Salesman goes into the back for ages to talk to his manager
Discussion
The amount of people on this talking billy big b
ks is ridiculous.
I've sold cars for years and only had 1 person walk out, that was when I informed them there part ex wasn't filled with gold like they expected.
If you walk out because someone's keeping you for a few minutes you look like a cock, no exceptions. Realise there are probably 2-3 other people dealing at the same time, they all have px to value, finance deals to stack ect.
ks is ridiculous. I've sold cars for years and only had 1 person walk out, that was when I informed them there part ex wasn't filled with gold like they expected.
If you walk out because someone's keeping you for a few minutes you look like a cock, no exceptions. Realise there are probably 2-3 other people dealing at the same time, they all have px to value, finance deals to stack ect.
ATG said:
daemon said:
No, because the business may take a quarterly view or a yearly view to profits, whereas salesmen are paid monthly?
Seems fairly logical to me?
I don't think you've really thought this through. Seems fairly logical to me?
Obviously as a team the sales staff are trying to match or better the business target, however they are all payed commision on individual targets. So if the business needs to shift 50 units a month and there are 5 salesmen that means 10 units each a month. But if on the last day of the month 1 salesman is on 9 deals and needs 1 more deal to reach his 10 he would probably sell that last car at what ever he could to make his target if left to his own devices.
Reaching the 10 deal target could mean the difference between 7% commision on 9 deals or 10% commision on 10 deals or 12% if you get to 15 for example, which may equate to £500 or more difference in his pay packet.
The business may have already met or even exceeded its 50 unit target and therefore the sales manager is not interested in doing another deal at little profit just so the salesman short of target can reach his target. Thats why in many dealerships everything goes through the sales manager. Obviously at month/quarter/year end the sales manager may well authorise all kinds of crazy deals to ensure that the business target is met/exceeded, because thats what his commision structure is based on.
Reward the sakes people on their contribution to the business. Not hard. Don't set them a target that encourages them to try to discount a product below the level that makes sense to the business. Not hard. The are other businesses out there that don't make these basic mistakes. There are other businesses out there that don't have to employ someone to stop their sales force from trying to undercut their own business.
ATG said:
Reward the sakes people on their contribution to the business. Not hard. Don't set them a target that encourages them to try to discount a product below the level that makes sense to the business. Not hard. The are other businesses out there that don't make these basic mistakes. There are other businesses out there that don't have to employ someone to stop their sales force from trying to undercut their own business.
Other businesses don't have the ridiculous pricing / discount / rebate / bonus / incentive etc etc structure that car retailers have to cope with.The "level that makes sense" probably moves about all over the place.
There's also the problem that car salespeople are not really sales people by any proper definition of the word "sales", so their employers don't trust them.
oldnbold said:
Obviously as a team the sales staff are trying to match or better the business target, however they are all payed commision on individual targets. So if the business needs to shift 50 units a month and there are 5 salesmen that means 10 units each a month. But if on the last day of the month 1 salesman is on 9 deals and needs 1 more deal to reach his 10 he would probably sell that last car at what ever he could to make his target if left to his own devices.
In my previous job we got paid at a rate up to 5 cars, another rate from 6-10 and another rate for any over 10. However, you had to sell 2 used cars to move from the base level. I got to the last day of the month once having sold 11 cars but only one used! I managed to get an 05 Mustang (NOT my usual sort of thing) away on the last day. The commission on the 'stang was only a few hundred bucks but the catch up on the previous 6 was nearly $4k........ATG said:
Reward the sakes people on their contribution to the business. Not hard. Don't set them a target that encourages them to try to discount a product below the level that makes sense to the business. Not hard. The are other businesses out there that don't make these basic mistakes. There are other businesses out there that don't have to employ someone to stop their sales force from trying to undercut their own business.
No car dealer in the world does what you describe. I'm not sure anyone here has suggested that they do?shake n bake said:
The amount of people on this talking billy big bks is ridiculous.
I've sold cars for years and only had 1 person walk out, that was when I informed them there part ex wasn't filled with gold like they expected.
If you walk out because someone's keeping you for a few minutes you look like a cock, no exceptions. Realise there are probably 2-3 other people dealing at the same time, they all have px to value, finance deals to stack ect.
What ? No the cocks are the people that kept them waiting 20 minutes with no contact.Too long.You sound as though you dont like your customers and I get that because they are now too clued up.Whatever you sell, thats google for you,the internet killed Home Improvementdirect sales for exampleks is ridiculous. I've sold cars for years and only had 1 person walk out, that was when I informed them there part ex wasn't filled with gold like they expected.
If you walk out because someone's keeping you for a few minutes you look like a cock, no exceptions. Realise there are probably 2-3 other people dealing at the same time, they all have px to value, finance deals to stack ect.
ATG said:
Reward the sakes people on their contribution to the business. Not hard. Don't set them a target that encourages them to try to discount a product below the level that makes sense to the business. Not hard. The are other businesses out there that don't make these basic mistakes. There are other businesses out there that don't have to employ someone to stop their sales force from trying to undercut their own business.
