Some Dealers Use AI To Price Used Cybertrucks Because No One Seems To Know What That Price Should Be
Since Tesla Cybertruck deliveries started nearly a year ago (wild, I know), folks on the used market have had zero clue about how they should be priced. Early on, these trucks were getting flipped for more than double their MSRP, but that quickly came down to the high $100,000 range, to the mid $100s and now there are over 300 listed for sale on Autotrader. Depending on the condition, mileage and whether or not it’s a Cyberbeast truck, the prices range from anywhere between $92,000 and $190,000. That’s still a huge variance when you consider all of these Cybertrucks are pretty much identical.
Tesla Had A Very Interesting Week
Anyway, this is all to say that people still don’t know how much these godforsaken things should cost on the used market. Before we get into the crux of this Forbes article – where a writer called up four different dealers who were selling Cybertrucks to see how much they cost – I’d just like to point something out. You – yes you – can go to Tesla’s website right now and order a brand new $102,235 (including destination) Cybertruck that will be delivered between “Oct – Nov 2024,” so the longest you’d wait for a brand new truck is a month. Hell, even if you want a $122,235 Cyberbeast, the longest you’d have to wait is until December.
Please bear that in mind when you read what you’re about to read and think about the absurdity of what some of these people are asking for. This also paints a very worrying picture of how out of touch a lot of dealers. Here’s more from Forbes:
Case 1 — confused: A dealer I contacted in South Carolina told me that an AWD Cybertruck they had listed previously at around $118,000 was now being offered for around $102,000. But the salesperson I spoke to was unaware of the market dynamics and not sure why the price had dropped.
Case 2 — defiant: a dealer I contacted in Los Angeles was listing an AWD CT for $125,000, about $25,000 more than the price of a new AWD model from Tesla. The sales manager was well-informed and aware of the market dynamics but he had seemingly logical reasons for sticking to the inflated price. He said that his dealership had already sold more than a dozen used Cybertrucks at significant markups. When I asked how he justifies the markup, he said that buyers like the fact that they can walk in and pick up the CT the same day. And he insisted that though Tesla lists new CTs for October delivery, that delivery date is not necessarily guaranteed. “I know how it works and sometimes you have to wait a long time for delivery,” he said, adding that he has a contact at a Tesla store who keeps him apprised of Cybertruck sales dynamics. “Our Cybertrucks actually sell very fast,” he said. And the latest CT on the lot has the Full Self Driving update, he said.
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Case 4 — flexible: The fourth dealer I contacted was flexible on price. Though the AWD CT was listed for $115,000, he said they would take the best offer and that the Cybertruck had been “consigned” to them from a private seller. The dealer had added wrap — which is done for cosmetic and protective reasons — and “new wheels,” he said. But those after-market modifications did not justify the premium the dealer was asking.
At this point, eagle-eyed readers probably realized I skipped Case 3. Well, that’s because it’s my favorite. You know how someone with a Cybertruck is the most annoying person there is? Well, the second most annoying person there is someone who is really into artificial intelligence. Here, the two camps meet:
Case 3 — the “AI price”: A third dealer I contacted in Los Angeles had two Cybertrucks with one being sold for $135,000, according to the sales manager. He told me that “AI determines the price.” When I asked him what that meant, he said that the AI he uses adjusts the price according to market conditions. When I explained that Tesla was selling the same CT for $99,990 he said: “Then, I would recommend you buy the $99,990 Cybertruck from Tesla.”
I don’t know how long this trend will last. I mean, are there really that many people out there who are paying tens of thousands of dollars just to have their Cybertruck a little bit sooner? I’m worried about what that answer might be.
