Do we have any car salesmen here?

[mwmorph]

I'm currently a college student, but I've really had the impression this is nothing but a huge mistake. I'm pretty miserable here and with the grades I have, I'm not even sure if I'll still be here come next academic year.

Don't get me wrong, I love the social life and this "college life experience" but I think I'm done here. I've never aspired to be anything but a blue collar sort of guy. It's always been my dream to enlist in the army and just be a ground pounder, but my family would disown me. I wanted to be a mechanic and work with cars, but then again, I got into an excellent school so I was sort of forced into going.

Now that I've tried out this college thing, I'd like to pursue my second dream of working with cars and I've been thinking selling cars should be a decent career path. I'm just about as knowledgeable about cars as someone can get (3 ASEs plus following the industry and developments religiously)

So, does anyone work in this field?
Hows the pay?
Hows advancement?
How do I get started?
Is there anything I should look for?
Any tips in general?

Thanks in Advance

Cliffs
Miserable with college
Want to look into selling cars
Any tips?

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

If you want to sell cars, no better way to find out other than to just go for it. Go to local dealerships, get job applications, interviews, etc. and find an opportunity.

Read this for more information: http://www.edmunds.com/advice/...les/42962/article.html

By the way, as you go into sales, read books that people have put out regarding it. Learn what makes people buy products, know all about the company you work for and what they're doing that customers care about, etc. You'll know you're making a perfect pitch when you're telling the customer exactly what they want to hear, and you're able to inhale/exhale at the same rate that they are.

A lot of books break selling down into a science... there is a lot to do, but you'll really learn a lot about people if you care about it. I'm not sure most of the salesmen I've dealt with are on a level like that, but I have respect for the few people I work with that are that good.

Last thing - impress customers all you want, make amazing presentations, but make sure to ASK FOR THE ORDER. It's amazing how salesmen will present to people, impress them, and then walk away thanking them for their time. Finish by making a clear ask, it shouldn't be hard or confusing to purchase.

That said, I hate most salesmen (sorry) but if you're going to do it, do your best.

 

[olds]

In our area (northern California), now is a horrible time to sell cars. Dealers are going out of business.

 

[Kalvin00]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
In our area (northern California), now is a horrible time to sell cars. Dealers are going out of business.

Frost is killing the marijuana crops so none of the dope growers are spending their cash.

 

[daveymark]

choose another profession. you'll lose your soul if you don't.

 

[beguile]

I did car sales for a few months and I'll tell you to stay away from it. There's only 2 types of people that end up doing car sales. Either you're really old already retired or you didn't go to college or college dropout.

When you get into a car sales, there's only a small minority of people that actually do well. They have been with the company for a long time and by sheer luck some of them sell quite well. DO NOT EXPECT ANYONE TO BE TRAINING YOU. No one will share secrets with you. Car sales people will fight over with each other over every customer that comes in.

You work long hours and I mean LONG. 56 hours average 6 days a week and no overtime. You think staying in college is bad? You haven't seen the real world yet. Let me know how long you last doing car sales.

We started out with 12 people doing car sales and there's only 2 left. The class before ours all quit doing car sales. The turnover rate is crazy.

If you got low integrity and you like to lie or bullshit. It might work out for you.

Pay is terrible but if you're successful it might work out. You get a base salary which is about minimum wage. For you to get commission, you need to sell a certain amount of cars. And that's a lot of cars you need to sell within that one month time period like 30 or more cars. You will be lucky if you can even sell one car.

Cliffs
Stay away from car industry esp selling cars
STAY IN COLLEGE
Study and read your books. School actually isn't hard as long as you read your textbook and understand the concepts. Don't be lazy and use your time for pleasure.

Having a degree will open more job opportunities for you. People look down on you in society if you don't have a degree.

 

[Baked]

Originally posted by: daveymark
choose another profession. you'll lose your soul if you don't.

No worse than a politician, corporate exec, or lawyer. Whatever brings in the dough at the end of day. Nothing else matters.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: Baked

Originally posted by: daveymark
choose another profession. you'll lose your soul if you don't.

No worse than a politician, corporate exec, or lawyer. Whatever brings in the dough at the end of day. Nothing else matters.

Bullshit! Self respect and being able to take pride in your work is what really matters.

 

[Skunkwourk]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: Baked

Originally posted by: daveymark
choose another profession. you'll lose your soul if you don't.

No worse than a politician, corporate exec, or lawyer. Whatever brings in the dough at the end of day. Nothing else matters.

Bullshit! Self respect and being able to take pride in your work is what really matters.

that changes fast if you're raising a family and survival is your only goal.

 

[ChaoZ]

I don't think you'll want to do it long term.

 

[seemingly random]

Pretty brave considering what most think of car salesmen.

Talk to the sales manager in a couple of dealerships and tell them pretty much what you said here. Honesty works most of the time. And even though car sales are probably down now, as my dad always said, there's always room for a good one (in any profession).

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: m0mentary

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: Baked

Originally posted by: daveymark
choose another profession. you'll lose your soul if you don't.

No worse than a politician, corporate exec, or lawyer. Whatever brings in the dough at the end of day. Nothing else matters.

Bullshit! Self respect and being able to take pride in your work is what really matters.

that changes fast if you're raising a family and survival is your only goal.

It makes it a whole lot more difficult thats for sure but, so far I've scraped by. I guess it comes down to how you see yourself and view the world.

I think the OP should give work in general a go. School is a waste if you're not ready to do the work. Although, I'm not sure the OP has investigated trade schools that balance the books with hands on experience.

