How does one get started in car sales?

[Steve@TF]

i could never be a car salesman. im too honest. i could not lie to someones face and tell them that the pos theyre looking at is a good buy because i need to meet the numbers or make my commission. and as mentioned, the standing around all day waiting for people to come in. sitting with them for an hour and then no sale. if youre a real hustler and can put on a game face for people and are a born salesman, then go for it. most people arent cut out for it. you can tell when you visit a dealership.

for OP, id say maybe start out at Carmax since they dont do the haggle bs game. they dont work on commission either. at least not in the traditional sense. and you get to see/drive all kinds of cool cars that get traded in. porsches, vettes, gt500s, etc.. and carmax is ALWAYS busy. no standing around all day bsing with the other sharks, i mean salesmen, in the parking lot for hours on end.

or maybe hit up lexus. the cars practically sell themselves.

kind of the same as a service advisor. a friend did that for cadillac. telling people all kinds of service they dont really need so you can pad your commission on the "sale", which is what it really is. you're selling service. way back in the day took my accord to the honda dealer for service and they told me i needed all kinds of $hit done. then was referred to a very good independent honda mechanic and they told me you dont need all that. just this. theyre still in business (20 yeas later) and probably get more work than the dealership lol.

 

[Mpoitrast87]

kind of the same as a service advisor. a friend did that for cadillac. telling people all kinds of service they dont really need so you can pad your commission on the "sale", which is what it really is. you're selling service. way back in the day took my accord to the honda dealer for service and they told me i needed all kinds of $hit done. then was referred to a very good independent honda mechanic and they told me you dont need all that. just this. theyre still in business (20 yeas later) and probably get more work than the dealership lol.

I hear you on the service advisor thing. I am an advisor for Nissan. Luckily most of us are really honest and we will not sell un needed services even if the tech recommends it. We have one tech who recommends brakes on almost every single car. Even if we just did their brakes a month ago. it gets tiring lol.

 

[DHG1078]

I hear you on the service advisor thing. I am an advisor for Nissan. Luckily most of us are really honest and we will not sell un needed services even if the tech recommends it. We have one tech who recommends brakes on almost every single car. Even if we just did their brakes a month ago. it gets tiring lol.

My grandfather just recently took his explorer in to get something in the dash fixed. They tried to sell him new tires and I don't think he had 1k miles on them.

They also told him the paint on the leading edge of his hood wasn't caused by corrosion because its a carbon fiber hood.

 

[13COBRA]

i could never be a car salesman. im too honest. i could not lie to someones face and tell them that the pos theyre looking at is a good buy because i need to meet the numbers or make my commission. and as mentioned, the standing around all day waiting for people to come in. sitting with them for an hour and then no sale. if youre a real hustler and can put on a game face for people and are a born salesman, then go for it. most people arent cut out for it. you can tell when you visit a dealership.

for OP, id say maybe start out at Carmax since they dont do the haggle bs game. they dont work on commission either. at least not in the traditional sense. and you get to see/drive all kinds of cool cars that get traded in. porsches, vettes, gt500s, etc.. and carmax is ALWAYS busy. no standing around all day bsing with the other sharks, i mean salesmen, in the parking lot for hours on end.

or maybe hit up lexus. the cars practically sell themselves.

kind of the same as a service advisor. a friend did that for cadillac. telling people all kinds of service they dont really need so you can pad your commission on the "sale", which is what it really is. you're selling service. way back in the day took my accord to the honda dealer for service and they told me i needed all kinds of $hit done. then was referred to a very good independent honda mechanic and they told me you dont need all that. just this. theyre still in business (20 yeas later) and probably get more work than the dealership lol.

If he worked at Carmax, he would not be making any where near the money I was talking.

Carmax is a public company. They average between $800-900 MORE per car sale than a franchise dealership, and pay their employees on average 19% less.

