How does one get started in car sales?

[IronSnake]

I don't believe that's fair advice.

It is not a dying art form, it's a changing art form. If you don't change, of course you're going to get left behind. Sales consultants today are more or less product specialists; and a LOT LESS hardcore/pushy salesmen.

Either your family does a shit job running a store, or you're blind to all the benefits that come from the business, OR you just don't care. Any of those options, or even a combination are fine, and that's your prerogative.

35 years of being in the store, you'd think if we ran it awfully, then it wouldn't be 35 years long.

Dealership culture and atmospheres are toxic. Unless the store is highly corporate and has proper safeguards in place, the average dealership will be full of golf playing divorcee's that talk about cheating on their wives. It's a very common theme at ANY dealership.

The automotive industry is difficult to exit once your in it. And I am a firm believer that the dealership model will change, just as you say it's changing, but in a way that it moves towards a carmax or Tesla model. It's going to become more and more convoluted as they cut back on sales staff, utilize more electronic devices and porters, and make the sales process more objective.

Point is, salesmen are very disposable. It's not a job that you have much security in and I find it to be not worth it.

 

[13COBRA]

35 years of being in the store, you'd think if we ran it awfully, then it wouldn't be 35 years long.

I know a few stores just local to me that have been open 35+ years and I don't know how they made it to 10 years.

I'm sure if you've ever looked at regional sales numbers and peer down towards the bottom where stores sell maybe 10-15 new cars during the ENTIRE year, you've asked yourself a time or two why the manufacturer allows them to stay in business.

Truth be told, as long as there's money, a dealership that's 25+ years old, is really hard for a manufacturer to close down. I know two guys that own stores and carry less than 5 new vehicles in inventory...they use them as demos, and that's it. They don't care if they sell a damn car.

Dealership culture and atmospheres are toxic. Unless the store is highly corporate and has proper safeguards in place, the average dealership will be full of golf playing divorcee's that talk about cheating on their wives. It's a very common theme at ANY dealership.

I'm not saying you're wrong, but it's not like that every where. One of my service advisers has been divorced, but aside from him, none of my other 50 employees have been.

The automotive industry is difficult to exit once your in it. And I am a firm believer that the dealership model will change, just as you say it's changing, but in a way that it moves towards a carmax or Tesla model. It's going to become more and more convoluted as they cut back on sales staff, utilize more electronic devices and porters, and make the sales process more objective.

It's difficult to exit once you get in to it because if you do a decent job, the amount of income is hard to be matched any where else without years of promotions and raises. I loved car sales because every given month I made what I worked for and didn't have to rely on anyone else.

Point is, salesmen are very disposable. It's not a job that you have much security in and I find it to be not worth it.

All positions are disposable, at nearly any job. If you're good at what you do, you are not disposable in the dealer's eyes. If you are poor at it, you're not going to want to work there anyways.

 

[IronSnake]

Well it's a sad fact that most dealerships see the revolving door of salesmen as the most disposable of all. The ones that float from dealership to dealership over the years aren't helping the stigma. Despite all of that, I did very well in Service as an adviser for a while. The environment itself was simply to toxic and stressful for me that I found my way out with my degree. After I've seen what it's done to my dad thru stress and causing him to age like he's the POTUS, I wasn't prepared to be the second coming of him.

It wears on you and I think I'd like to express that to him more than anything. It's a very hard, socially/personally, business to be in.

 

[Buckwheat 1]

35 years of being in the store, you'd think if we ran it awfully, then it wouldn't be 35 years long.

Dealership culture and atmospheres are toxic. Unless the store is highly corporate and has proper safeguards in place, the average dealership will be full of golf playing divorcee's that talk about cheating on their wives. It's a very common theme at ANY dealership.

The automotive industry is difficult to exit once your in it. And I am a firm believer that the dealership model will change, just as you say it's changing, but in a way that it moves towards a carmax or Tesla model. It's going to become more and more convoluted as they cut back on sales staff, utilize more electronic devices and porters, and make the sales process more objective.

Point is, salesmen are very disposable. It's not a job that you have much security in and I find it to be not worth it.

The salesman has become a pawn that introduces you to at least 2 other clowns I don't really want to deal with. I just want the price. The last couple of transactions for me were frustrating beyond dealing with the 1st salesperson.

 

[13COBRA]

Im not sure why salesmen even exist anymore. I can find 20 cars in the color/options i need with a 5min web search.

Why are there technicians? You can find 20 YouTube videos on just about any repair in a 5 minute web search.

A good salesman is hard to come by. Once you meet one, it makes it a lot more convenient to do business.

I have one or two people in each industry that I buy everything from personally, because I trust them and it makes my life a lot easier.