Lastly, why would the family disown you if you joined the service? Do you really think they would stop talking to you or caring for you because you joined up?

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: beguile

When you get into a car sales, there's only a small minority of people that actually do well. They have been with the company for a long time and by sheer luck some of them sell quite well.

Luck has nothing to do with it.

Car sales wasn't for me, but I can say your results are not based on luck alone. Effort, time, and skill are all factors. Some people can do it well, some people can do it amazingly well, and some people just can't sell.

My problem was mild depression. I'm not really depressed in the clinical sense, but I couldn't fake being super happy and friendly every day either. So the days where I wasn't 100% I didn't get any sales, which hurt my totals.


give it a shot. Maybe you are a natural, maybe not. It doesn't hurt to try.

 

[krunchykrome]

I don't think it's hard to get a job as a car salesman. If you want to get hired quickly, I believe carmax is that way to go.

There's nothing wrong with not going to college. Just as long as get a career. College and the post-college white collar life is not for everyone. Some people are just naturally blue collar people, and thats fine.

im not sure how far along you are in college, but if you have already completed 1 full year, I would just suck it up and finish it. You've already invested money into it, and you will be better off than you would be without it (degree). Afterwards, if you want to do the blue collar thing, go for it.

I hope you are not just coming up with an excuse because you can't pass your classes. I struggled in college and at one point early in my college career, I even considered dropping out and joining the army. I could not get good grades. The problem was the I would sit in class, and 1.5 hours would go by, and I'd have no idea what just happened. After a few years, I found learned the best way for me to learn the material; I would go to class but ultimately rely on myself to learn the material at home.

My point is that if college is truly not right for you, do what you feel is necessary. But do not lie to yourself and try to cop-out.

 

[Darthvoy]

I'm in the same boat as the OP. I will be graduating with a degree in finance and real estate next month. After working for a mortgage banker and a construction loan company over the last four years...I want out. My problem is...I haven't decided what it is I really want to do, or where to even start.

 

[krunchykrome]

I'm in public accounting. Is it fun? No, it's a job with a good career path. I'd rather be camping or playing Madden. College doesn't last forever guys.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: Darthvoy
I'm in the same boat as the OP. I will be graduating with a degree in finance and real estate next month. After working for a mortgage banker and a construction loan company over the last four years...I want out. My problem is...I haven't decided what it is I really want to do, or where to even start.

See, I think that is just wrong! A degree can be a good thing but is not the 'Golden' key to success. To have spent all that time and money (or, your parents') and not be interested in persuing the type of work you went to school for is just sad.

How much better to work in a field first or, attend a trade school for a much shorter time and less cost to find out if you enjoy it?

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
In our area (northern California), now is a horrible time to sell cars. Dealers are going out of business.

That's certainly true for some brands. I read that GM dealers were moving an average of 2 to 3 cars per week in the Bay Area, while Toyota was moving something like ten times that figure.

 

[caspur]

I'll repeat the above...long hours. Long, very boring hours, trying to weasel a few bucks out of people that don't like you. A lot depends on the dealership and the management you work for, some are better than others. But the end result is, if you don't sell cars, you don't make money. Think about that when you have bills to pay. Oh and chances are, the people that you work with are all criminals. Which I guess is what happens when there is no background or drug test.

 

[mwmorph]

Does anyone have any books related to sales I could read up on?

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: Darthvoy
I'm in the same boat as the OP. I will be graduating with a degree in finance and real estate next month. After working for a mortgage banker and a construction loan company over the last four years...I want out. My problem is...I haven't decided what it is I really want to do, or where to even start.

See, I think that is just wrong! A degree can be a good thing but is not the 'Golden' key to success. To have spent all that time and money (or, your parents') and not be interested in persuing the type of work you went to school for is just sad.

How much better to work in a field first or, attend a trade school for a much shorter time and less cost to find out if you enjoy it?

Depends on the trade school, for them sot part, automotive tech trade schools aren't necessary if you have a decent understanding and you've taken a good number of autotech classes in high school.

I'm not cutting and running, I may not be allowed back next year for my grades. No I can't enlist, my family and extended family would disown me. It's a cultural thing. In China, people don't enlist unless you really have no recourse left in life and my parents are somewhat elitist.

Originally posted by: caspur
I'll repeat the above...long hours. Long, very boring hours, trying to weasel a few bucks out of people that don't like you. A lot depends on the dealership and the management you work for, some are better than others. But the end result is, if you don't sell cars, you don't make money. Think about that when you have bills to pay. Oh and chances are, the people that you work with are all criminals. Which I guess is what happens when there is no background or drug test.

Every job I've ever applied for has had background checks and drug tests. I remember when I was a mechanic, it was a long background check followed by a through drug test that took a week to complete.

 

[seemingly random]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer

Originally posted by: Darthvoy
I'm in the same boat as the OP. I will be graduating with a degree in finance and real estate next month. After working for a mortgage banker and a construction loan company over the last four years...I want out. My problem is...I haven't decided what it is I really want to do, or where to even start.

See, I think that is just wrong! A degree can be a good thing but is not the 'Golden' key to success. To have spent all that time and money (or, your parents') and not be interested in persuing the type of work you went to school for is just sad.

How much better to work in a field first or, attend a trade school for a much shorter time and less cost to find out if you enjoy it?

It has been proven repeatedly by mindless bosses/policies that people with the degrees get bigger bucks. I think it's shallow but nevertheless...