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  Aug. 9, 2010 4:23 a.m. VanillaSky HalfDork

  How many of you guys sell cars for a living? Maybe you have in the past? Is it something I should look into, given that I'm NOT expecting to get rich quick, and I'm not expecting to make a career out of it.
  

  I understand long hours. 8-10 hour days, 6-7 days a week. Skipped lunches, cold lunch, bad coffee. Rude customers. Tire kickers. I understand all of this.

  I used to be a "professional tire kicker" in a past life. A buddy of mine and I managed to drive Porsches, an Evo7 (when NO ONE had them in stock), some Mustangs, and a GTO. Not gonna count more mundane cars.

  I know the tactics used. I know it can be dirty, and I know I'll be looked at as a slimeball. I can deal with that. Honestly, it's better being looked at as a slimeball than as someone that's making nothing of himself.

  So what does a 24 year old guy have to lose? Sanity is already gone, so I can't think of anything at all.

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  Aug. 9, 2010 5:47 a.m. jrw1621 SuperDork

  Yes, this is a long 9 part series but the reading is well worth it if you are thinking of working the floor at a dealership.
  

  Confessions of a Car Salesman
  http://www.edmunds.com/advice/buying/articles/42962/article.html

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  Aug. 9, 2010 5:59 a.m. ddavidv SuperDork

  Want to open your own lot? More good reading: "What's it going to take to put you in this car today?"

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  Aug. 9, 2010 6:31 a.m. John Brown SuperDork

  The hardest part of ANY sales job is asking "Are you ready to take it home?" and overcoming objections.

  If you can live off the draw you can make good money in the right dealership. Remember there is still a "recession type thing" going on, people are not throwing out money like they were.

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  Aug. 9, 2010 6:51 a.m. SillyImportRacer Reader

  I sold cars for Bill Heard. I was there for a month or so. I hated 80% of the time I spent there.

  Just remember, "its your God given right to sell cars." What ever that's suposed to mean.

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  Aug. 9, 2010 7:10 a.m. Platinum90 SuperDork

  I have now sold 2 cars. It is not what I do every day (luckily), but when someone walks away happy with a car, you feel pretty good...

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  Aug. 9, 2010 7:27 a.m. pete240z Dork

  If you want to get into sales; car sales is a good start to learn how to deal with people in general. I would use it as a stepping stone.

  Our friend Ernie has sold cars since your age and is now about 50 years old. He has worked 50+ dealerships. His brothers did the same and went on to purchase a dealership in Atlanta that is doing well.

  I also found most car salesmen are not "car guys".

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  Aug. 9, 2010 7:36 a.m. Don49 Reader

  I have sold cars for a couple different dealerships and have friends who have worked for different dealers. If I chose to sell cars again, it would be used cars only. Most dealership pay plans favor the dealer to your detriment. As an example; on one deal I traded in 3 vehicles and sold 2. One of the trades was anice Continental with very minor damage to the front fender. When the GM of the dealership got done working over the deal, he devalued the trde to where I got minimum commission ($50). 2 weeks later he sold the the Continental for $3,000.00 over the trade allowance he set. This is just one example. There is a reason salespeople tend to move from dealership to dealership. My personal experience is that there is more money to be made with used cars. Find a dealership with an excellent reputation and remember that your personal integrity and honesty will be the best sales tool you have.

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  Aug. 9, 2010 2:43 p.m. VanillaSky HalfDork

  It does seem that car guy salespeople are hard to come by. The salesman that we bought our Astra from was a car guy with SCCA trophies in his cube.

  I read the confessions article back when it was fresh off the internet press. I know a lot of the tricks. It helped me out a bit when being a professional tire kicker.

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  Aug. 9, 2010 4:14 p.m. Joe Gearin Associate Publisher

  Back in a former life I sold Saturns for about a year. It can be rewarding when you find the right car that fits a customer's needs. You make a bit of $$$, they leave happy = perfect fit.

  Most of the time though it is a rough racket. It is the only job I've ever had where the people you work with are actively sabotaging you every step of the way. While not everyone in car sales is a scumbag, most are. Most of the sales guys (and sales managers) are not car people, and most are not ethical.

  It was good sales training (what not to do.....how to deal effectively with people) but you will need exceptionally thick skin to do it for any length of time. Also you need to leave your emotions and frustrations "at the curb" when you leave. Car sales can be exceptionally stressful, and if you bring that stress home it can damage personal relationships.

  It is very useful to know the ins and outs of the car trade for future buying/ selling and assisting others. It is a very rough racket to deal with day to day though.

  Management is key. If your General Sales Manager, or owner of the store is a scumbag run away. If you can find a dealership that has strong, ethical leadership, you can make a decent living without hating yourself.

  For most though, it isn't about cars. It is about moving product, and making as much $$ off of every person that walks onto the lot.

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  Aug. 9, 2010 9:21 p.m. VanillaSky HalfDork

  So you're saying that if I sell Saturns for a year, Tim will call me up and offer me a job? Wow, that would be awesome. Now to start building Saturns again :p

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  Aug. 9, 2010 9:31 p.m. EvanB Dork

  I sell parts for Saturns, If I stick it out till they stop supplying them can I have a job at GRM?

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  Aug. 9, 2010 9:35 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

  Car guys sometimes make not-so-good salesmen.

  I walked onto a Ford lot recently looking for something small, nimble, and maneuverable with a bit of sport and a lot of economy. When I told the (young) salesman I was talking with that I loved sports cars, he insisted on my driving a new Mustang (which was HIS passion).

  I told him porky muscle cars are not the same thing as sports cars, but I don't think he was listening.

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  Aug. 9, 2010 9:39 p.m. VanillaSky HalfDork

  Small, nimble, and zippy? Well, I'd point you to a Fiesta. Don't like it? Cool with used? Let's see if we can find something that fits your needs perfectly.
  

  My thing is that I really understand that not everyone wants a hot hatch. I also understand that you may not find what fits your needs best new on my car lot, but I bet I could find it used if you'd go used.

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  Aug. 9, 2010 9:39 p.m. Rufledt Reader

  My bro has been a car salesman for quite some time and is extremely succesful. He is, however, a car guy and many of his customers say they buy from him because he can actually answer their questions accurately and honestly.
  

  He's also INSANELY good at lulling them into wanting a car they don't need without being pushy. My uncle's girlfriend was looking over the new ecoboost flex my dad was convinced into buying and my brother was just showing her all the cool stuff the sync thingy does, and she said she was lulled into wanting one REALLY badly, but after she left she was like "wow, i really don't need to buy a new car. It's a good thing he didn't have another one there at the time!"

  So there must be some magic involved. I don't know. Maybe it's all about an honest face.

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  Aug. 12, 2010 10:04 a.m. M030 HalfDork

  I've been in the car business for fifteen years and I've been a salesman twice in my life. My opinion is: DON'T DO IT.

  If you're a real car guy, you will be frustrated that management gets their panties in a knot when you tell the customers the truth about:

  • their relatively desirable trade in
  • the car - that you don't have in stock - that really suits their needs
  • the car they are looking it not really being what they want at all (see above)

  In some places, it is possible to be an honest guy, but most places I've encountered value the bottom line over all else and want you to say or do whatever it takes to liberate the customer of his/her money.

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