[venning]

The interesting thing about the particular examples in this thread--local taxi companies, hotel franchises, dealer franchises--is that none of them are in fact "big businesses". If Uber and AirBnB and Tesla succeed, they will all be considerably larger than any other player in those spaces. They will be the big businesses.

Personally, I have no interest in protecting businesses. I have an interest in protecting competition. I like the disruption and I like the creating of new value that they bring. I just also feel for the individuals who often are so vigorously disrupted.

[newjersey]

I'd argue that dealership model does not necessarily promote competition. If I want a Ford Focus, Ford still dictates what kind of car I get. Sure, the dealership may try to make a few hundred dollars by (unnecessarily) adding "value" to the car with floor mats and halogen lamps but what kind of car I get and at what price is a decision Ford makes.

The problem I have with the dealerships is that they are saying Tesla can't sell cars directly. This is incredibly stupid. Sure, you could say Ford can't set up a store because that'd be like having a Starbucks corporate store right next door to a franchise they authorized. However, if I wanted to create New Jersey's Best Coffee (don't buy my coffee, although there is Best in the name it will be horrible) I should be able to open my own coffee shop with no regard to whatever agreements there have been about coffee shops before. I mean it is one thing to say that my coffee shop should meet health safety requirements (such as not lacing my coffee with poison) and other sensible requirements such as not selling anything with the label "USDA Organic" unless it is USDA Organic.

> I just also feel for the individuals who often are so vigorously disrupted.

Are you talking about the employees? I feel for the Rite Aid and Duane Reade employees more than I feel for the car salespeople. I honestly believe that successful car salespeople have the qualities that will help them land on their feet in any situation. So they will be alright. We will eventually have to seriously discuss the idea of a universal basic income but that is for another conversation.

[carsalesthrowaw]

> I honestly believe that successful car salespeople have the qualities that will help them land on their feet in any situation. So they will be alright.

For one guy I know this isn't true. He was a very good salesman of [a product], but eventually its economics changed, and after that, he couldn't find a job he wouldn't get fired at. Until car sales. I couldn't tell you why -- he's not a jerk or an idiot -- my best guess is that there's some level of generic "being an employee at a company" behaviors we take for granted (meeting long-term commitments, knowing the product) that just don't happen for him.