Help me talk a friend out of selling cars

[Brace1]

I read a pretty long article on Edmunds some time back about this guy that sold cars then wrote the article about it and people were saying it's pretty accurate. Maybe refer your friend to that, and see if it's up his alley.

[brondondolon]

Personally I dont think you should ever try talking some one out of doing something you have no experience in. I have a friend who tried talking me out of opening up my own detailing company and now I make more money then him and love what I do vs his 9-5...

[Tibryder]

I used to sell cars at one time, but I wasn't very good at it. I was selling, but not as many as the dealership wanted me to. The monthly goal where I worked was a minimum of 12 cars a month. Any less than that came out of my pay which meant I didn't have much of a paycheck. The dealership would start you off at a certain amount of money and it was up to you make up that much with your minimum sales goal. Anything above and beyond that was extra money that you made. After about three months of not hitting my goals, the manager suggested I might try my efforts elsewhere. The ironic thing was the customers I had dealt with were starting to come in and ask for me after I had left the dealership.

Even after he gets a customer signed up for the car, the customer will have to deal with the finance person. While all that's going on, your friend will have to coordinate with the detailers getting the car prepped and ready while he would have to personally go over the car to make sure everything is perfect for delivery. It's a lot of logistical work keeping it all together. If it's a busy day, that becomes a big challenge.

The commission on the new cars was fixed (about $200 to $500 per car depending on model) while used cars were much higher.

Bottom line: If your friend is good at selling, he'll do well. Yes, you do have to dedicate yourself to the extra hours of staying in touch with customers and following-up with them, but that's where you begin to build up your customer base. It will take a while, but if he has the talent and dedication he can make a good living. Everything that I've shared here is from a number of years ago and commissions and policies may have changed a lot since then. Your friend can only give it a try. Even I was able to do a hat trick at one time (sold 3 cars in one day) although that was more dumb luck than anything

[evopgt]

The dealer I work at .. I hear of sales making anywhere from 15,000 to 100,000 per year.. I think its like anything .. learn the game, play the game and you make $$$ .. Some of the guys need to take loans out in the winter to pay their bills .. but may gross 20 - 30,000 per month in the summer....