The only way I would ever work at Carmax is if my only other option was working with @StrayBullitt, @cobra fern, @choate or some of the other goofs on this site.

 

[DHG1078]

or some of the other goofs on this site.

 

[Steve@TF]

If he worked at Carmax, he would not be making any where near the money I was talking.

Carmax is a public company. They average between $800-900 MORE per car sale than a franchise dealership, and pay their employees on average 19% less.

The only way I would ever work at Carmax is if my only other option was working with @StrayBullitt, @cobra fern, @choate or some of the other goofs on this site.

no offense to you personally as an owner of a dealership but the only way a car salesman is making big $ is if theyre a forked tongue slick talking dbag lol. or maybe im just biased like 99% of America when it comes to car salesmen lol

 

[Buckwheat 1]

Car salesmen the only guys in the know.

 

[Machdup1]

Couple of Questions for OP:

1. Do you really like just talking to people without a defined agenda?
2. Are you generally friendly as part of your nature?
3. Are you willing to work long hours with minimal days off to make your numbers?
4. Does hearing "no" bother you?
5. Are you willing to go the extra mile for a client?
6. Are you willing to put in the time to learn the product line and the history of the manufacturers/dealership?
7. Are you willing to listen to the sage wisdom of your coworkers, sales managers, and management?
8. Do you have long term friendships and relationships?
9. Do the social flaws of your co-workers bother you?
10. Are you willing to start at the bottom and work your way up?
11. Are you willing to structure your personal finances around the uncertainty of commission checks?
12. Do you like paperwork?
13. Do you mind direct, regular and often painful analysis of your work?
14. If you sales manager is an asshole, are you willing to work under such as person?
15. How do you handle unfair handling of situations?

13Cobra can correct me if I am wrong, sales can be a great career if you are willing to dedicate yourself to becoming great at sales. The road to great is difficult and will require sacrifice (especially early in your career).

If you personality is a match for sales and you are willing to put in the time, sales might be for you.

If your personality is not a match for sales, you might want to consider other career options (i.e. run )

 

[13COBRA]

no offense to you personally as an owner of a dealership but the only way a car salesman is making big $ is if theyre a forked tongue slick talking dbag lol. or maybe im just biased like 99% of America when it comes to car salesmen lol

Biased lol

I have never lied to a customer, and I've made 6 figures in sales. I know plenty of guys just like myself.

Just like anything, people only talk about the negative bullshit.

Car salesmen the only guys in the know.

Your username couldn't be more accurate.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Steve@TF]

Biased lol

I have never lied to a customer, and I've made 6 figures in sales. I know plenty of guys just like myself.

Just like anything, people only talk about the negative bullshit.

Your username couldn't be more accurate.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

But $2-300k selling fords?? Maybe exotic cars or rolls

 

[BlksvtCobra01]

But $2-300k selling fords?? Maybe exotic cars or rolls

My brother cleared 100K selling Honda's. I think they make more on used car sales than new. 13Cobra would know.

 

[03'Darin]

Couple of Questions for OP:

sales can be a great career if you are willing to dedicate yourself to becoming great at sales. The road to great is difficult and will require sacrifice (especially early in your career).

If you personality is a match for sales and you are willing to put in the time, sales might be for you.

If your personality is not a match for sales, you might want to consider other career options (i.e. run )

This pretty much sums it up well.

I've been selling at the same dealership for over 30 years. I've seen very few sales people come through here that had all of the natural skills along with the dedication and commitment needed to be successful.

 

[Mpoitrast87]

But $2-300k selling fords?? Maybe exotic cars or rolls

Honestly. You probably make more selling fords then exotics. You want quantity not necessarily quality. As in, make less money per car but sell more over than sell less but make more per car. Any company that sells a ton of cars like ford, chevy, Toyota, Nissan you can make a killing in sales. My old co-worker left Nissan to write service for a Lamborghin / Maserati dealer. He made quite a bit less there than Nissan. He wrote up about 15 cars a day which is a lot for that kind of car.

