South Carolina Direct Sales Bill gets a hearing on Tuesday 2/11/25

[NewScout]

https://www.wltx.com/article/news/p...lina/101-119965f6-8913-4191-b7ad-06a033e8b653

 

[timmyhil]

I watched it live. From what my understanding is, is that they want it to be reworked. Explain how it will benefit the consumer while not taking jobs away from dealerships. Which is absolutely moronic excuse my language, but its consumer freedom, it’s in no way, shape, or form forcing everyone to drive a Scout or Tesla or Rivian and leave all the legacy automobiles dealerships deprived and closing. Its okay to say you’re scared of change but that doesn't mean to run away and hind from it. Which is exactly what SC lawmakers did today.

 

[joewilk45]

Okay let's apply some commonsense here just like when states are under a certain political party they intertwined laws to protect their continued power. What's different here with dealers. Right now Scout is going to be showed the southern one step. The dealers lobbying firm probably just getting back from Super Bowl with SC politicians. Again I cannot fatom investing 2 billion dollars and not having this worked out beforehand. To me this is a simple remedy open a warehouse slash admin office in a state like Delaware no sales tax state. DTC friendly and you run all paperwork through that state issue 30 day temp tags your vehicle is shipped to your home or a distributor within your zip code. Scout could find some independent shops who could become distributors as well as trained technicians and once the world gets back to somewhat normal Free trade will someday be just that but never think Government local or federal has your best interest in mind. It's tricking them to think they're screwing you that's all they know.

 

[NewScout]

Full hearing:

 

[vrgruver]

Okay let's apply some commonsense here just like when states are under a certain political party they intertwined laws to protect their continued power. What's different here with dealers. Right now Scout is going to be showed the southern one step. The dealers lobbying firm probably just getting back from Super Bowl with SC politicians. Again I cannot fatom investing 2 billion dollars and not having this worked out beforehand. To me this is a simple remedy open a warehouse slash admin office in a state like Delaware no sales tax state. DTC friendly and you run all paperwork through that state issue 30 day temp tags your vehicle is shipped to your home or a distributor within your zip code. Scout could find some independent shops who could become distributors as well as trained technicians and once the world gets back to somewhat normal Free trade will someday be just that but never think Government local or federal has your best interest in mind. It's tricking them to think they're screwing you that's all they know.

Nowadays, a company has to always be changing to keep up or it sinks. Any employee that says, "This is the way we have always done it," is just preventing the company from achieving a higher mark. A great businessman takes calculated risks and solves the problems as they come.
So, Scout knew of the problems when investing. In tandem, their legal teams go to work. Hopefully meeting up at the finish line together. That is the big value of separate departments, delegation, and accountability. It is the fastest way to the goal while staying flexible and able to react to the environment.
IF the problems were all worked out prior to investing(not sure how without investing money), a new law, roadblock, or opposition will pop up. They always do. And, you are now further away from income to get you to the black since you were not starting building, design, production at the same time.
To an analytical thinker, this seems risky. To an entrepreneur, innovator, or businessman this is just another day at the office.

 

[Sloo]

I live in SC and the dealer lobby seems to absolutely have a strangle hold on the state legislature. It is disgraceful these dealers are blocking direct sales to protect their monopoly in which they make millions.
The dealer lobby is saying they won’t be able to do “charitable donations” to schools, communities, etc if this goes through and spreads to all manufacturers which is total BS.
I for one will not buy if I have to use a POS dealer who we all know will put massive mark ups and BS “add ons” to make profit.
F-dealers. Let us buy direct!!!!!!

 

[joewilk45]

So what happens if Scout cannot sell directly in South Carolina ? Do they set up in a DTC friendly state and do all sales and registration through that state and we get to pick up at Scout Stores or do they deliver directly to consumers home what is the plan if SC denies DTC

 

[Mr._Bill]

They can try to get something done at a Federal Level to make DTC auto sales legal everywhere, just like any other online, mail, or phone order purchase.

They would still have to deal with state laws for registration and taxes, but the state should not be able to prevent you from purchasing a product that is not federally banned.

 

[joewilk45]

Once again I'm not investing in a state that doesn't meet my company's criteria. SC must have given concessions that outweigh the DTC laws. But why not set up shop in a state that does support DTC once you put the shovel in the ground you loose your leverage. But we have a long road to navigate before we have to make our final decisions.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

If what I read is correct scout got huge tax incentives towards their facilities. Taking those incentives may help them keep cost competitive. And they just set up in a state that's business friendly to their model and write all the sales through that state do 30 day temp tags and you register in your home state and they have some independent shops as distribution centers and train their staff to be certified to work on vehicles. Or tgg he ey go the Polestar route and sell DTC and have their sales and service centers beside Volvo dealerships this maybe a route they go to give VW dealers foot traffic all this will be figured out by people driving Bentley's not Scouts so time shall tell.

Good work ethic in that region as well.
A good paying employer with Bennie’s beats flipping burgers at Ed Devibics diner.

BMW was working employees on individual contracts for specific time frames. Dunno how that works or why or if they still do.
My first impression was to keep unions out.

 

[joewilk45]

Well it's intriguing to me companies come to America expecting us to adopt to their standards but it was ours that made us the greatest nation why would we stray from a proven template. The Answer is global economy we allow foreign investment in major companies they buy the entity and change the culture once all intellectual property is absorbed we now can manufacture in China at a fraction of the cost. So I agree unions might be a problem but it's not the labor unions we should be worried about it's the ones that you elect. Have a great day to all.