Motorbike sales

Author
Discussion

ThrottleBod

Original Poster:

258 posts

148 months

Monday 9th July 2018
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Wondering if anyone might have any experience or advice to give...

Been a car mechanic since I left school 15 years ago and I’m at the point where it’s making me miserable as I really don’t want to work on cars anymore.

There is an advert for the local BMW dealer for a motorbike sales person. I love bikes and also BMW’s. It says no sales experience is needed although I do have some office experience. Only trouble is that it’s quite a pay cut for the basic. Could it lead anywhere? I can’t decide what to do. Any advice greatfully received.

So

26,271 posts

221 months

Tuesday 10th July 2018
quotequote all
ThrottleBod said:
Wondering if anyone might have any experience or advice to give...

Been a car mechanic since I left school 15 years ago and I’m at the point where it’s making me miserable as I really don’t want to work on cars anymore.

There is an advert for the local BMW dealer for a motorbike sales person. I love bikes and also BMW’s. It says no sales experience is needed although I do have some office experience. Only trouble is that it’s quite a pay cut for the basic. Could it lead anywhere? I can’t decide what to do. Any advice greatfully received.
I used to be a car mechanic and later in life moved into sales (not cars). I can understand why spannering is making you unhappy - it's a horrible job.

If you're enthusiastic about the job and you have the right sort of personality you might get offered it. That's not to say that sales is any sort of picnic.

The negatives:

You need to be nice to people all of the time. Even the assholes.
You'll have a target to hit. Miss it too often and you'll be leaving.
Punters are horrible and they will lie, cheat and mess you around.
You will be the "face" of the business, take a lot of the grief and not necessarily be the best paid.
Earnings can vary.
You need to be able to take rejection.

The positives:

You'll generally be treated better than a mechanic.
If you make a mistake no one usually dies or has an engine blow up.
You work from a warm office.
It's exciting.
You can earn more.
It can be fulfilling helping people get the product they want and seeing them happy with it.
You get to dress more smartly.
You sweat less.
Your hands stay clean.


ThrottleBod

Original Poster:

258 posts

148 months

Tuesday 10th July 2018
quotequote all
Thanks for the reply, gives me something to think about. It’s hard to leave the only thing you’ve ever known. I’m the sort of person that if I think about something too much I’ll never do it but I know I would be enthusiastic about it.

The main concern is as you said, not meeting targets and being out the door! Out of interest if you don’t mind, how did you make the move out and what did you go into?

jonah35

3,940 posts

156 months

Tuesday 10th July 2018
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Sales can be very pressuring as there isn’t much you can do if there are no customers yet sales targets roll on and in and can be on your mind and then you get let go.

Pothole

34,367 posts

281 months

Tuesday 10th July 2018
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You'll be living on the basic between the end of August and sometime after Easter.

So

26,271 posts

221 months

Tuesday 10th July 2018
quotequote all
ThrottleBod said:
Thanks for the reply, gives me something to think about. It’s hard to leave the only thing you’ve ever known. I’m the sort of person that if I think about something too much I’ll never do it but I know I would be enthusiastic about it.

The main concern is as you said, not meeting targets and being out the door! Out of interest if you don’t mind, how did you make the move out and what did you go into?
I actually went from being a mechanic to being a BT engineer. Then I went from there to telecoms sales.

Ex technicians often make very good sales people because they know the technical stuff and have credibility.

Don’t worry about being sacked before having a chance to hit target. They will be investing in you and won’t willingly write it off. Usually those who fail are lazy, inept or both. Grafters just going through a bad patch get retained.

Also, once you’ve been in post for a while you will hopefully find repeat customers asking for you personally. You also get to pick up the prospect lists of those leaving the business. Furthermore management will trust you and give you leads that need working properly.

ThrottleBod

Original Poster:

258 posts

148 months

Tuesday 10th July 2018
quotequote all
I guess there will be pros and cons like any other job. Be interested to see if I’d get an interview and would be a good experience if I did.

My only concern would be if they contacted my employer or can they only do that once they’ve offered you a job?

So

26,271 posts

221 months

Tuesday 10th July 2018
quotequote all
ThrottleBod said:
I guess there will be pros and cons like any other job. Be interested to see if I’d get an interview and would be a good experience if I did.

My only concern would be if they contacted my employer or can they only do that once they’ve offered you a job?
They must ask your permission but if you say no it may look like there is something to hide. I would probably respond, "It's absolutely fine, but I would prefer you did it after you've made a job offer". Then they have the confidence that you have nothing to hide, and you know you've a job to go to".


rog007

5,748 posts

223 months

Saturday 14th July 2018
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How do you know you’ll enjoy sales? Have you researched, shadowed, got on any basic courses to find out?

Worst thing would be to get the job then hate it after 6 weeks.

Is it really your dream job?

If not, what is?

ThrottleBod

Original Poster:

258 posts

148 months

Saturday 14th July 2018
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To be honest I don’t know much about sales or have any experience.

I just really want to get out of a workshop environment. I’ve spent the last couple of years doing half and half where I work now and this has confirmed it.

There are other jobs in the service department dealing with customers which I think I’d go for first. Just turned 30 so have a long time left to go and concerned I’ll get stuck forever if I don’t make a change soon.

Wacky Racer

38,099 posts

246 months

Saturday 14th July 2018
quotequote all
ThrottleBod said:
I just really want to get out of a workshop environment.
How about being an AA or RAC patrolman?

Just a thought.





ThrottleBod

Original Poster:

258 posts

148 months

Saturday 14th July 2018
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It’s more the fact of not wanting to work on cars anymore, I’ve had enough of it. I’d like to just work on my own cars again for enjoyment.

I know I can talk to customers and talk them through any questions they may have as I feel I have enough knowledge? Plus I’m passionate about BMW’s and always have been.

milner993

1,293 posts

161 months

Saturday 11th August 2018
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Sorry to boycott your thread but I'm interested to hear from anyone who works as a motorbike sales person, I would like to know what the average annual income would be I currently work in the motor trade as a main dealer car sales man and wondered if the pay was similar and what happens about a company vehicle, do you get the use of a bike or do you need to provide your own transportation?

Kizmiaz

230 posts

87 months

Friday 17th August 2018
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I had a couple of wonderful years selling bikes at a family run, well established dealer (Gloucester). I had to move away for family reasons and tried to replicate what I had before. I am now selling trucks. The money was ok'ish and I had a company bike but my brilliant Manager let me take different stuff home as a reward for good results ( new Gixer 1000's, ZZR 1400's, Z1000's...pretty much any thing. I had paid for track days (thanks Suzuki) and got to talk bikes all day with like minded people.
I applied to a couple of main dealers when I moved and soon realised they can be just as st as car main dealers to work in (meetings/mystery shops/dhead managers etc..).
Good luck .

milner993

1,293 posts

161 months

Monday 20th August 2018
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Kizmiaz said:
I am now selling trucks.
How you getting on with Truck sales did you need a HGV licence for that I like the idea of commercial as its mainly Monday to Friday from I can see?

Kizmiaz

230 posts

87 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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It's pick up trucks rather than HGVs. I don't have a licence to drive the big stuff. Loving it actually, I have a pathological hatred of all main
dealers and their process driven bks so I made sure I went to an independent dealer. In my opinion the crash in new car sales and the
difficulties these gin palaces are experiencing is self inflicted karma.