Enthusiasts as salesmen

"BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather" (bugeyedacura) 03/26/2014 at 12:35 • Filed to: None

1

18

I'm thinking of biting the bullet and going into car sales. I'm in sales now, my transfer doesn't seem to be anywhere on the horizon, and I'm getting fed up with my current over the phone sales job. I'm not fantastically aggressive, but I also have gotten very good at being "politely relentless". What do y'all think?

MylesD > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 03/26/2014 at 12:39

0

What industry are you in now?

benchslap > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 03/26/2014 at 12:42

0

I am a rabid enthusiast (duh, because oppo), and I went from retail management (salary with performance bonus) into car sales and management (basically 100% commission). In three years before law school (I am an attorney now), I worked for a Honda dealership, a Porsche-Audi dealership, a Hyundai dealership, and a used-car dealership.

Key bits of advice:

Unless you've been there a long time and have an established customer base, you will starve working at a high-end dealership. As cool as it was working for the Porsche/Audi store and driving around in brand new $100k+ cars, we sold so few cars that I had to quit because I was going broke. Go for mass-market, like Hyundai (they used to, and may still, offer manufacturer-to-salesperson payments that essentially double your pay if you do it right), Toyota, or Honda.

If you're already used to commission-only pay, this part you're familiar with. For me, coming from a set salary and a 40 hour work week, going to commission only and 60-80 hours a week was terrifying and exhausting. I never knew if I'd make the draw ($1,000-$3,000) for the month, let alone beat it, if things were slow. Some months I made $10,000. Some months I made $2,000. The uncertainty drove me insane and wore me out physically and emotionally.

I'm glad I did it, and I did enjoy myself. It can be great if you work for the right dealership. But there are a TON of sleazeballs in the industry, and many of them will be in management positions above you. They WILL fuck you over on your pay whenever they have the chance, and they'll expect you to fuck your customers over just the same.

OPPOsaurus WRX > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 03/26/2014 at 12:45

1

I almost got a job at a Ford dealership. It seems like good money if you do well and if you dont, its minimum wage. Also a lot of hours. It does look like it could be fun though.

Jonathon Klein > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 03/26/2014 at 12:47

0

It sucks, don't do it. You will not make a dime and hate yourself.

B_dol > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 03/26/2014 at 12:50

1

I feel like this could be a good move if you ended up at a dealership selling more unique cars than the everyday Honda/Toyota. Brands like Jaguar, Porsche, maybe even Mini tend to bring out people more genuinely interested in cars (and not just transportation). Or the holy grail exotics dealer.

Otherwise you're going to be having all sorts of headaches.

Leadbull > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 03/26/2014 at 12:52

0

Seems like the happiness of car salesmen really depends on the dealership.

I wouldn't choose such a potentially unstable career, but that's just me. Do whatever you feel is best for you and your wife.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > MylesD 03/26/2014 at 13:03

0

I am currently selling software. It's an over the phone, B2B, telemarketing type of position.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Leadbull 03/26/2014 at 13:04

0

I appreciate it, and was going to try an Audi dealership. I feel like that would be a pretty decent fit for me.

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > Jonathon Klein 03/26/2014 at 13:04

0

Why do you say that?

MylesD > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 03/26/2014 at 13:06

0

As do I! Inside Sales for a Digital marketing software company just outside of Philly. I don't hate, mainly because the company is sweet. Where are you located?

BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather > MylesD 03/26/2014 at 13:09

0

I'm in Reston VA, right outside of DC. I think I would like it more if it wasn't so structured. I hear it used to be a lot more loose and fun, but we were picked up before I got here by a major technology company. So no fun. The only good part is a steady paycheck, and there's a good bit of camaraderie.

MylesD > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 03/26/2014 at 13:13

0

I hear you. Well, back to hitting the phones…smiling and dialing!

jlmounce > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 03/26/2014 at 13:13

0

As with most every sales position, if you're good at it, you can make a good living. Not too many people are good at it though and that's one of the reasons you see a lot of turnover at dealerships. If you can't hack it, you might as well be working at a fast food joint.

Each dealership is a bit different, but most new car dealers, you don't get "commission" in the strictest sense. You could sell a car for over MSRP or at Invoice and you usually get what's considered a "mini." It's your standard rate for selling a new car. Not a lot of incentive there to sell at or even close to MSRP unless your sales manager is just being a hardass.

The bread and butter is usually in used cars. But ya know, you've got to sell new cars to turn them in to used cars.

When I was entertaining the idea myself, one of the things I quickly realized was that a lot of people try to hit above their budget and there's also a lot of people just out for the day and need something to do. You've got to quickly figure out which people on the lots are serious buyers. You're not cold calling which is always nice, but you could lose sales to another salesman if you're tied up with a guy that isn't serious, or can't actually afford something if he is.

If you're serious about the carrier change, talk to some dealers and salespeople in your area. Contrast what the dealers are telling you with what the salespeople are telling you. Make the best financial decision for your situation.

Forgetful > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 03/26/2014 at 13:17

0

I did sales at a Ford dealership for 6 months.

I enjoyed being around cars and car people.

I didn't enjoy harassing people that were obviously not interested (even though the fancy computer system the dealership payed lots of money for reminded you to call them and email them at least once a week) and the last thing I wanted to do was talk someone in to a car just so I could keep paying my rent. Basically once I was off the training salary and on to straight commission I was outie.

I also didn't like the idea that my success would depend more on the quality of the Ford lineup. I was not super confident when the '08 Focus arrived. I also did not like the fact that within a 45 minute drive there were at least 7 other Ford dealers we were competing with.

Oh, and the manager always wants you to sell your customer at the sticker price before you send them to him to finalize the deal. Of course everyone knows there's wiggle room in car prices and trying to balance that expectation with your manager's expectations is a pain in the ass.

I'd much rather do something like Automatch Tom, but that's the kind of thing that you would have to start on the side. But once you get going all you have to do is steer people towards the V6 Accord, thrown your hands behind your head and call it a day.

Jonathon Klein > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 03/26/2014 at 13:19

1

I've worked at three different dealerships and they are all the same. BMW, Ford and Mitsubishi, they want to you lie to the customer rather than just talk and deal with them squarely. If you don't like phone sales, and I did that too, you will not like this either. There are probably some great dealerships to work for, but in my experience, they are all pretty much the same.

Dunnik > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 03/26/2014 at 13:39

0

Are you selfish, greedy, a good liar and know how to manipulate people? Then you will make an excellent new car salesman and will eventually rake in six figures if you get into a luxury dealership.

Are you reasonably unselfish? Do you refuse to, as the saying goes, "Sell refrigerators to Eskimos?" Do you feel uncomfortable telling anything more than white lies, or manipulating people into doing what you want? Then you will make, at best, a mediocre salesman that will drift from dealership to dealership and barely make enough to pay the rent.

(This is a bit of a caricature of car salesmen, but only a bit).

MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s > B_dol 03/26/2014 at 17:32

0

I feel like exotics would be a mixed bag. You'd have people who knew everything about the car and exactly what they want, but I feel more so it would be people who know nothing and simply want a fashion accessory they can drive. At least the up side of being around and being able to drive those cars would be incredible.

JoelA237 > BugEyedBimmer - back in the Saddle Dakota Leather 03/27/2014 at 05:15

0

I got offered a job as a salesmen at a small specialty car dealer once for my knowledge of them, I entertained the idea, until he talked pay.. NO thanks.. I'll just keep schooling other salesmen when I make my buys...