Dictionary

stealership en · NOUN

Etymology

Blend of steal + dealership.

Meanings

1. (derogatory, slang) A car or motorcycle dealership, seen as charging exorbitant prices and trying to rip off customers.
   • And many took the time to forward it to their friends, e-mail other Web sites or call local news stations -- all in the interest of one main the "stealership" that tried to back their way out of the deal. 2008, Jackie Huang, “The kindness of strangers on the information superhighway”, in The Johns Hopkins News-Letter, volume 112, number 21, Baltimore, M.A.: Johns Hopkins University, page A11:
   • I am really surprised that the stealership didn't try to make arrangements with you to let them do the 500 mile checkup. There are a lot of other things that should be done at this time. 1998 August 23, Hawgeye, “Intro and question”, in rec.motorcycles.harley (Usenet):
   • Thus weathered traditionalists often deride the newcomers as poseurs, and many longtimers feel that the "MoFoCo" and its "stealerships" are unfairly squeezing out many tighter-budgeted loyalists like themselves in favor of yuppie poseurs. 2005, Roby Page, Bike Week at Daytona Beach: Bad Boys and Fancy Toys, Jackson, M.S.: University Press of Mississippi, →ISBN, page 124:
   • Of course the Mercedes stealerships are so bad now that I won't buy another one of those. 2004 December 9, MCBRUE, “Dishonest Lexus Service?”, in alt.autos.lexus (Usenet):
   • Not all dealerships engage in this pricing strategy, but many do it aggressively, often with snake oil-style salesmanship, deceptive marketing tactics, hidden fees, and overpriced add-ons, like floor mats, alarm systems, or anti-rust undercoating. Some consumers call the outfits that employ these tactics "stealerships." [2022 August 30, Greg Rosalsky, “Inside the rise of 'stealerships' and the shady economics of car buying”, in NPR, archived from the original on 10 Jan 2023:
   • I'm trying to gain more experience working on my own car so I don't have to pay stealership prices for repair work (I've already made that mistake a couple of times :( ) 2009 March 30, Arif Khokar, “Re: Precognition?”, in rec.autos.driving (Usenet):

Forms