GREAT GREAT post. I was sucked in by the money early on... a good buddy's mom was a service advisor and he always told the tales of making TEN BUCKS AN HOUR MAN, just to wash cars... Boom - i was in! In a REAL small town in northwest Ontario and at 15 that was damn appealing... its now 10 years later and I'm still in it for the excitement.
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Why We Suck!
- Thread starter Alex Snyder
- Start date
- Jan 12, 2011
- 13
- 3
- First Name
- Dennis
I was in the Sign Business in Charlotte when I decided to look for a better life. My eye caught an ad for help wanted at the Dodge store on busy Independence Blvd. When interviewed I was sat down with the #1 sales person there, his name was General Washington (I'm so serious). He told me give the car business 90 days, and if I'm not making more money than I ever have, try something else. Well, now 14 years later (not all of that in the car business, but most), I find myself making more money than I ever have. So the General was on the money - and well that's the only reason I work in this business.
I found myself sitting in the service lounge at Ft Myers Toyota getting my Camry serviced on my only day off. Twenty two years in the restaurant business and I had finally arrived, Food and Beverage Director of a prestigious Country Club. Then how come I was still bussing tables, washing dishes, bartending and hosting?
I was sitting there reading the paper looking at the want ads, (remember them?) when it hit me. Everyone here seems happy, they all look like they have a purpose. Honestly I had no idea what kind of money car salespeople made.
I went to the receptionist, remember it was my day off, so I'm in shorts, probably a Van Halen t-shirt, sandals, you get the picture.
The receptionist looked at me like I had three heads when I asked for an application. She then went on to inform me that they did not hire sales people with out experience. So with that I went off filled out the app and brought it back the next day.
Well I got the interview with John Marazzi and ultimately the job, but it was one of the most incredible interviews ever. In fact it totally changed my perspective on interviewing people, and I have interviewed hundreds!
John asked me how many hours a week I worked, hah, 80 or so. He asked how much i made and I proudly exclaimed 68k! He said wow, that's a lot of hours for such a little amount of money.
I had no idea what to say, I was actually speechless. John then told that in order to make the transition to selling ca5rs from a 22 year comfort zone there would have to be a considerable amount of pain in what I was doing. He told me to go home and talk to my wife, think hard about it then let him know if I still wanted to make the change.
I did just that. I called him the next day, told him I was ready. I started training the following week. I poured myself into it. I practiced walk-arounds in my driveway at night with friends, family, neighbors. Penciled deals at my dinner table. The point was that there was no try. I had a family to feed. I sold 9 minis in April 2002. I finished that year with a higher year to date than I had ever made before. Seven months later I was promoted to the desk. (The Internet Department is another story.)
Sure this business is stressful at times, but I don’t recall ever smiling, laughing and pumping my fist in the air while bussing tables. Sales can be exhilarating!
If we suck, it’s because we have hired ourselves into that position. I have since interviewed mortgage brokers, realtors, etc. for sales positions and I have asked them the same question that John asked me.
It’s been kind of fun reliving that story and I even felt a bit self indulgent but what the hell. What we as managers need to do is maintain the integrity of Salesmanship. If we choose to let people who want to “Play cars” walk in and out of our showroom on a whim then we will have no choice but to settle for “Suck”
I was sitting there reading the paper looking at the want ads, (remember them?) when it hit me. Everyone here seems happy, they all look like they have a purpose. Honestly I had no idea what kind of money car salespeople made.
I went to the receptionist, remember it was my day off, so I'm in shorts, probably a Van Halen t-shirt, sandals, you get the picture.
The receptionist looked at me like I had three heads when I asked for an application. She then went on to inform me that they did not hire sales people with out experience. So with that I went off filled out the app and brought it back the next day.
Well I got the interview with John Marazzi and ultimately the job, but it was one of the most incredible interviews ever. In fact it totally changed my perspective on interviewing people, and I have interviewed hundreds!
John asked me how many hours a week I worked, hah, 80 or so. He asked how much i made and I proudly exclaimed 68k! He said wow, that's a lot of hours for such a little amount of money.
I had no idea what to say, I was actually speechless. John then told that in order to make the transition to selling ca5rs from a 22 year comfort zone there would have to be a considerable amount of pain in what I was doing. He told me to go home and talk to my wife, think hard about it then let him know if I still wanted to make the change.
