and wide, you can most likely find some dealer willing to sell below actual cost. That dealer is fooling himself into thinking that if he can just pay some of his bills for another month that somehow next month he can catch up.
I don't blame someone for taking advantage of a fire sale, but you need to know that it is a firesale, not a sustainable price. And that means that a dealer that is higher is often not a "high priced" dealer, he's just in it for the long haul.
Just my thoughts, from the bias of a dealer no doubt.
