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Yes. I don't know if I have the real knack until I get "on the lot" and really face the dragon. BUT I have sold cars for friends and of course all those that I've ever owned. In the 15-20 cars of my life I've only ever bought one through a dealer.Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfpack34
It will be a challenge shutting my mouth, BUT then I've used that in the cars/deals i've made/sold in the last few years...profit makes a good motivator.
time to dig
Quote:
Originally Posted by WadePatton
Retired from the Nightclub biz after 25 years, moved to North Idaho in 2002 went from Ford Sales to Finance Manager (which is also part sales) to Semi-Retired now, but still keeping a few fingers in the Car Biz :) Got in the Car game because I looked at it as a no brainer way to make money and meet people in a new town :p it was all that, and more..
Car Sales is always on the Bottom 10 "least respected jobs" list and also on the Top 10 list of making money without a college degree :) Of course with so many degrees not worth the paper they are printed on in a job search in today's market, those facts might be even more in favor of moving steel :D
If you want to chat a bit fire me a pm and we can yak on the phone..
I'm a manufacturing/supply sales guy for 35 years, managed, trained and hired scores of salespeople, own my own company and have had a great time seeing the world and working with pros in many fascinating industries. I wouldn't trade my career for anything except being adopted by Bill Gates.
Take (or read) a highly rated professional selling course. "Born" salesmen, if they actually exist, rarely outperform trained sales professionals. Learn sales methodology and learn what personality types prosper in which areas of sales. Consider there are only a few types of sales including intangibles (insurance, finance), capital equipment (aircraft, mill machinery), engineered products (custom designed and manufactured equipment), repeat/supply products (work gloves, paint) and retail (counter work, personal selling). Each class of sale is best suited to a certain personality type. While I have done well with repeat/supply industrial products I would have suffered in retail or intangibles, for example. You might think you want to sell cars, for instance, but your gift may be understanding, explaining and selling custom suspension design/manufacturing services.
I do not totally agree, "if you can sell then you can sell". A qualified engineer might take a year to sell me a 1-atmosphere underwater divers habitat for use at 250-400 feet but he'd not likely have the skill (or interest) to sell me five $2000 suits with matching ties, belts, shoes, cuff links and shirts. Understanding this is how a professional selling class will help you position yourself quickly for the most fun and the most success. Professional selling, especially (for me, not necessarily you) to professional buyers, engineers or purchase agents, is great career! Good luck.
No charge. ;)
I'm a $h!tty salesman really :)
Part of my job is sales but generally I tend to tell the customer what they want /need and drop it.
Surprisingly, the jobs that I told the customers I wanted no more to do with end up buying from me :shrug:
I guess sometimes being an uncompromising d!@k works LOL
Please don't take this as advice :)
Mike
"least respected jobs" list....I was a bartender for 16 years.Quote:
Originally Posted by gssixgun
If it is something you like when you learn how to do it, you will find a way to do it well.
I am a 'salesman' so to speak.
For the last 35 years I've been a produce clerk and I take Great Pride in knowing my products; How to store/clean/cook and present them! (It helps that I love to cook)
I've always been honest with my customers. If they ask me about something I give them my honest opinion!
A few years ago the 'Produce Merchandiser' (from corporate) was in the store and was working a few feet away from me when a customer asked me about a product (which was just coming into season) and I told her "It's 'alright' but I think that if you wait a couple of weeks or so you'll like it a lot better". She thanked me and walked away without the product.
The Merchandiser came up to me and said: QUOTE: "What are you doing? We are trying to sell this stuff!"
I replied: "Tony, I don't Bull S**t my customers! Where I come from if I were to tell a customer something that wasn't True it would take about three days and the entire county would have heard about it and NO ONE WOULD TRUST ME"!
He just walked away.
Regardless of what someone is 'selling' honesty will be paid back 10 fold :tu
In my time in the car business I was a salesman, business development manager, finance manager, regional finance trainer, sales manager and general sales manager. If you want my perspective on the good the bad and the ugly of the car business PM me.
But there is no ugly. I cant say it enough..
If you really wanna help someone you can. Im not talkin about a dude with a sign on the corner, with a shaggy dog and swmbo lookin distressed...That guy makes bank. Tax free. Wade will sell cars/trucks/equipment or he wont. Its up to Wade. I read his OP and he has a good attitude and asked for guidance. He can interject ugly if he wants. If he does, then thats where it (and he) fails.
I am all about making a good man better, so he can take care of his family... not to rip him off.
thank you everybuddy for the input.
It is valued, and now i have two direct and personal contact offers that i will follow up on. I am certainly about doing as best as I can do today and learning how to do better tomorrow.
This week was fouled up by personal homestead issues (water) and now that that is solved (and i can wash mydangself and my clothes) I might shave my chin and get out there to meet some of these sales folks.
Now with car guys...I have the additional hurdle of explaining why i drive such a redneck/noisy/rusty (kickass) truck.