Perhaps the author jumped to a conclusion that number of dealership visits correlates with informedness.
Now the extra costs come in on accessories, service plans, and warranties, whereas they used to make more profit on the actual sales.
We just bought a vehicle in March, and it was the best, least friction experience buying a car. I found the package I wanted, I found the color I wanted, I evaluated the price against online sources such as KBB, truecar, and those types of things, then I contacted the dealer who had it in stock online and set a date to come buy it. They didn't try any weird old-timey car sales tactics, because the price is the price. They offered extras, add-ons, the warranties, and service packages, with clear prices, and were respectful when I declined.