Anyone here in the car sales business?

I recently lost my job at the paint store as a few of you know. I am ok with that. I was treated like **** there and didn't make much money at all. So the resumes went out.

After 1 day I had an interview and am now the new salesman at Boucher Lincoln Mercury. My neighbor is a Audi salesman so I am going to talk to him as soon as I catch him outside again. But wondering if anyone here has any personal experience with automotive sales or if anyone they know does it and can share any info about it. I am not new to sales at all. But am new to car sales.

I am assuming most are going to say dumb buisness to get into at this time. But as most know Ford is actually doing pretty strong. And as most know Lincoln gears towards 30-40 year olds. They have switched from the old geaser car to a luxury car competing with Caddys and such. I didn't make **** at my previous job so making more than what I was making is gunna be pretty easy. They are paying to send me to a class to learn the **** I need to know and all that. And the dude said that just by my personality and the way I present myself that i will have no problem making money and succeeding at that store. I looked at some of the numbers and last month not one salesman made less than what i was making at my previous job. SO I am not worried about it. So what ya got for me? Any info or insider info? lol









Cliffs: Lost paint job. Got job as car salesman. Any insider info or experiances?

It's not a bad gig , you just have to watch that other salesmen don't snake your sales from you on your day off ... I had that happen allot , I'd talk people into a vehicle ,"well we are going to think about it ", then on the follow up calls " we came back wednesday and bought the car from "____ " we asked for you but he said 1) you were not there ,2)you quit 3) that they would be sure that you'd get the credit on the sale
How are they paying commision against draw ???
Cliff notes , get names and phone numbers , be sure to follow up , are you still interested ect , make sure to watch sales for names ect of people that you have talked to /dealt with..

I can't say I've ever been in the sales business or would ever be good at sales. But I am in the consumer business and buy ****. My advice is to actually listen to the consumer and don't annoy them.

When I've looked for new cars in the past, I walk out of my car and IMMEDIATELY there's a sales person. I ******* hate this. While it's good to be there to help, give them 5 seconds to get out of the car before ambushing them.

Also, I like to look at the cars by myself. I went to 5 dealerships when I was looking for my DD car. I bought my car from the one dealership that did NOT do this. When I get there I tell them I'm just browsing and want to look on my own. Then they say something to the effect of I'll be right over here if you need me. By the time I get to looking at the 2nd or 3rd vehicle they're back next to me asking, "so what are you looking for?" I TOLD YOU I'M JUST BROWSING!!! That's the reason that I now go to car dealerships on Sundays when no one's there. I just want to browse, be left alone, and if I have any questions I'll find you.

I understand most people don't go onto a lot intending to leave w/ a new car. But when someone tells you they want to look on their own, give them your card, tell them where you'll be, and leave them alone.

Good info. Thanks. Every little bit helps.

what pwrrngr says is advice that I would give too. I hate in any store or anything when the salespeople won't leave you alone.

I am the exact same way. Just in home depot the other day with drea I was getting ****. I couldn't walk or look at 1 thing without someone asking me how I am. STFU I know what I am here for!

I will def take that into account in terms of my new job.

Super advice so far. Your underlying idea is to always sell a car, but it wo't always happen so don't sweat it.

Just treat the customer with respect and be truthful and foloow up and hold onto your own sales and you will be fine.


The dealership I bought my 03 from was a smaller one with probably 40 vehicles or so and they treated us pretty well. I will go back there for the 2012 Boss stang if one comes out. Even if they have to special order it and charge me 3k extra, just because they make it feel like a hell of a family out there.

Make sure to explain service contracts, especially to the clueless lol.

Be very careful about letting the customer browse. It annoys me just as much as the next guy, but in any sales you need to stay on people. If you do let them browse, another salesmen will be out there talking to them (or your new/used car manager will be all over you for not helping them). Talk them up, and if they seem like they really don't want help, odds are they are not there to buy a car anyway. O yeah, always get there info and enter it into whatever computer system you are using ASAP. Once you have them in autobase or whatever program you use to track customers, if they come back and someone steals them you should still get half the deal. That's how its worked at the dealerships I have been at anyway (sometimes leading to problems when someone enters info then customer comes back and doesn't even ask for that person, they still get commission...)

