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Is the Auto Sales Profession for Me?

148 messages,  Last post on Aug 24, 2009 at 6:44 PM

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What is this discussion about? Automotive News


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#11 of 148
Re: how to figure out if selling cars is for you? [graphicguy] by joel0622
Aug 17, 2007 (10:16 am)
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Replying to: graphicguy (Aug 17, 2007 9:46 am)

GG, it will depend on the area that you live in, but we have Sales people that make over $100K a year, those that make $30K a year, those that make me wonder why they even do it and a whole bunch in the middle. If I had to guess our average guy hovers around the $50K mark.
 
We have partime sales people. The thing about part time in the car biz is that it works out to about a 40 hour week.
 
The only problem I have with PT sales people is that customer service suffers. Allot of times other sales people have to take care of your customer, and no sales person in the world wants to handle some one elses problems.
#12 of 148
Re: how to figure out if selling cars is for you? [joel0622] by graphicguy
Aug 17, 2007 (10:32 am)
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Replying to: joel0622 (Aug 17, 2007 10:16 am)

Thanks, Joel. Interesting. I never thought about the "customer service" issue. But, isn't it a "split sale" if more than one sales person is involved?
#13 of 148
Re: how to figure out if selling cars is for you? [graphicguy] by qbrozen
Aug 17, 2007 (10:37 am)
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Replying to: graphicguy (Aug 17, 2007 10:32 am)

not after the sale. I think that's what joel is referring to. Like a customer coming back to complain about something.
#14 of 148
Part timers by mackabee
Aug 17, 2007 (12:08 pm)
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At one of my competitors which I worked for briefly, there is a couple of part timers. One is a female school teacher who works full time in the summer and part time during the school year. It supplements her income nicely as she has loads of customers from her parent/teacher conferences and also from her church. The other one works as a clothing distributor and is there only on weekends. It does create a bit of friction between the regulars since the part timers only coming on Saturdays when the cream of the customers come in. The reguars have to endure the boredom of during the week and by the time Saturday rolls along they are tired and the part timers are full of energy. The dealership doesn't car since they only pay the part timers for what they sell.
 Mack
#15 of 148
So you want to sell cars heh? by mackabee
Aug 17, 2007 (2:10 pm)
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You got to be thick skinned and not run home to mama the first time a customer cusses at you or insults your product. You have to be able to think on your feet or they'll eat you alive. You have to fight the other sales people and mark your territory. You have to fight with the sales managers to get your deals done. You have to fight with the finance managers to get your deals approved.
Then you have the long hours, the customers that don't show when they tell you they're coming and then when they are two hours late they get mad at you because you are assisting someone else. Can you handle rejection? Rememer the girl you liked in Jr. High that wouldn't give you the time of day? Sales are a lot like courting a girl. Once you get to know them and win them over than they will let you take them on a date. It's not for everyone. Once I even thought it wasn't for me either and some days when there's a lot of down time I start to wonder what I'm doing here. Ah, but that all changes in a minute when the next customer walks in and you're employed again! There's nothing like an adrenaline rush of selling 3 or 4 cars in one day! You feel like you can do no wrong. When I'm on my game there's nobody else like me. I can close anyone, even an Eskimo. If you feel you can handle the pressure of the last day of the month when you are one unit away from a big bonus or that big grand slam deal you just crushed gets blown out of F$I because the business manager pissed off your customers then by all means come and joins us. This is a great place to work at, you'll make a lot of money as long as you keep doing the basics every single time, every single day. Remember Michael Jordan didn't get to be the greatest ball player by sitting on his laurels. He practiced every day. When someone asks "How does this car compare to the Zorch?" I tell them "Sir, when you're number one. You don't compare yourself to anyone." You have to believe.
 Mackabee
  
 
Gets off his soapbox..
#16 of 148
Re: So you want to sell cars heh? [mackabee] by jipster
Aug 17, 2007 (5:14 pm)
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Replying to: mackabee (Aug 17, 2007 2:10 pm)

You have to fight the other sales people and mark your territory.
 
You mean by spraying or urinating? I saw Jack Nicholson do this in the movie "Wolf".
#17 of 148
Re: how to figure out if selling cars is for you? [cole] by micosilver
Aug 17, 2007 (5:30 pm)
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Replying to: cole (Aug 17, 2007 7:31 am)

Here is my 2 cents:
Shop for the right dealership:
More expensive acrs will pay off the most, so if you can get hired at a highline - I would choose that over an economy brand.
Try to go with the brand you like, you will have more credibility while selling.
interview the people you are going to be working with, just like they interview you. you have to like them - you will be spending up to 10 hours a day with them.
 
You have to have self-discipline to be successful. Go through the process, find something to do on the towntime, basically you are your own boss.
 
You have to NEED to make money or to be sucessful. We all have seen it: some young hotshot sells 20 cars in a month, makes 10 grand, next month he can barely sell 5, because he is not disciplined, and he doesn't need the money that much.
 
You have to have the strenth to go through the tough times. I start to get depressed by 12th of every month, because it's slow, not enough cars sold. Somehow I make it every month, but it's hard going a week without selling a car.
#18 of 148
Sales Profession by andeet
Aug 17, 2007 (6:35 pm)
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So having competitive drive would be another plus?
#19 of 148
Re: Sales Profession [andeet] by mackabee
Aug 17, 2007 (7:12 pm)
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Replying to: andeet (Aug 17, 2007 6:35 pm)

You bet!
 Mackabee
#20 of 148
Re: Sales Profession [mackabee] by andeet
Aug 17, 2007 (10:51 pm)
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Replying to: mackabee (Aug 17, 2007 7:12 pm)

I am 23 years old. I maybe shy in my private life but I am outgoing with costumers and willing to answer any questions. If its a question I don't have the answer; I usually find it. When I am passionate about my job; I have no major problems picking up the knowledge. Here's a sample, when I first worked with dogs I only knew little about the AKC breeds and training. Now I can give you small breed bio if anyone asked me "What about this breed?" Now I am cardboard box warehouse transfer picker and as I type this post I am watching a program on TV called "Shrink wrapped and boxed up." LOL
 
Anyway, I am very competitive. I hate to lose! If I really bored out of my mind at work; If my product order is 25 pages, I will do 10 pages and bust my rear after lunch do the 15 to make it challenging.
 
I've thought of doing sales few times. I am not really supermodel attractive but most people think of me as "Cute" and the "Girl Next Door." If I do I would want to sell Scion & Toyota.
 
I'm aware some days you're not going to make any money. Maybe I'll give it try down the road when I'm financially in order

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