Anyone know about the life of a car salesman?

[The_Grinder]

I am just finishing up my 4 year business degree with a 3.7 GPA. Of course I wouldn't want to be a car salesman for life. It would just be nice to start there and perhaps use my experience+degree to move up to a sales manager or financing position. Anyway, anyone been in the car sale business or know anyone who has? There is an opening at the Mercedes Benz dealership that I am going to interview for tomorrw. I am also wondering whether the fact that I work for a luxury car place would give me a better chance at better pay.

(And I know a lot depends on how good you are, and oh... I'm good)

[Stonecold54]

a lot of places its not even about "selling" the car anymore. most places around me there is no haggling...they just stick a price on the car and that is what they sell it for now. its part of their "make it easier for the customer" campaign when it really just lets them not negotiate and keep prices high. I just couldn't have a job where the things that I sell were made for 1000 dollars and then sold for 20000.

[Bouncer]

yea, what a car salesman is has changed in the last few years i think. i guess there are still places that have the "old fashioned tool salesman". when we bought our car we really didnt have much trouble.

[NewbieChris]

My cousin was the manager for a BMW dealership near me for about 4 years. He started as a salesman, then took over the internet sales department, then he became a manager. I would say working at a BMW / Merc dealer is a lot different than working for something like a Honda dealer. There is definitely less haggling in those situations. A lot of their sales come from 3 series lease deals.

As for pay, my cousin never said how much he made, but I would assume it was about 80k as a salesman. He really believed in the product, so he was a good salesman and like you said that definitely helps.

There were some perks as well. More than a few times I got a phone call asking me if I wanted to ride in an M5 or something like that.

What exactly do you want to know about the car dealer business is my question. It is sales. Just like a retail associate you are there to answer questions and close the deal for the largest margin. You ever worked retail? A lot of it is personality. Has anyone ever told you that you should be a salesman, or real estate agent? Some people just have a person ability about them that makes them perfect for these jobs.

[NYCmitch25]

yes, the people with 6 figure salaries are usually in sales. management is probably where you want to end up. in sales you have to have a good product that sells. your only as good as your product you sell. sounds stupid but the product you sell can really determine how much you can make. its how much product you move each month not how you do it.

[Bouncer]

yes, the people with 6 figure salaries are usually in sales. management is probably where you want to end up. in sales you have to have a good product that sells. your only as good as your product you sell. sounds stupid but the product you sell can really determine how much you can make. its how much product you move each month not how you do it.

yep, its hard to sell a piece of shit. lol

[NewbieChris]

its how much product you move each month not how you do it.

Moving a product is all about 'how you do it.' Shitty salesman don't sell shit.

[Nekrawulf]

Well you CAN be a shitty sales person and still sell shit...The product is what sells for the most part...YES being a good sales person would be ideal, but the product usually can overshadow your poor sales skills....

sure...

if your selling crack

[NewbieChris]

Well you CAN be a shitty sales person and still sell shit...The product is what sells for the most part...YES being a good sales person would be ideal, but the product usually can overshadow your poor sales skills....

Aren't you assuming the person knows what they want? There is more than one good product out there to satisfy someones need. The key to sales is being convinced you have the best product of offer someone. When someone says, "I was looking at an A6, but I drove by and thought I would at least see how the E-Class drives." You want to be able to convince them that the E-Class is a better option.

Lets be honest. Lexus, Audi, BMW, Merc are all very interchangeable cars to an everyday consumer. They all get you from point A to B in distinguished glory. They all have an edge over a Ford,, Honda, VW, etc. in terms of luxury. Yes, they all differ, but thats where you show your strength. You convince the consumer that the, in Grinders case, the Merc. is the best option because A, B, C.

[NewbieChris]

People these days do a lot of homework when it comes to purchasing vehicles; 2nd largest purchase you'll have...House would be your 1st big purchase...So no matter how much you try to "convince" me, whatever I FEEL is right for me(budget, looks, performance, etc...)that will be my purchase...When I bought the Rover a couple of years ago, the sales guy was pretty horrible...But I had my mind made up and that's what I wanted.

We're just two different people. I don't think people do as extensive research as you think. Especially people who are buying such high end cars. It may just be me, but if I know more about the car than the salesman, we move on. That is just ridiculous. I'm about to drop 55k on a car and you don't know shit about it? Lets just say you won't see my commission.

I do agree that you can not convince me out of a car either. There no way to get me from a BMW to a Merc or Audi. Nothing the salesman could do. Thats for many reasons though. However, so many people buying cars in that price range are doing it for the 'status'. Whether you believe that or not is your business.

[NYCmitch25]

Moving a product is all about 'how you do it.' Shitty salesman don't sell shit.

wrong noobie, talk to people in sales theyll tell you something difffent. it know shit loads of ppl who do this for a living. plus that wasnt my point all that matter is how much product you move = $$ "what have you done for me lately' read it again slick

[NYCmitch25]

sure...

if your selling crack

yeah basically. i know your joking but they know what they want and how much they are going to pay for it. its not like your going make $1000 for $5 worth of crack using your salesmenship. you got to move that product

[NYCmitch25]

Aren't you assuming the person knows what they want? .

yes

[NewbieChris]

wrong noobie, talk to people in sales theyll tell you something difffent. it know shit loads of ppl who do this for a living. plus that wasnt my point all that matter is how much product you move = $$ "what have you done for me lately' read it again slick

Yes, the amount of product you move equals your pay in much of sales. That does not mean, however, that it is all that matters. The better salesman you are the more you move. Sometimes demand for a product is great enough that you don't even have to sell it. However, that doesn't mean good salesman move the same product as others. For example, how many of you believe in extended warranties. To those who do, its an essential buy. To those who don't...a salesman without the ability to 'sell' won't see nearly the quota as one who believes in the product and can actually sell something.


Given retail sales is somewhat different than car sales, its more similar than say medical sales. Having worked in retail sales since I was 15, and usually having the highest warranty sales of a part time employee I feel somewhat confident that my response has merit. However, you do not have to award it any...grumps.

[alwaysgrowing]

Well you CAN be a shitty sales person and still sell shit...The product is what sells for the most part...YES being a good sales person would be ideal, but the product usually can overshadow your poor sales skills....

actually, marketing and packaging it correctly is more important. There is a guy in new york who proved this for a class by taking NYC garbage and placing it in a clear cube.

*New York City Garbage Sculptures by Justin Gignac*