Anyone out there a car salesman?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-11-2011, 04:48 PM
  #1  
ScoobyZINE
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
AMUA6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ocoee, TN
Posts: 3,986
Received 41 Likes on 38 Posts
Anyone out there a car salesman?

Well, I recently emailed my resume to the local Acura dealership for a full time car salesman position they have open. I now have an interview in two days.. What concerns me is that the dealer has very poor reviews and even the one time I stopped by before I bought my TL, I was treated with no respect. The dealer is located in a fairly large city and is the only Acura dealer in the vicinity.

I am strongly considering going through with this position if I am offered the job but I would like to know the true pro's and con's of being a car salesman, coming from a car salesman. I'm aware that it is basicly commission only, but I believe I could sale dirt to a ditch-digger
Old 07-11-2011, 04:54 PM
  #2  
Team Owner
iTrader: (15)
 
Flipster23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 35,747
Received 2,334 Likes on 1,962 Posts
I kno there was a thread about this. Someone was in the same position as you and they wanted some info let me see if I can dig it up
Old 07-11-2011, 04:57 PM
  #3  
ScoobyZINE
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
AMUA6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ocoee, TN
Posts: 3,986
Received 41 Likes on 38 Posts
Thanks flip. I searched several different terms in different forums but no dice.
Old 07-11-2011, 05:00 PM
  #4  
Team Owner
iTrader: (15)
 
Flipster23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 35,747
Received 2,334 Likes on 1,962 Posts
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...=interview+car
Old 07-11-2011, 05:18 PM
  #5  
Needs more Lemon Pledge
 
stogie1020's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Age: 51
Posts: 52,768
Received 2,000 Likes on 1,173 Posts
Search for "infinity"...
Old 07-11-2011, 05:20 PM
  #6  
mmmmmm....
 
S14 n Tsx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Glendale, CA
Posts: 20,524
Received 95 Likes on 81 Posts
cons: long boring crazy hrs, around 60 hrs a week.

dealerships are open 364/365.
Old 07-11-2011, 05:22 PM
  #7  
Team Owner
iTrader: (15)
 
Flipster23's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 35,747
Received 2,334 Likes on 1,962 Posts
only good thing is u get to drive variety of diff cars I guess

Old 07-11-2011, 05:27 PM
  #8  
mmmmmm....
 
S14 n Tsx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Glendale, CA
Posts: 20,524
Received 95 Likes on 81 Posts
^ uhhhh... read much? he said acura dealership. ewww.

at least I got to drive benz/audi/porsche/vw.
Old 07-11-2011, 05:34 PM
  #9  
ScoobyZINE
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
AMUA6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ocoee, TN
Posts: 3,986
Received 41 Likes on 38 Posts
Originally Posted by stogie1020
Search for "infinity"...
oh shit

There are several other dealerships in the area.. Audi, MB, etc but only a position open at the Acura dealer. Figured it's a way to get my foot in the door.. I don't mind the hours. Hell, I'm only 21.
Old 07-11-2011, 05:45 PM
  #10  
mmmmmm....
 
S14 n Tsx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Glendale, CA
Posts: 20,524
Received 95 Likes on 81 Posts
^^easy to say, try it for few months...
I hated fact that I had no personal time to do anything, even when I was off.

It would be good experience for you, but I am willing to bet that you won't last no more than 3-4 months.
Old 07-11-2011, 09:05 PM
  #11  
Senior Moderator
Regional Coordinator
(Mid-Atlantic)
iTrader: (6)
 
97BlackAckCL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: ShitsBurgh
Age: 42
Posts: 92,147
Received 4,434 Likes on 3,038 Posts
Originally Posted by stogie1020
Search for "infinity"...


Where's stoned when you need him?
Old 07-11-2011, 09:11 PM
  #12  
Needs more Lemon Pledge
 
stogie1020's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Age: 51
Posts: 52,768
Received 2,000 Likes on 1,173 Posts
Originally Posted by 97BlackAckCL


Where's stoned when you need him?


Probably on the couch taking another hit from the Mrs. Butterworth water bong...
Old 07-12-2011, 08:47 AM
  #13  
Trolling Canuckistan
 
black label's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: 100 Legends Way, Boston, MA 02114
Age: 50
Posts: 10,453
Received 811 Likes on 644 Posts
Originally Posted by AMUA6
oh shit

There are several other dealerships in the area.. Audi, MB, etc but only a position open at the Acura dealer. Figured it's a way to get my foot in the door.. I don't mind the hours. Hell, I'm only 21.
The hours are long, very long and you'll make them longer by coming in on your days off to complete a sale or take care of a delivery.

I did it for about 8 years and just completed my tour and have retired from the business. My love for the business went on a steady decline after about year 4. You start to realize that there is very little space for upward mobility, look at all the guys in their 60's who are still selling cars.

