Anyone work/worked in Carcraft?

[Demers]

Anyone out there who works in Carcraft or have recently?

Got interview for sales job there end of next week and wanted to know if anyone knew the company car choice or the allowance thats currently given.

I know I could just wait until I go but thought its worth an ask....

Thanks in advance

[noosh]

I don't work there or ever have done but have interviewed and met a small handful of guys who have on the sales floor. All along a very similar line and unless you come from a rather hardcore sales environment (The age old scene from Glenngary GlennRoss that has graced many a training room springs to mind) you may find it a struggle but I'd assume you'd know that if thats the role you are going for.

Don't know which department you taking an interview for but surely for most in the showroom its a case of whatever is spare on the lot?

[dowahdiddyman]

Never worked there but have bought of them, so if your going on the sales floor be prepared to spring like a tiger on anybody that walks through the door, stick to them like a leech and basically ignore all there pleas to go away will they look around.

[Countdown]

Carcraft have an extremely poor reputation locally. A colleague of mine bought a car which turned out to be clocked and they didn't want to know. AIUI their business model relies heavily on providing finance for people who can't get it elsewhere.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15655665

[Demers]

Thanks for your replies. Have looked into the company a bit more today and after about 20 mins all I could find is poor reviews didnt really think of looking of reviews of the company - now I have im reconsidering.

Cheers

[telecat]

Went once to the Leeds branch. They are supposed to leave you alone. I felt like a Zebra on the Savannah. Stalked by several salesmen. Car choice was very good but the prices were abysmal. Mostly too expensive barring a few that were there to pull in the punters.

[GreatGranny]

My wife dragged me into the Sheffield one a few years ago against my better judgement and we were pounced upon by a "Sales Excecutive" as soon as we entered the place who looked like he had walked into the place from the local sink estate via Primark for his very ill fitting suit.

When we said we were just browsing he said "ok I will leave you alone" but then proceeded to follow behind us around the entire site at a constant distance of 15 yards.

Must be a set distance they are told to leave during their training.

Most of their cars were high mileage and tatty, not forgetting overpriced with their very expensive finance seemingly the only method of purchasing said car ie. no cash price displayed!

Good luck :-)

[JonnyFive]

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Last few pages of that were abit about Carcraft..

[P4T]

If you are looking to get into car sales I would try and get a job at a small independant main dealership. Any of the PLC companies such as Carcraft, Arnold Clark and Pendragon are going to have the same sort of bad reviews and arn't going to be pleasurable places to work (if you are a free thinker that is)...

[ajb85]

'Car Shaft' is what they are affectionately known as in the trade.

[Dog Star]

Countdown said:

Carcraft have an extremely poor reputation locally. A colleague of mine bought a car which turned out to be clocked and they didn't want to know. AIUI their business model relies heavily on providing finance for people who can't get it elsewhere.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15655665

My ex next door neighbour used to be the sales manager for the original Rochdale branch - he moved down to the branch down Cheltenham way around 12 years ago.

I've also had two mates work there briefly.

They do have a model of selling stuff to people with crappy credit ratings and you are going to need to be really cut throat. My mates couldn't hack it.

My own personal impression is that they sell mediocre stock for top dollar.

[ajb85]

More often than not, the sales staff are kids who do not know one end of a car from the other! Very, very unprofessional.

[markmullen]

Demers said:

Thanks for your replies. Have looked into the company a bit more today and after about 20 mins all I could find is poor reviews didnt really think of looking of reviews of the company - now I have im reconsidering.

Cheers

You're going to work for them, not buy from them.

If you fancy the job, and can hack it, go for it.

[MK4 Slowride]

Dog Star said:

Countdown said:

Carcraft have an extremely poor reputation locally. A colleague of mine bought a car which turned out to be clocked and they didn't want to know. AIUI their business model relies heavily on providing finance for people who can't get it elsewhere.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15655665

My ex next door neighbour used to be the sales manager for the original Rochdale branch - he moved down to the branch down Cheltenham way around 12 years ago.

I've also had two mates work there briefly.

They do have a model of selling stuff to people with crappy credit ratings and you are going to need to be really cut throat. My mates couldn't hack it.

My own personal impression is that they sell mediocre stock for top dollar.

I know him quite well. Scotch guy, with grey hair and a very short fuse.

[Dog Star]

MK4 Slowride said:

I know him quite well. Scotch guy, with grey hair and a very short fuse.

Nah, that's not him. Him and his wife are both from Rochdale; for all I know he may no longer work there.

[Ari]

markmullen said:

Demers said:

Thanks for your replies. Have looked into the company a bit more today and after about 20 mins all I could find is poor reviews didnt really think of looking of reviews of the company - now I have im reconsidering.

Cheers

You're going to work for them, not buy from them.

If you fancy the job, and can hack it, go for it.

You'd take a sales job with a company that had a bad reputation for the way they handle customers? I sure wouldn't...

[Demers]

I think I will go. Nothing wrong with going and having a chat and check it out. There must be some good points there or they wouldnt of bee going so long. We will see I will report back.

[ajb85]

Research into the company is a must because you can bet your right arm they will ask what you know about Car Craft during the interview. 'Nothing but praise' is your answer, whilst doing your best trying to stop your nose from growing...

[markmullen]

Ari said:

You'd take a sales job with a company that had a bad reputation for the way they handle customers? I sure wouldn't...

Yep, if the conditions for me were right, eg pay, hours etc.

[mrmr96]

markmullen said:

Ari said:

You'd take a sales job with a company that had a bad reputation for the way they handle customers? I sure wouldn't...

Yep, if the conditions for me were right, eg pay, hours etc.

Would you consider whether it would impact your ability to get another job in the future? I.e. would a merc dealer want to employ someone from carcraft?
Also, if you've got any kind of conscience, then you'll want to do well by your customers, but that will see you earning less than the more ruthless staff in these kinds of places. You may also not get the support from your colleagues that you're used to. (E.g. a buyer has a problem, normally you'd expect your manager to sign off some kind of assistance but at a place like this he might tell you to tell them to get lost. If you have a conscience then this puts you in a difficult position.)

I think you either don't care or you've not thought it through.