Anyone worked Car sales before?

[Stormspirit]

Deciding if i should start a career in car sales at a dealership like toyota, hyundai or Honda. Friend works at one right now and can refer me in but its in Surrey. Thought itd be a better career financial wise than my desk job. I am fluent in english/canto , but only a little mandarin. I already know of the long hours, more customers that are just test pilots and not serious in buying, takes years to develop referrals. Just seeing if theres other insights here before I make the switch.

Thanks.

[BoostedBB6]

It really depends on your personality and location.
Where I am its cut throat in sales (Toyota) but other places its not like that. However, working with a cheaper make means less $$ in your pocket per sale and each dealer seems to approach this differently.

IMO, unless you are great at kissing ass and trying to be very persuasive yet subtle at it, its not a great gig.

[SRTOY]

Do you like long hours and not having days off? do you like people wasting your time? then this is the perfect job for you. It was the worst job I've ever had. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. Try real estate if you're interested in a sales position.

[smoothie.]

You can have a great job as a car salesperson. There aren't many of these, though.

From my observations working in every job aside from sales in the car industry, it just takes a lot of great communications skills and patience to work your way up.

It's almost never pretty at the beginning, but at least try to start at a branded dealer to network.

[tiger_handheld]

Someone needs to come up with a brokerage for car sales. Like mortgage broker but Car Purchase broker.

OP maybe you can run with this... approach a car dealer n offer to sell cars. Advertise yourself. You only get paid if you can get the car! Negotiate a per car fee with the dealer.

My cut is 1% of gross fees

#youhearditherefirst.

[Galactic_Phantom]

^ Does that ever work? Selling cars always intrigued me and I feel like it is a now or never thing as I am still living at home. I am a student also but I can commit to working 4 or 5 days a week and I can spend most time at the dealership to hopefully meet potential customers. Could I be offered a position and only be paid when I make a sale?

[tiger_handheld]

Originally Posted by Galactic_Phantom

^ Does that ever work? Selling cars always intrigued me and I feel like it is a now or never thing as I am still living at home. I am a student also but I can commit to working 4 or 5 days a week and I can spend most time at the dealership to hopefully meet potential customers. Could I be offered a position and only be paid when I make a sale?

Go approach a dealership and find out.
They have nothing to lose.
You have nothing to lose.
Your customers get a better deal than walking into a dealership by themselves. Everyone wins!

[mr_chin]

Do car sellers get paid hourly as well? If they do, it's not that bad of a job since you'll be standing around doing nothing when it's not busy.

[jing]

At the dealer I used to work at years ago, the sales guys were guaranteed a base pay. To make anything beyond that, their commissions for the month would have to be greater than the agreed upon amount. For example, guaranteed pay of $2000 monthly. If they sold 3 cars that month and could only make $1600 in commission, they would still be paid $2000. Once their monthly sales hit the $2000 mark, the sky's the limit.

[Zedbra]

Originally Posted by mr_chin

Do car sellers get paid hourly as well? If they do, it's not that bad of a job since you'll be standing around doing nothing when it's not busy.

Originally Posted by jing

At the dealer I used to work at years ago, the sales guys were guaranteed a base pay. To make anything beyond that, their commissions for the month would have to be greater than the agreed upon amount. For example, guaranteed pay of $2000 monthly. If they sold 3 cars that month and could only make $1600 in commission, they would still be paid $2000. Once their monthly sales hit the $2000 mark, the sky's the limit.

The BC Employment Standards Act guarantees an employee minimum wage even IF an employee is commission based. There are some specific exclusions for car sales/commissioned sales, though: https://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb/igm...m-esa-s-16.htm

[quasi]

Originally Posted by BoostedBB6

It really depends on your personality and location.
Where I am its cut throat in sales (Toyota) but other places its not like that. However, working with a cheaper make means less $$ in your pocket per sale and each dealer seems to approach this differently.

IMO, unless you are great at kissing ass and trying to be very persuasive yet subtle at it, its not a great gig.

My favorite salesman to deal with, someone who leaves me alone unless I have a question, answers questions only when I ask them, doesn't inject any information I have not asked for and gives me a card well not trying to solicit my information. It's one of those don't call me I'll call you deals with me.

I'll go home, do some research and if I'm interested in the vehicle I'll call back and negotiate over the phone. I've done this with the last car, 2 trucks and motorcycles I've purchased. I can't stand pushy salesman or someone kissing my ass and telling me what I want to hear it comes off so fake.