Raises do not happen, you could make 80k one year 40k the next and you have very little control over it. I basically realized that if I didn't want to be selling cars when I was 70 years old, I needed to get out now.

Selling cars for is like being addicted to heroin, the longer you do it, the harder it is to quit. Go in on a Saturday and write up 3 deals, you go home high as a kite. Go in on a Saturday and talk to 5 customers and write no deals, you go home sick to you stomach. Go 5 days without writing a deal and you are in withdrawal and the only thing that fixes it it scoring a deal.

It's the only job I ever had where many nights I would leave thinking, "I need a drink." Not, "a beer would be nice", but, "I need a beer". Not a healthy way to earn a living.

Old 07-12-2011, 09:04 AM
  #14  
Senior Moderator
iTrader: (5)
 
juniorbean's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: The QC
Posts: 28,461
Received 1,760 Likes on 1,046 Posts
Here is a more recent one from just a couple of months ago...

https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/internet-sales-vs-floor-sales-813679/
Old 07-12-2011, 10:02 AM
  #15  
GEEZER
 
1killercls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Dunedin, Fla.
Posts: 44,441
Received 2,214 Likes on 1,418 Posts
You get the reward of being looked at just one step below a lawyer.
Old 07-12-2011, 10:21 AM
  #16  
Senior Moderator
iTrader: (5)
 
juniorbean's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: The QC
Posts: 28,461
Received 1,760 Likes on 1,046 Posts
Originally Posted by 1killercls
You get the reward of being looked at just one step below a lawyer.
lol... except most car salesman make much less
Old 07-12-2011, 10:28 AM
  #17  
Drifting
 
Myxomatosis's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: PK NY
Age: 43
Posts: 2,386
Received 42 Likes on 32 Posts
Well after 4 months of doing it, I'm still undecided, I always figure I give a job 6 months before I make a decision. The hours suck, it has to be the number 1 draw back to the job. I see my son about 8hrs a week ;( Money's good, when it's good, but under constant pressure.

If you want an interview tip, just be able to hold a conversation without sounding like a liar or a bullshitter. My interview was 5 interviews back to back with every manager, like tag team. Took 2 hrs and got the job

p.s. you better like making phone calls

Last edited by Myxomatosis; 07-12-2011 at 10:31 AM.
Old 07-12-2011, 10:56 AM
  #18  
Moderator
iTrader: (3)
 
CLtotheTL32's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Charlotte
Age: 35
Posts: 36,664
Received 9,500 Likes on 6,171 Posts
If you were treated like shit before you worked there, why would you want to put yourself in the position to work with those same people? They will probably bully you around for sales and such because you are new.

John just keep doing the powdercoat thing! Put an ad on Craigslist and such, that's how I found the guy to do my A-Specs!
Old 07-12-2011, 11:08 AM
  #19  
Three Wheelin'
 
silver3.5's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: WISCONSIN
Age: 49
Posts: 1,299
Received 51 Likes on 41 Posts
Originally Posted by 1killercls
You get the reward of being looked at just one step below a lawyer.
Soooo true. Nothing about lawyers I like. Most if not all are about lying to get paid. I don't understand why people always put lawyers in the same sentence as doctors. Lawyers are the scumbags of the world.

Originally Posted by juniorbean
lol... except most car salesman make much less
soo true again!

Originally Posted by Myxomatosis
The hours suck, it has to be the number 1 draw back to the job. I see my son about 8hrs a week ;( Money's good, when it's good, but under constant pressure.
Though I have no first hand experience as a sales person, I can confirm that the hours do suck (I have a close friend who used to sale cars at the local Honda dealer). On weekends when a bunch of us guys are BBQ, he would be working. On holidays, he's working; on -35/100+ degree days, he's still working. On his kid's BD, he's still working! Making $50K+ a year at 60-80 hrs a week wasn't worth it to him. He lasted 1.5 years. I say that was pretty long.

The only time he said he was 100% honest was selling a brand new Accord to his best friend; he made $35 bucks from the deal!

Last edited by silver3.5; 07-12-2011 at 11:12 AM.
Old 07-12-2011, 11:29 AM
  #20  
Senior Moderator
 
Ken1997TL's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Better Neighborhood, Arizona
Posts: 45,640
Received 2,329 Likes on 1,309 Posts
Well as a car salesman you can have a side business of selling Infinity audio equipment not to mention be able to afford your dream car, the 'Lettuce' or whatever he called it
Old 07-12-2011, 12:35 PM
  #21  
GEEZER
 
1killercls's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Dunedin, Fla.
Posts: 44,441
Received 2,214 Likes on 1,418 Posts
Old 07-12-2011, 02:27 PM
  #22  
Oh Hullow
 
03bl AC k CL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Freehold, NJ
Age: 35
Posts: 1,990
Received 14 Likes on 14 Posts
i didnt last more than 3 weeks, before I realized I didnt even have time to run errands because of the hours. I probably would have stuck it out longer had I been at a decent dealership (jeep Chrysler ) ... Needless to say i decided to enroll in college again to finish up and havent looked back haha.

