Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

[jwoods986]

I'm thinking about a career change. I've been in IT for over 5 years now and it's gotten stagnant. Even with my experience, Microsoft certification (MSCE), and some hands-on with Cisco routers, I can't get more than a desktop support/helpdesk position and haven't cracked 50K/yr. In fact, this position I got since moving to Atlanta has put me back to $40K.
I'm thinking about selling cars and wanted to hear from anyone that sells them or has sold them in the past. I have never done sales and am not a "true" salesman, i.e. being able to sell ice to an eskimo. I would only be able to sell things that I am interested in and would be excited about selling. Which would be cars, guitars, and motorcycles. Since I am looking to make 60-80K/year this probably eliminates guitars and motorcycles. So just chime in with what you have about car sales - tips, pros/cons, can you make what I'm looking to make?, etc.

[Ruxspin]

Re: Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

If you have no soul and plan on raping people for all they are worth then your 3 steps ahead of the game [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]...kidding aside I'll ask a buddie of mine to chime on in on this issue

[zeegler]

Re: Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

Damn, can you really make $60k to $80k selling cars? What kinds of cars, Porsches, Mercedes, etc?

[jgcable]

Re: Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

[ QUOTE ]
Damn, can you really make $60k to $80k selling cars? What kinds of cars, Porsches, Mercedes, etc?

[/ QUOTE ]

Thats what I was wondering.

I would think the high end salary of a beginner car salesman would be $40K tops including commission. Probably more like 30K-35K.
If you were successful and experienced you could probably make around 60K but that would take a while I would think.

[Mrs Tekky]

Re: Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

Actually, yeah, there is the potential to make that kind of money. Generally at first you don't make a whole lot. Some places will put you on a salary while you are training and for the first month or two. Then you go to straight commission, some have supplemented commission - you get X amount no matter what until you make enough commission to cover that and then some.

The problem is whether or not they provide leads or if you are expected to find people. There are always those that walk in, but they won't be enough.

[jwoods986]

Re: Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

[ QUOTE ]
Damn, can you really make $60k to $80k selling cars? What kinds of cars, Porsches, Mercedes, etc?

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe so. If not, forget it, it's not worth it. Actually, there is a Porsche dealer near me that has a sales position listed in the paper. I know I could sell Porsches, Benzs, BMWs, etc. because those are cars that I really love but I think the high-line dealers want experience. But I'm going to apply anyway!

[kremit]

Re: Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

My wife did this to "support" us while I was out of work. While there she worked 6-7 12+ hour days and was stuck with every "special finance" customer that hit her lot. Those were worth a flat $100 to her commission draw and the process would consume an entire day if not more. Keeping in mind that it was my friends father that got her the job. She started smoking (behind my back none the less) and I started to get wind of the types of people she worked with when she let out that some of the guys wanted to "let" her do some coke with them "for free". Talk about a rock and a hard place. A few more months of some feedback from my wife about her work days (and I'm sure even the tid-bits were more than she wanted to let on) and I hit my boiling point. I came to her work prepared to kill a guy named Brett and was restrained by my buddies dad when I got out of the car because even without prior knowledge he knew what was up when I got there. Guess it's a good thing Brett was off that day (figured it wasn't a good idea to call ahead and see if he was there [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] )

Needless to say that was my wifes last day of employment there.
Her draw was $200 / week paid monthly. Her biggest gross check was $1050 and she only took 1 off day that month.

The reason she was told she wasn't more successful......because she was too honest and couldn't say what she had to say to make a sale. At least they didn't corrupt that part of her !

(sorry to sound so discouraging !)

[jgcable]

Re: Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Damn, can you really make $60k to $80k selling cars? What kinds of cars, Porsches, Mercedes, etc?

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe so. If not, forget it, it's not worth it. Actually, there is a Porsche dealer near me that has a sales position listed in the paper. I know I could sell Porsches, Benzs, BMWs, etc. because those are cars that I really love but I think the high-line dealers want experience. But I'm going to apply anyway!

[/ QUOTE ]

I am absolutely sure of it. You need the equivalent of a Masters Degree in sales to land one of those jobs.
I would think a minimum of 5 years selling exotic or high end cars with a proven successful track record would be needed just to get your foot in the door.
Good luck with the job hunt. I often wondered if I would be good at selling cars. I have been a telecom sales rep for over 20 years. I love cars. The problem is that I love and need money too.

