D2C promises margins, customer data, and control. What it actually costs for manufacturers with dealer networks — and why Direct-to-Dealer achieves the same goals structurally.
Shop platform, fulfillment center, returns management, B2C customer service, Seller of Record liability. D2C is not a sales channel — it's an entirely new business.
As soon as you sell directly to end customers, your dealers see you as a rival. The relationships you built over decades — at risk.
B2C logistics, same-day delivery, return rates — these require capabilities that brand manufacturers don't have and shouldn't need to build.
| Criterion | D2C Shop | Direct-to-Dealer |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase on your domain | ✓ | ✓ |
| First-party customer data | ✓ | ✓ |
| Full marketing attribution | ✓ | ✓ |
| No own fulfillment | ✗ | ✓ |
| No channel conflict | ✗ | ✓ |
| Dealer benefits | ✗ | ✓ |
| Typical annual cost | €50,000+ | % of revenue |
D2D achieves every goal of D2C.
Without the structural problems that come with it.
We show you what D2D looks like on your product page — in 15 minutes.
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