WASHINGTON, D.C. – Nov. 13 (DPI) – The Washington Post last week reported on a widely recognized roadblock to electric vehicle sales: The thousands of car dealerships across the country, which profit primarily off the service of existing gas-powered cars and have been understandably reluctant to promote the demise of their business model.

Readers – at least those who posted more than 2500 comments – practically rejoiced at the prospect of not having to deal with dealers, though. As one reader put it, going to a car dealership to buy a car is “right up there with getting a root canal.”

The most popular reader comment reflected strong feelings that car dealerships have long been an unnecessary layer to the process of buying a new car:

“Dealerships have always been a blight on the automobile sector. They’re run like organized crime — bullying sales techniques, scalping prices, hidden costs like paying freight of the vehicle which is the dealership’s cost of doing business, very sketchy repair track records. The sooner dealerships are eliminated from the auto sector the better. “

Second, third and forth most popular comments:

“Burying the lede. Dealers make money on servicing cars. EVs require less service. There is the explanation for why they discourage EV sales, but it is just about the last thing mentioned.”

“EVs are the death knell for dealerships; they are superfluous. We bought our Tesla on line; when a minor part needed tweaking the local Tesla mechanic came to our house and did the work in our driveway. Came and rotated the tires the same way. Periodical software updates over the air has resulted in a better car than the one we bought three years ago. Now, if Elon would just shut up…. “

“The dealership model needs to go. Buying a car is right up there with getting a root canal atop the list of things I dread. I would love just ordering a car online and getting it delivered and thought that’s where the industry was going. “