 

[DHG1078]

Honestly. You probably make more selling fords then exotics. You want quantity not necessarily quality. As in, make less money per car but sell more over than sell less but make more per car. Any company that sells a ton of cars like ford, chevy, Toyota, Nissan you can make a killing in sales. My old co-worker left Nissan to write service for a Lamborghin / Maserati dealer. He made quite a bit less there than Nissan. He wrote up about 15 cars a day which is a lot for that kind of car.

I think that would strongly depend on the area. I think in Los Angeles it would be better to be at an exotic dealer.

 

[Equalbracket]

i could never be a car salesman. im too honest. i could not lie to someones face and tell them that the pos theyre looking at is a good buy because i need to meet the numbers or make my commission. and as mentioned, the standing around all day waiting for people to come in. sitting with them for an hour and then no sale. if youre a real hustler and can put on a game face for people and are a born salesman, then go for it. most people arent cut out for it. you can tell when you visit a dealership.

for OP, id say maybe start out at Carmax since they dont do the haggle bs game. they dont work on commission either. at least not in the traditional sense. and you get to see/drive all kinds of cool cars that get traded in. porsches, vettes, gt500s, etc.. and carmax is ALWAYS busy. no standing around all day bsing with the other sharks, i mean salesmen, in the parking lot for hours on end.

or maybe hit up lexus. the cars practically sell themselves.

kind of the same as a service advisor. a friend did that for cadillac. telling people all kinds of service they dont really need so you can pad your commission on the "sale", which is what it really is. you're selling service. way back in the day took my accord to the honda dealer for service and they told me i needed all kinds of $hit done. then was referred to a very good independent honda mechanic and they told me you dont need all that. just this. theyre still in business (20 yeas later) and probably get more work than the dealership lol.

This time 1000000000000000000. To me its legal hustling and not a real job. From my personal experience the industry is full of scumbags and liars, yes i'm sure there are exceptions(13Cobra)

Make them salary instead of sharks. They'll do and say anything to make that sale, pressuring people to make a horrible financial decision in some situations that could hurt them for a decade. My first two new vehicles I was young and they did the whole running back and forth bs getting me the best deal, after me being stupid and answering the "what can you afford a month"

Since then it's over the phone, bottom dollar out the door no negotiating. They truly don't do a damn thing and generally know nothing about what they're selling.

 

[Jmurrz]

It all depends on the dealership and New vs Used cars. I worked at a BMW dealership for 5 years. We actually LOST money on quite a few cars. It made more sense for us to lose money on a car and meet a number from HQ so we got kickback from BMW that covered the losses. With the internet and instant value pricing it is nearly impossible to "clobber" people like dealerships USED TO in the old days before a price check was one google search away.

Used cars is a whole different ball game. Used cars are where the money is made. If the dealership takes it in on trade or buys it at an auction, it is almost guaranteed to make more money than a new vehicle.

As far as the lying thing, in my particular dealer group that would be grounds for instant termination. It all depends on management.

 

[Machdup1]

As far as the lying thing, in my particular dealer group that would be grounds for instant termination. It all depends on management.

I always figured a salesman that lies to me might sell me a car, but one who is honest and takes care if me, might sell me many cars over a long period of time and will get introduced to folks I know.

 

[Buckwheat 1]

Biased lol

I have never lied to a customer, and I've made 6 figures in sales. I know plenty of guys just like myself.

Just like anything, people only talk about the negative bullshit.

Your username couldn't be more accurate.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Ouch. My alias is the General Manager/Dealer of Bullshit.

 

[03cobra#694]

Ouch. My alias is the General Manager/Dealer of Bullshit.

And you're not based on your user name?

 

[Buckwheat 1]

And you're not based on your user name?

Nope. Bullshitisay!I should have gone with Bullshitdetecor. Or Iwishiwasacarsaleman.