Even when i was in a dealership 25 years ago it didnt operate like that. There was a price by which we couldnt go. End of. As my boss then said - anyone can sell cars, making money at it is the skillfull bit. Your view is actually quite contrary to what we hear on here quite often too - "oh i went in and offered X for the car and the salesman refused to sell it to me" - thats because salesmen know what price they can sell to.
Every day isnt a firesale - you're taught that on day one.
smashy said:
What ? No the cocks are the people that kept them waiting 20 minutes with no contact.Too long.You sound as though you dont like your customers and I get that because they are now too clued up.Whatever you sell, thats google for you,the internet killed Home Improvementdirect sales for example
Not sure how you got that from my post, I'm glad that people are knowledgable as it cuts out multiple test drives. The buyer still has got to buy a car from somewhere though, can't see many used cars being bought blind off the net, tesco tried it and failed horribly. I tried buying a Renault Espace from my local dealer, after a few calls enquiring if he had any news yet the receptionist rather abruptly told me he would ring when he found a car. About 6weeks later I walked into the dealer to register my newly bought car from broadspeed. The service manager was very interested to know why I'd not bought from them but from a broker half way up the country. I told him that I'd tried to buy but that the salesman wasn't interested, he never did phone me back. The dealer manager then came out and asked me what had happened,he was not happy about losing a sale.
Butter Face said:
To be frank I couldn't give two monkeys how the salesman acted, when I'm buying something I'm in it for me. I want it at my price and on my terms, I'll listen to any waffle that someone wants to give me and see how close they can get to what I want.
If the deal isn't happening, say thanks and go. Walking out at any point before actually getting to the hard figures at the end just seems incredibly odd....
Yes but this is PH... if you don't get instant satisfaction and 30% off list price then you walk out, immediately drive next door and buy a Ferrari for 1/4 of the price then pop back to give the original salesman the bird before coming online and boasting about it. If the deal isn't happening, say thanks and go. Walking out at any point before actually getting to the hard figures at the end just seems incredibly odd....
wildcat45 said:
Ah, " Pirioreeee, we're your friends in the trade....." As the Metro Radio advert used to go.
30 years ago my Dad was in the market for a new car. He'd had 3 series and having left his job with an old school golden handshake, fancied a new car to turn up to his new job in.
We ran an old Horizon too and he was using it to tool around in. On the day he decided to go to see Priory's Beemers it was in for a service and the little local garage he used lent him a knackered bright yellow Polski Fiat.
We turned up at Priory on Queen Alex Road West in this car. Totally ignored in the showroom until my Dad - a well spoken professional guy who'd been around the world a bit asked "anyone interested in selling a car?" The sneering salesman's response was something like, "You couldn't afford what
We sell mate."
Oh dear. As my old man pointed out to the now borderline tearful salesman at the end of the bkng, it was the term "mate" that really annoyed him. As he then pointed out to some sort of manager who had arrived on scene to placate the situation, there are ways to qualify and brush off a customer, and that wasn't one of them.
Priory were part of the Co-Op at the time and I think my Dad was big pals with some bloke who ran that. He did make a huge fuss, it was directed specifically at this salesman.
We bought a Volvo.
A shame as when we walked into that showroom we had the precise spec we wanted sorted out. A 323i with TRX wheels, Electric front windows, manual roof, green tinted glass and he'd even agreed to my suggestion of a rear spoiler. The only decision was going to be the colour. Mum wanted Weiss, I wanted Hennarot, an my my Dad wanted Lachssilber,.
The salesman's lost sale was to my annoyance as I'd already told everyone at school we were getting a new Beemer.
"Well you'll just have to in-tell them." I was told.
Wanted a very specific model of BMW, ended up with a Volvo (not even the right make!)?30 years ago my Dad was in the market for a new car. He'd had 3 series and having left his job with an old school golden handshake, fancied a new car to turn up to his new job in.
We ran an old Horizon too and he was using it to tool around in. On the day he decided to go to see Priory's Beemers it was in for a service and the little local garage he used lent him a knackered bright yellow Polski Fiat.
We turned up at Priory on Queen Alex Road West in this car. Totally ignored in the showroom until my Dad - a well spoken professional guy who'd been around the world a bit asked "anyone interested in selling a car?" The sneering salesman's response was something like, "You couldn't afford what
We sell mate."
Oh dear. As my old man pointed out to the now borderline tearful salesman at the end of the b
kng, it was the term "mate" that really annoyed him. As he then pointed out to some sort of manager who had arrived on scene to placate the situation, there are ways to qualify and brush off a customer, and that wasn't one of them. Priory were part of the Co-Op at the time and I think my Dad was big pals with some bloke who ran that. He did make a huge fuss, it was directed specifically at this salesman.
We bought a Volvo.