Also, if you go in to the job with the mentality of making money and not making friends it will carry you much further as well. On the interview just show confidence and a hunger to make money. Knowing the make and models is secondary to knowing how to talk a good game.

Last edited by 03bl AC k CL; 07-12-2011 at 02:29 PM.
Old 07-12-2011, 02:31 PM
  #23  
Fahrvergnügen'd
 
charliemike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Maryland
Age: 52
Posts: 13,494
Received 1,568 Likes on 985 Posts
Originally Posted by stogie1020


Probably on the couch taking another hit from the Mrs. Butterworth water bong...


Old 07-12-2011, 04:17 PM
  #24  
ScoobyZINE
Thread Starter
iTrader: (7)
 
AMUA6's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Ocoee, TN
Posts: 3,986
Received 41 Likes on 38 Posts
Originally Posted by black label
The hours are long, very long and you'll make them longer by coming in on your days off to complete a sale or take care of a delivery.

I did it for about 8 years and just completed my tour and have retired from the business. My love for the business went on a steady decline after about year 4. You start to realize that there is very little space for upward mobility, look at all the guys in their 60's who are still selling cars.

Raises do not happen, you could make 80k one year 40k the next and you have very little control over it. I basically realized that if I didn't want to be selling cars when I was 70 years old, I needed to get out now.

Selling cars for is like being addicted to heroin, the longer you do it, the harder it is to quit. Go in on a Saturday and write up 3 deals, you go home high as a kite. Go in on a Saturday and talk to 5 customers and write no deals, you go home sick to you stomach. Go 5 days without writing a deal and you are in withdrawal and the only thing that fixes it it scoring a deal.

It's the only job I ever had where many nights I would leave thinking, "I need a drink." Not, "a beer would be nice", but, "I need a beer". Not a healthy way to earn a living.

That's a scary comparison.. I have noticed that all the car salesman are OLD and I figure dealerships are wanting young guys in to teach them the new technology. I sure as hell will not be 70 selling cars though lol I am halfway thru my bachelor's degree at the moment but right now I need a place to live. I am taking this semester off to find a better job, hopefully a house, then complete my degree part-time.


Originally Posted by Myxomatosis
Well after 4 months of doing it, I'm still undecided, I always figure I give a job 6 months before I make a decision. The hours suck, it has to be the number 1 draw back to the job. I see my son about 8hrs a week ;( Money's good, when it's good, but under constant pressure.

If you want an interview tip, just be able to hold a conversation without sounding like a liar or a bullshitter. My interview was 5 interviews back to back with every manager, like tag team. Took 2 hrs and got the job

p.s. you better like making phone calls
I am golden on that note.. any other tips? My interview is tomorrow

Originally Posted by CLtotheTL32
If you were treated like shit before you worked there, why would you want to put yourself in the position to work with those same people? They will probably bully you around for sales and such because you are new.

John just keep doing the powdercoat thing! Put an ad on Craigslist and such, that's how I found the guy to do my A-Specs!
Well, not like stinky nasty shit.. maybe just a little disrespected because of my age. The powdercoating biz is doing well actually. I have an ad I run on CL in different areas every week.. I will continue with the PCing but I have a gig now on a street rod that's going to keep me busy a little at a time for the next few months, so it's perfect timing for me to do a career change!

Originally Posted by 03bl AC k CL
i didnt last more than 3 weeks, before I realized I didnt even have time to run errands because of the hours. I probably would have stuck it out longer had I been at a decent dealership (jeep Chrysler ) ... Needless to say i decided to enroll in college again to finish up and havent looked back haha.

Also, if you go in to the job with the mentality of making money and not making friends it will carry you much further as well. On the interview just show confidence and a hunger to make money. Knowing the make and models is secondary to knowing how to talk a good game.
funny.. i also applied at a new chrysler dealer being built in the same area. as said earlier i will be taking this semester off and possibly next semester. right now, i want money. i express my confidence well but by no means am i an asshole, hopefully that will help me
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
peti1212
ILX
22
01-05-2022 05:14 PM
Yumcha
Automotive News
9
02-25-2020 09:57 AM
Rocktman1
5G TLX (2015-2020)
42
10-31-2015 02:33 PM
jordanboi
2G TSX (2009-2014)
16
09-05-2015 01:33 AM
LAMike240
5G TLX (2015-2020)
34
09-03-2015 04:35 PM



Quick Reply: Anyone out there a car salesman?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:29 AM.