Would I want a job as a car salesman?!

[BUG4LIFE]

Hey guys,

Sorry if this is the wrong place for this kind of question!

I've just been thinking about jobs and what I can see myself doing in the future and have often wondered what it would be like to sell cars. Currently I'm a Graphic Designer [I work for an automotive marketing company], have been for 10 years, but if I was to decide to change career I think I could see myself working for a dealership...

I say think, cos a big part of me doubts it's as 'fun' as I imagine. Anyone else thought of becoming a car salesman and how of earth would I go about doing this with nowt experience?!

[LuS1fer]

there have been numerous threads on this over the years. I think you have to distinguish an interest in cars and an enthusiasm for them from shifting metal like Currys. I don't know of many people who tried it and gushed about it. It seems to be long hours and little benefit unless you set up as a dealer yourself.

[DanielSan]

I tried it and wouldn't do it again.

[GG89]

My mate started a few months back, the hours are tragic. I wouldn't.

[soxboy]

The car salesman thread on here has plenty of postings, it appears to give a good insight into the job and in particular in recent posts has given an indication of the wages to be expected (ie not a lot given the hours worked).

[Steamer]

GG89 said:

My mate started a few months back, the hours are tragic. I wouldn't.

Define Tragic?

I'm guessing 6 days a week is expected. 7 if you are on a roll.

Its still only going to 8.30 ish to 6.30 with the occasional 'house visit' to a client isnt it? Can't see many 100 hour weeks being the norm.

Edited by Steamer on Monday 14th January 13:38

[mini1380cc]

It is a job that will dominate your life. You also have to consider being outcast by the PH society as there is a large percentage on here that have some belief that car salesmen/dealers are thiefs/liars/ general scum.


I don't share that belief and it still amazes me with some of the crap that is spouted on here when it comes to this profession.

[Alfahorn]

DanielSan said:

I tried it and wouldn't do it again.

+ 1

12 months was as much as I could stand. At least I was selling Alfa for that 12 months.

[After_Shock]

Steamer said:

Define Tragic?

To some people anything above 30hours is tragic.

I have a mate who thinks hes seriously hard done by as has to work Mon-Thurs and Friday is called 'good will Friday' i.e you show good will if you go in, winds me up no end. If he worked one week in car sales im convinced hed end up in hospital as all he does is sleep and then go to work for the short hours he does!

[GG89]

Steamer said:

GG89 said:

My mate started a few months back, the hours are tragic. I wouldn't.

Define Tragic?

I'm guessing 6 days a week is expected. 7 if you are on a role.

Its still only going to 8.30 ish to 6.30 with the occasional 'house visit' to a client isnt it? Can't see many 100 hour weeks being the norm.

6 Days a week with Monday off, 8 til 6:30 except Sunday I think it's 5:30 but is often in later than 6:30.

[BUG4LIFE]

Lol, glad I'm just 'thinking' about it

Reckon I'll have a read of the Salesman thread. I don't mind hard work but it's got to be enjoyable too.

[HTP99]

Steamer said:

GG89 said:

My mate started a few months back, the hours are tragic. I wouldn't.

Define Tragic?

I'm guessing 6 days a week is expected. 7 if you are on a role.

Its still only going to 8.30 ish to 6.30 with the occasional 'house visit' to a client isnt it? Can't see many 100 hour weeks being the norm.

I know a lot of people say the hours are awful however I've never encountered any sales person doing truly shocking hours, the only ones that want to work all hours tend to be the ones that have no family life, ie are single so they have nothing better to do or they are just trying to cover their arses as their admin is shockingly bad, on your day off you do get the feeling that you are missing out however it's just something you have to deal with and get over, you need a rest to recharge.

I work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and every third Sunday, Thursday is my scheduled mid week day off, bank holidays are shared and sometimes I may do two Sundays in a row if there are others on holidays, so in that respect you have to be flexible.

Hours at my place are 8:45 start and we shut at 18:30 during the week, we have a rota where one of us stays up till 18:30 during the week and the others go at 18:00. Satursay is 9:00-18:00, again one stays till 18:00 and the rest go at 17:30, on a rota and Sunday are 10:00-16:00.

[daemon]

BUG4LIFE said:

Lol, glad I'm just 'thinking' about it

Reckon I'll have a read of the Salesman thread. I don't mind hard work but it's got to be enjoyable too.

I think its rarely enjoyable these days. Very target driven and process driven.

Realistically its 'selling', so take away the fact that its cars and you like cars and plug in something else and see how you feel about it. What about selling suites of furniture in a furniture shop? Or selling fridges in a Currys store?

To get in at all you'll be selling hum drum stuff to boring people, so imagine selling nissan micras and see if you can imagine that being fun or enjoyable.

[DanielSan]

Alfahorn said:

DanielSan said:

I tried it and wouldn't do it again.

+ 1

12 months was as much as I could stand. At least I was selling Alfa for that 12 months.

I managed 4, went to do commercial vehicle sales for a few months after that. Wouldn't do either again, the money is good in theory but it's hugely dependant on where you work.

[BRMMA]

Do they earn good money? i know this will be dependant on performance but say your standard good sales person pretty much meeting targets

[GG89]

BRMMA said:

Do they earn good money? i know this will be dependant on performance but say your standard good sales person pretty much meeting targets

According to some in the cars salesmen thread there is seriously decent money to be made.

[daemon]

BRMMA said:

Do they earn good money? i know this will be dependant on performance but say your standard good sales person pretty much meeting targets

Average probably about £30K. Now obviously all the sales people on here are Powerfully Built Company Directors and may say otherwise, but your average is around that.

A bad salesman wont earn enough to survive on and will either be managed out of resign.

The exceptional are probably on £40K - £50K ++++

[daemon]

GG89 said:

BRMMA said:

Do they earn good money? i know this will be dependant on performance but say your standard good sales person pretty much meeting targets

According to some in the cars salesmen thread there is seriously decent money to be made.

Exceptions rather than the rule. And there are exceptions in any field of industry.

Its always amusing that every salesman knows 'someone' who earned 'six figures' last year....

[Countdown]

I suppose one (big) perk of the job is access to lots of different cars

[Frimley111R]

I was the marketing manager for a regional group of dealerships a few years ago. The problem is that you soon see cars as ££ and little else. It all becomes about how many sales are done, not in the remotest sense a great place for genuine car lovers. There were fleeting moments where you could enjoy some of the cars, but they were few and far between. Also, I was bored with the range of cars we sold (I had e new car every 2 months) after a short while but couldn't drive anything else.

If you fancy it why not see if you can get some p/t work at weekends in a dealership? Or just go it alone