[semagic]

Re: Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Damn, can you really make $60k to $80k selling cars? What kinds of cars, Porsches, Mercedes, etc?

[/ QUOTE ]

I believe so. If not, forget it, it's not worth it. Actually, there is a Porsche dealer near me that has a sales position listed in the paper. I know I could sell Porsches, Benzs, BMWs, etc. because those are cars that I really love but I think the high-line dealers want experience. But I'm going to apply anyway!

[/ QUOTE ]

forget it... too much time... I was making that kind of money about 15 yrs ago selling acura's, but that was m-f 8am - 8pm (sometimes later) sat 9-7 (sometimes later) having scheduled days off you can't always get because of slow working deals. If your single and have no life to speak of... go for it [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] if your happily married stay away. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[fett]

Re: Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

"Fargo" [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Top Jimmy B]

Re: Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

I have two salesman in my Nissan dealership making over $100k per year. My newest guy started May 1/05 and by 12/31/05 had earned $103k.

In my Toyota store we have three guys making over $100k and four guys at our Kia dealership earning $75+/year.

The lowest earning salesperson in our company(five stores) earned $48k in 2005. We have import dealerships, used car stores and not one luxury brand.

The potential for income is limited only by your ability and the tools given you by your employer. Find the good ones, nurture them, offer them everything they need to close deals(inventory, training, proper remuneration) and the sky is the limit...that's how we do it.

The majority of dealers pay their sales staff low commissions and hide the true cost of the vehicles(work orders, add ons, trade nets) from the sales team in order to screw them out of earning more. Our company's philosophy has always been to pay the team what they have earned and be up front with all costs, fees, trade nets, etc. We have a waiting list of salespeople trying to get hired by our organization. Want a Finance job here? You better kill one of the five F&I mangers. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

For the record, our team works 9am - 6pm six days per week until July 1 and then they work 9-7 five days. The hours are long.

Edit - Forgot to mention that our salespeople are straight commission, no salary at any point. From day one you earn what your have sold.

[rjohnstone]

Re: Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

Jimmy B, employers like you are far and few between.

I've bought many cars and only ONE dealership (Mitsubishi dealership) has ever been straight with me right from the start. Was in an out in under an hour and that included going through the finance dept.
In between I've purchased Chevy (took two full days to close the deal) and Toyota (6 straight hours to close the deal) and such and they have all "tried" to screw me at every turn.

You need a BS in BS basically to make any real money.
Or you work for someone like Jimmy.

[Top Jimmy B]

Re: Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

Nah, the Bachelor Of Bullshit is the key. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

We try and recruit people who can talk to anyone. The young emplyee I mentioned had sold me my snowblower and a new washer & dryer at Sears. He actually sold me those things...I didn't want them. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] I've been in this business ten years and thought I was immune to "salesmanship" - guess what? [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

I am not the owner of these dealerships, I don't want to give anyone that impression. I run the finance team and advise with the sales managers and we report to the owners. The key in this type of work is having a mob loyalty with your employer. You have to know that while you are screwing everyone that your boss isn't going to screw you and you aren't going to screw the boss. [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Honor amongst thieves, I suppose.

[quakana]

Re: Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

How long have you been doing Cisco routing? If you are persistent enough there is a ton of opportunity around that stuff. I have been doing that for over 12 years now and its very lucrative if you make the right moves. PM me if you want

[VulfgangPfuck]

Re: Anyone here sell cars? (or used to)

I'm MCSE and A++ certified. Some hands on stuff, but not enough to land me over 30k (which really sucks with 3 kids).

The work isn't out there like it used to be. And when it does pop up, you get 20 or 30 guys with years more experience to jump right in there. I gave up trying to get in, and stay in that field. My training just barely paid for itself...just by a pube!

Good luck on your hunt...if you feel you may be too honest...DO NOT go into sales. I was a former GC and Sam Ash salesman, and all they emphasize on is to "sniff out" wallets coming thru the door, and concentrate on those people. Kiss their asses to make a sale if that's what it takes. Blow as much smoke up their asses to get them to spend their money. Not only that...keep a card file, which you must enter at least 15 people a day to....to keep them coming back so you can continue to "rape" them.