Is It Hard to Get a Sales Position at a Luxury Dealership?

"Voice of C. Montgomery Burns" (voiceofcmb)
01/20/2015 at 14:54 • Filed to: None

The title says it all. I've often daydreamed of what I'd do if I was comfortable enough financially to change careers and really go for something I'd 1) Enjoy doing immensely and 2) Have a realistic shot at doing (I'm 28, it's a bit late for me to get into professional racing).

Call me a sucker for punishment but selling cars at a nice dealership seems like something I'd enjoy doing. I've never had a sales position before and I realize that the stress to perform is high and they don't keep low performers on for much longer than 3-6 months but that's not the crux of my question.

Is it actually hard to get a sales position at a nicer dealership. Nicer being Audi, BMW, MB, Lexus, Jag, etc. Not your Ferraris, Bentleys, etc. Do you need a degree? Do you need prior sales experience? If you don't have either is your only chance to know someone?

Has anyone here worked for a luxury dealership and can chime in?

DISCUSSION (4)

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
01/20/2015 at 14:56

My friend worked for BMW and now Mercedes in Asia. He says you basically have to do well with Honda etc.. and then move up. Generally thats how it works, its not about cars its about sales.

Chris_K_F drives an FR-Slow > 415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
01/20/2015 at 15:00

^This. Sales experience will be far more important than automotive knowledge. They (the dealer) can teach the employees about the features/specs necessary to sell the cars easily enough. They are not as interested in training people to sell better.

RicohSuave > Voice of C. Montgomery Burns
01/20/2015 at 15:13

Sales experience will top car knowledge, I am guessing. I did a 3.5 year stint selling copiers and when I left there, I had all kinds of companies knocking on my door, including two car dealerships of the Germanic brands you list. If you are serious, find a company/industry that is known to train people well (copiers, payroll sales, or office supplies come to mind) and let them educate you. Rock your territory for 9 months, and start looking around. You'll be more popula than the proverbial guy in the women's prison with a handful of pardons....

Voice of C. Montgomery Burns > RicohSuave
01/20/2015 at 16:11

Thanks man, good advice.