A shame as when we walked into that showroom we had the precise spec we wanted sorted out. A 323i with TRX wheels, Electric front windows, manual roof, green tinted glass and he'd even agreed to my suggestion of a rear spoiler. The only decision was going to be the colour. Mum wanted Weiss, I wanted Hennarot, an my my Dad wanted Lachssilber,.
The salesman's lost sale was to my annoyance as I'd already told everyone at school we were getting a new Beemer.
"Well you'll just have to in-tell them." I was told.
Edited by wildcat45 on Friday 12th February 23:21
Who's come out of this one worse..?
Talking of loosing a sale, I had a run in with the for sale sign installer for a local estate agents last Friday, apparently I was parked in a loading space, I was but didn't see the sign and after he had struggled to park unsuccessfully to squeeze in the space behind me he gave me a bit of abuse then parked one car in front on double yellows, he informed me that he had taken my picture and if he got a ticket then I would be paying it. I phoned the estate agents and cancelled the valuation and probable sales contract, they where booked in for the beginning of March, That bit of unnecessary abuse probably cost his company £8000. Yes I was at fault for parking where I shouldn't have but he could had said nothing and just carried on, don't shout and threaten people in the street when your driving a van with the companies name on it.
last time I was looking for a new motor was in a Subaru garage got the whole have to talk to the boss st. Wasn't even negotiating much at the time.
He didnt get the sale.
If you need to talk to the boss to make a sale you are not a salesman your a gofer.
Bought a car from a dealer that didnt use this tired old bullst selling technique.
As for Tesla I look forward to direct sales, competition doesnt do much for price when the dealership network has it all tied up, competition will come from between manufacturers, who at the moment are all cosy, not for long.
t. Wasn't even negotiating much at the time.He didnt get the sale.
If you need to talk to the boss to make a sale you are not a salesman your a gofer.
Bought a car from a dealer that didnt use this tired old bulls
t selling technique.As for Tesla I look forward to direct sales, competition doesnt do much for price when the dealership network has it all tied up, competition will come from between manufacturers, who at the moment are all cosy, not for long.
RobDickinson said:
last time I was looking for a new motor was in a Subaru garage got the whole have to talk to the boss st. Wasn't even negotiating much at the time.
He didnt get the sale.
If you need to talk to the boss to make a sale you are not a salesman your a gofer.
Bought a car from a dealer that didnt use this tired old bullst selling technique.
As for Tesla I look forward to direct sales, competition doesnt do much for price when the dealership network has it all tied up, competition will come from between manufacturers, who at the moment are all cosy, not for long.
So, let me get this right. The one single, sole reason you didn't buy that car is because at one point during your meeting he said 'I've got to and speak to my boss' and did so for maybe a couple of minutes (although I'm sure you will say it was like 4 hours)?t. Wasn't even negotiating much at the time.He didnt get the sale.
If you need to talk to the boss to make a sale you are not a salesman your a gofer.
Bought a car from a dealer that didnt use this tired old bulls
t selling technique.As for Tesla I look forward to direct sales, competition doesnt do much for price when the dealership network has it all tied up, competition will come from between manufacturers, who at the moment are all cosy, not for long.
That's it? I expect you then said 'young man, I will not be treated like a fool!' And got up and left.
That one part of the entire saws process put you off so much you didn't buy the car, that's what you're saying right? And you weren't even at the negotiating stage?
Because, let's be honest. That's just ridiculous. He may have been new, he may have been unsure on a specific part of the particular model you were looking at and wanted to check something, he may have bought 'hmm, actually wasn't there a new offer that Subaru said is coming tomorrow with an extra £3000 off? I better check before I open my mouth'.
So was it? What did you buy instead? Did you spend the same kind of money on another car?
I've been selling cars for a few years and work with 4 other people, between us we sell 1000+ cars a year and never, never has someone walked just because we've nipped off to see the manager. Or maybe they have and our customers (remember, 1000+ sales every year, so we speak to quite a few more who don't buy) just don't have the balls to say they're not buying solely because we had to speak to the boss for a few minutes.
Butter Face said:
I've been selling cars for a few years and work with 4 other people, between us we sell 1000+ cars a year and never, never has someone walked just because we've nipped off to see the manager. Or maybe they have and our customers (remember, 1000+ sales every year, so we speak to quite a few more who don't buy) just don't have the balls to say they're not buying solely because we had to speak to the boss for a few minutes.
I think most of us don't have a problem with a salesman getting a deal checked/authorised - 5 minutes - no problem. The big kicker was the 20 minute wait the OP experienced. You as the salesman aren't seeing this situation from the most important view - that of your customer. To your customer a 1 minute wait will feel like 5 minutes of sitting there awkwardly. If there is a queue and a 20 minute wait then that salesman should have gone back to the customer and say he was waiting for the boss to get back to him, move onto finance discussions, move onto GAP/warranty/service plans/paint pro etc or simply get the customer a coffee. But then again you will get the odd salesman who will pop out back for a smoke and to check the footie scores on his mobile.Me? If the salesman leaves to authorise a deal, I go back to sitting in the car in the showroom and playing with it (Phnarr...)
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