Anyone out there a car salesman?
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
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
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I don't mind the hours. Hell, I'm only 21.
mmmmmm....
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 20,524
Likes: 95
From: Glendale, CA
^^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.
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.
Trolling Canuckistan
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,453
Likes: 811
From: 100 Legends Way, Boston, MA 02114
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.
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/
https://acurazine.com/forums/car-talk-5/internet-sales-vs-floor-sales-813679/
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,386
Likes: 42
From: PK NY
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
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; Jul 12, 2011 at 10:31 AM.
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!
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!
Three Wheelin'
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,299
Likes: 51
From: WISCONSIN
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.
soo true again!
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!
soo true again!
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; Jul 12, 2011 at 11:12 AM.
Senior Moderator
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 45,641
Likes: 2,335
From: Better Neighborhood, Arizona
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 
Oh Hullow
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,990
Likes: 14
From: Freehold, NJ
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.
) ... 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; Jul 12, 2011 at 02:29 PM.
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.
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.
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
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
My interview is tomorrowIf 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!
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!
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.
) ... 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.
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