 

[13COBRA]

Well it's a sad fact that most dealerships see the revolving door of salesmen as the most disposable of all. The ones that float from dealership to dealership over the years aren't helping the stigma. Despite all of that, I did very well in Service as an adviser for a while. The environment itself was simply to toxic and stressful for me that I found my way out with my degree. After I've seen what it's done to my dad thru stress and causing him to age like he's the POTUS, I wasn't prepared to be the second coming of him.

It wears on you and I think I'd like to express that to him more than anything. It's a very hard, socially/personally, business to be in.

It's all about how you handle stress and deal with it. I know several guys in their 40's that run Mega dealerships and do a very good job at it. If you internalize or take everything personal, it is a hard career path.

I can't think of any other occupation that I would rather do.

The salesman has become a pawn that introduces you to at least 2 other clowns I don't really want to deal with. I just want the price. The last couple of transactions for me were frustrating beyond dealing with the 1st salesperson.

I'm not a broken record, but again, saying that every place is like that...is wrong.

 

[joker21705]

Im not sure why salesmen even exist anymore. I can find 20 cars in the color/options i need with a 5min web search.

I see your point the salesman don't really have any power to do anything, you ask them a question they run out back to the manager to get you an answer they are a middle man pretty much. And some dealerships don't even haggle on price anymore.

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[Buckwheat 1]

It's all about how you handle stress and deal with it. I know several guys in their 40's that run Mega dealerships and do a very good job at it. If you internalize or take everything personal, it is a hard career path.

I can't think of any other occupation that I would rather do.



I'm not a broken record, but again, saying that every place is like that...is wrong.

I hope they are not all like a majority of the dealers that are local to me

 

[13COBRA]

And some dealerships don't even haggle on price anymore.

A poll in 2015, and 2016 showed that consumers least favorite part of purchasing a car is the haggling. Why would a dealership haggle, if that's the customer's least favorite part?

No, we aren't making record profits now compared to when we did haggle. With as much money as we spend on advertising every month, it would do me no good to advertise a vehicle thousands of dollars over cost in HOPES that someone will call in so we can haggle. We price our new vehicles at $150 over what I have in it, and our used vehicles at or below the regions average prices.

It makes the transactions much quicker, customers more happy, and we get better reviews.

There are people that come in that still want to negotiate thousands off, well guess what, those days are over.

 

[AustinSN]

FWIW, I bought my car from Nick and he is the easiest "sales man" on the planet to work with.

 

[RedVenom48]

Service guy here.

You can make money in sales. You can make an excellent career as a service advisor if you can sell.

While ive had my share of shitty service advisors, when you have a good advisor that can be honest with your customers but be able to sell the service work, he can literally do no wrong.

I hope to transition to advising when my body tells me it time to put the wrench down professionally. Or I pay my Shelby off. Lol

Hoping to find a spot as a Ford service advisor. Warranty diesel commision is bank! Plus i love Mustangs so it would he fun to be around that for the rest of my career.

 

[13COBRA]

Service guy here.

You can make money in sales. You can make an excellent career as a service advisor if you can sell.

While ive had my share of shitty service advisors, when you have a good advisor that can be honest with your customers but be able to sell the service work, he can literally do no wrong.

I hope to transition to advising when my body tells me it time to put the wrench down professionally. Or I pay my Shelby off. Lol

Hoping to find a spot as a Ford service advisor. Warranty diesel commision is bank! Plus i love Mustangs so it would he fun to be around that for the rest of my career.

If you feel like moving to the midwest, come on up.

 

[03cobra#694]

I sell shit, not cars. 100% commission and do very well. No bragging, but my customers mention how comfortable I make them feel. The company reputation doesn't hurt either. Lol

 

[13COBRA]

I sell shit, not cars. 100% commission and do very well. No bragging, but my customers mention how comfortable I make them feel. The company reputation doesn't hurt either. Lol

It's easy to sell hookers and blow.

 

[03cobra#694]

It's easy to sell hookers and blow.

Yes it is.

 

[Buckwheat 1]

 

[spitin venom]

You can make great money in the business but you have to put in the time and effort. You also need thick skin. Customers do not care that you have a family to feed and will repeatedly lie straight to your face just to save a couple dollars. Your managers will grind you all day to get customers in and make sales.

 

[13COBRA]

You can make great money in the business but you have to put in the time and effort. You also need thick skin. Customers do not care that you have a family to feed and will repeatedly lie straight to your face just to save a couple dollars. Your managers will grind you all day to get customers in and make sales.

I agree with all of that. Zach already said he's ready to put in the time and effort to be successful. Dealing with consumers is the hardest part of every job, especially sales where every Joe Schmo thinks he needs to teach you a thing or two about your own job.

 

[DHG1078]

Dealing with consumers is the hardest part of every job, especially sales where every Joe Schmo thinks he needs to teach you a thing or two about your own job.

How do you expect to get customers when you're bashing them straight to their face? If I was in charge, this would be unacceptable.

 

[joker21705]

How do you expect to get customers when you're bashing them straight to their face? If I was in charge, this would be unacceptable.

Cause it's true

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