Also, the hours on car sales are horrible. That is the main reason I think so many people would stay away. 9am-9pm 4 days a week + every Saturday 9-5. You are young so no big deal, but making a career out of those hours will really wear you down.

Best of luck to ya. If I hear anyone looking for a Lincoln/Mercury I will be sure to point them in your direction.

I dont have any advise, just wanted to say Congrats and Good luck.




PS: All car salesman are crooks!

Who the F buys Lincoln or Mercury?

grandpa!

Thanks golfer. I really appriciate it. My hours aren't as bad as that. He said I would have like a 9-9 then a day off. Then a couple 9-4s and I assume hours on sat. But obviously by law I have every sunday off.

Lol. Old ****. Or rich bastards looking for a luxury car other than a caddy.

I have no advice for the actual job, but get a plan together to manage your money from week to week . If you're used to a steady paycheck it takes an adjustment to get used to getting a big pay out one week and then literally earning nothing the next two weeks . Sometimes you'll be on top of the world but if you don't save you won't be able to stretch it through the lean times .

First thing: Don't talk **** about the people you intend on selling to. Yeah, they may be an older crowd who are wealthy but calling them old **** or rich bastards is wrong.

Also, I like the fact that Lowes people say hello. They are there when you need them, unlike other big name retail stores.

My advice will be to KNOW YOUR CARS!!!! Since you are a young fellow who's main target buyers are older folks, they probably might be timid about a kid selling them a luxury car

Just my .02 cents, you will defiantly need to be on your game to be taken seriously.

Sorry to hear about the paint gig, and good luck flipping cars

They ALWAYS say that at interviews. They said the same crap to me. It's a **** pyramid scheme, I swear.

Then again, I worked for a Kia dealership. For three days. Haha.

The_Mastor wrote:

My advice will be to KNOW YOUR CARS!!!! Since you are a young fellow who's main target buyers are older folks, they probably might be timid about a kid selling them a luxury car Just my .02 cents, you will defiantly need to be on your game to be taken seriously. Sorry to hear about the paint gig, and good luck flipping cars

I definitely agree with knowing your cars. You should really know and be ready for any questions a customer could ever throw at you. It's kind of annoying when the customer knows way more about the vehicle than the salesman does.

Good Luck.

pOrk wrote:

Who the F buys Lincoln or Mercury?

one of the new lincons sports a twin turbo v6 just like the new taurus sho will have......

luxury and speed not just for the old

kornholio788 wrote:

Good info. Thanks. Every little bit helps.

customers love surprise buttsechs.

Quick aside, why does Ford call the new Taurus SHO a "Show"? Remember when it was S.H.O.?

Its like the chrysler division. Bringing back all the old name with NO respect for what it was back in the day.

WTF is a Dodge Ram Daytona SuperBee?

Charger Daytona R/T

You get the idea.

The Dodge Aspen was never an SUV thing.

no dots chris........



They are bringing it back in a big way. A twin turbo AWD v6 that ran 12's factory.....and its a family sedan. I would say is a pretty big win. Especially over gm's gas guzzling g8.

Go for it korn, i like when i go and they know wtf they are talking about not reading from the paper or the pamphlet.

robbie wrote:

They are bringing it back in a big way. A twin turbo AWD v6 that ran 12's factory.....and its a family sedan. I would say is a pretty big win. Especially over gm's gas guzzling g8.

BS. The Taurus SHO runs mid 13s.
It's 4300lbs. Someone throw that whale back in the water.

G8 gas mileage. 15/25
SHO gas mileage 17/25

A 2mpg city difference. A 3.5L getting practically the same gas mileage as a 6.0L. That's not really impressive at all. Some cheap bolt-on and the LS3 will haul the g8 into the low 12. Then consider that the g8 is cheaper than the SHO. I would take the g8 over the SHO as it's cheaper and has MUCH more potential.

I get sick of hearing about all these "fuel efficient" performance V6 and inline 4 engines. Stock, they make the power of a V8 but they also get the same gas mileage.

yeah ok and then you would accept gm's **** interior **** in the ass......

No dots, but everyone pronounced it AS IF there WERE dots.

Im not bashing the car, but its stupid what they call it.

I personally like it.