“My father was a dentist. And I would tell you, as someone who spent 43 years in retail automotive, it is worse than a root canal. And it is set up that way by most dealerships because the idea behind it is it's like psychological warfare.”
Rich On Tech · October 2026
Context
Rich asked whether buying a car is tricky and frustrating for the average consumer. Ray, who now runs a consumer advocacy group after decades in dealerships, says the stress of the process is deliberate.
Transcript
…my son and I to help level the playing field when it comes to navigating the car buying experience. I spent 43 years in retail automotive, and when my son had to buy his first car, he had me in his back pocket, and he thought, well, the rest of America should have me in their back pocket as well.
So do you agree that the car buying process can be tricky to navigate for the average consumer and frustrating and makes people cry?
My father was a dentist. And I would tell you, as someone who spent 43 years in retail automotive, it is worse than a root canal. And it is set up that way by most dealerships because The idea behind it is it's like psychological warfare.
Yes.
Okay.
Yes.
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