I did just that. I called him the next day, told him I was ready. I started training the following week. I poured myself into it. I practiced walk-arounds in my driveway at night with friends, family, neighbors. Penciled deals at my dinner table. The point was that there was no try. I had a family to feed. I sold 9 minis in April 2002. I finished that year with a higher year to date than I had ever made before. Seven months later I was promoted to the desk. (The Internet Department is another story.)
Sure this business is stressful at times, but I don’t recall ever smiling, laughing and pumping my fist in the air while bussing tables. Sales can be exhilarating!
If we suck, it’s because we have hired ourselves into that position. I have since interviewed mortgage brokers, realtors, etc. for sales positions and I have asked them the same question that John asked me.
It’s been kind of fun reliving that story and I even felt a bit self indulgent but what the hell. What we as managers need to do is maintain the integrity of Salesmanship. If we choose to let people who want to “Play cars” walk in and out of our showroom on a whim then we will have no choice but to settle for “Suck”
@alex...just came back from the Airport and saw you response...YOU ARE FUNNY...my hat off to you and your organization. I am sure we'll see each other soon.
Volker Jaeckel
Volker Jaeckel
I would definately say that the majority of the people in this business got started just as a way to pay the bills until what they really wanted to do came along, and I am no different. I left Indiana at 18 yr old to attend the Walt Disney World college program. I had a blast, absolutely fell in love with Florida, and decided that after the semester was over that I wanted to stay in FL. Well, I had two weeks to find an appartment (and a job) or it was back to the Hoosier state for me. Where was I able to find a job on such short notice with absolutely no experience as an almost 19yr old girl? A car dealership! They hired me (must have been desperate, because looking back I know I was totally clueless) and I started the next week. I knew that being young and a female, that no one was going to take me seriously, so I had to work twice as hard and know twice as much as the other 30 sales guys (1 other female). Within three months I was selling 25 cars a month, and almost got fired one Saturday because; I had three deals working in three different offices and let one of the families go to lunch and come back later to sign-up. This is the only business in the world where you can almost get fired the same day you sell 4 cars. Needless to say, the biz kind of grew on me, and ten years later, I am the Internet Manager for four car dealerships in Southern Indiana. I am a lifer for sure!
Amanda - Great to see you here!
I have been exposed to the car business since I was a kid, benefiting the lovely traits from my parents. I sold the old beaters for my dad at the shop to the public. It eventually evolved from there to getting into the Repossession business and so forth evolving to Internet Sales etc. I didn't get suckered into the dealerships to make money, shoot you can make a decent living, very nice, off selling cars. I sold a ton. What driven me to sell more and stay with the dealerships is the passion of sales. Getting to the dealership to help with balloons, getting the lot looking good and making coffee for the boys. This is what made me successful at the dealership is the joy of working a deal and making a family, individual, happy with their purchase.
I did have to fight my battles and to stand my ground. The most popular term of hate, being snaked! Many have tried it however I stood my ground. Drove me a little bonkers and they were shocked how I kept track.... Hello I controlled the CRM / Kiosk etc & Internet. I knew everyone that walked through that door.
People make their own choices of complaining about how sales suck, not making money, on and on and on..... Get your A** out of huddle,drop your smoke, get back to basics and get your feet on the street! You make your decision of making money!
You can complain all day about how sales suck, Surely I am the last person that wants to hear it because you can make money and more sales, just get out there and do it.
I have been exposed to the car business since I was a kid, benefiting the lovely traits from my parents. I sold the old beaters for my dad at the shop to the public. It eventually evolved from there to getting into the Repossession business and so forth evolving to Internet Sales etc. I didn't get suckered into the dealerships to make money, shoot you can make a decent living, very nice, off selling cars. I sold a ton. What driven me to sell more and stay with the dealerships is the passion of sales. Getting to the dealership to help with balloons, getting the lot looking good and making coffee for the boys. This is what made me successful at the dealership is the joy of working a deal and making a family, individual, happy with their purchase.
I did have to fight my battles and to stand my ground. The most popular term of hate, being snaked! Many have tried it however I stood my ground. Drove me a little bonkers and they were shocked how I kept track.... Hello I controlled the CRM / Kiosk etc & Internet. I knew everyone that walked through that door.
People make their own choices of complaining about how sales suck, not making money, on and on and on..... Get your A** out of huddle,drop your smoke, get back to basics and get your feet on the street! You make your decision of making money!
You can complain all day about how sales suck, Surely I am the last person that wants to hear it because you can make money and more sales, just get out there and do it.
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