Personal Post.

"El Rivinado" (joeman856)
01/13/2016 at 19:05 • Filed to: None

I normally don’t do posts like this but I got a question

I need a job something fierce, like I’m broke as hell and I need to get some money in my pocket. One of the things I’ve been looking for is a job working at a car dealership, since I like cars, and depending on the climate, their are plenty of dealers rotating salespeople on a monthly basis. The only trouble is, besides finding a dealer I can work at that I’m enthusiastic about (I don’t want to work at a Toyota dealership for a quick job and try and B.S about why you should pick a Toyota for example, I don’t lie well.) is just my inexperience. I’m 19 years old, and have only had two jobs, one was a basic internship position at Gamestop when I was in high school, and one was at a Which Wich for all of two weeks before I got sacked (Nothing with me, just I wasn’t suited to the environment.)

Anyways, what I’m trying to get at is this, any opponauts who have experience at car dealership jobs, please give me what you learned or what needs to be done. Just any experience that could either help me get to where I am (Or alternatively, steer the hell away from this career as best as possible), I would greatly appreciate it.

DISCUSSION (7)

Berang > El Rivinado
01/13/2016 at 19:37

With your (lack of) experience you might get lucky to be a lot tech, the guy who goes around and keeps the lot clean, makes sure tires are inflated, etc. I seriously doubt any dealership would hire you as a salesperson, but they might after you’ve worked on the lot.

A major dealership will also have several people to work the parts department (and this is usually way less stressful than working on the lot or in the shop) and might take on somebody without experience to be the go-fer. Or if they’re shorthanded, even do the ordering, inventory, etc.

JeepJeremy > El Rivinado
01/13/2016 at 19:55

I sold Chevys right after college. It was 2004. I was 22.

Parts of the job I loved: being around cars, talking about cars, freedom within my job (at my dealer each salesperson was treated like an “independent contractor” so after the morning meeting I had very few job obligations during the day). And I enjoyed the customer service. True story: I’d get at least one to five phone calls per week from random customs that would call in: ask questions about the vehicle they owned, or something new they saw on tv, or something they read about/or heard from someone....basically they would call in and we’d bullshit on the phone for awhile. It was enjoyable and there were times it would turn into sales. Or I would go have coffee with people hanging around the service center...they’d complain about something breaking and I’d offer to help them get into something more reliable...lots of sales made that way. And sometimes I would sit there...not do a damn thing and somebody would walk right up to my desk and say “I want to buy that car out front”!

The customer service part of the job was very enjoyable!

What I did NOT like: the 1% customer...the person that seriously took time out of their day and deliberately came in to give someone a hard time. It sucked. It rarely happened but it did happen. It happens in all retail jobs I would say but the car dealership is just a different animal. Secondly I hated the hours. Being 22 and wasting 12 hours at the dealership EVERY Saturday SUCKED. REAL BAD. Personally I have a difficult time exerting effort toward something when there is no return for my efforts. This is a big reason why I failed at this job. Lastly the pay: I quit because of the pay. My last month as a salesperson I sold 10 vehicles. I got my pay check...I did the math: it was over a quarter million dollars of merchandise that I moved. Then I did more math: I calculated how many hours I put in at the dealership that month....I was making $6.15 an hour.

I quit. I quit that day. The only job I’ve ever had where I gave no notice whatsoever. I went into my manager’s office and said “I quit”. We had a chat. I told him my reasoning (he had that look on his face...the “this is the biz kid, it’s not for everyone”).

So I would say I did enjoy working as a salesperson. But it is not a job for a “young person”. If I were retired and had a supplemental income....I may sell cars again in my golden years!

iSureWilll > El Rivinado
01/13/2016 at 20:22

For someone with no experience I doubt any major dealership will hire you for a sales position. If you wanted to get your foot in the door there are positions like the porter, lot tech type guys, parts, and the cashiers. Porters move cars around, wash and vacuum them, etc. That would probably be the most fun job.

El Rivinado > iSureWilll
01/13/2016 at 21:21

Never heard of a porter job. I’m guessing that it requires the least experience out of any position. Tell me though, is learning how to drive stick a requirement?

El Rivinado > JeepJeremy
01/13/2016 at 21:23

Thanks for the story, definitely gives me some more insight. Is the lower pay something common for all dealers? I’m curious because I thought working in sales (not that that’s a guarantee for me), that you got paid minimum wage plus whatever commission you get from a sale.

iSureWilll > El Rivinado
01/13/2016 at 21:32

It is probably the position you’ll need the least experience to get into. It could help you get in the door for a future car sales position though. Or a tech. Or a service advisor. Or whatever you want.

As for the manual, it varies from dealer to dealer. Some will be OK with only having 1 or 2 porters than can drive a stick. Others may say you must know how to get the job. Doesn't hurt to ask them though.

JeepJeremy > El Rivinado
01/13/2016 at 21:39

That’s correct. I got a wage plus commission. But still...there just wasn’t any money in it.

Important points:

-I sold brand new vehicles and there just wasn’t any money in them.

-I’ve been told that the real money is to be made in USED vehicles

*and most importantly: my failings are my own. Obviously there is, in fact, success to be had in that business. It just wasn't a good fit for me.