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Comment by kube-system | Hacker News Reader

It searches inventory first because there’s no sense in ordering one to be built if there’s one sitting around already. “Request a quote” is a synonym for “because of dealer protection laws you can’t actually do anything on the website so now go talk to a dealer who can actually order one.”

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no sense in ordering one to be built if there’s one sitting around already

I think that's the catch. Given the number of customization options in the website, I would find it highly unlikely that there would be one already built with the options I selected, so I will always be guided down the path of working with a dealer.

You have to work with a dealer no matter what. But in the "old days" (pre-Covid) you'd probably be surprised at how many vehicles were available with the options you want. I've been leasing my vehicles for a long time, and I've always been very specific in the options I want. I've never once had to order a vehicle to get what I wanted, the salesperson either had one on their lot or was able to find one nearby and trade for it.

Currently, even more so, since there’s not much of anything on lots.

However, people in this country are notoriously impatient and can often be persuaded to buy a very similarly spec vehicle if it means getting it sooner.

I bought my last car from the “local inventory” despite not being exactly what I “built”.

Had this same problem, I think it's just the web sites. Every now and then you can find pre-builts with all the features you wanted and just the features you wanted so you may just have to order it through a human being. Case in point I couldn't customize a Camry on the Toyota to have a factory installed alarm system and one day I was browsing their inventory and there was one. Od course someone bought the car and probably sold it to Carmax for a few thousand profit, but the used car market scam going on now with car hoarding and price inflation is another story.

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