So I need your advice/opinion.

I'm getting out of the military next month and moving back to Iowa. I'm going to be a salesman at a Ford, Lincoln, Merc, Chevrolet, Cadillac Dealership. I know there are a few salesman on the forum and everyone here has bought a vehicle or two. Everyone should be able to give me some input. So here's my questions.

What kind of sales advice could you give to a new comer?

What would make you buy a car/ NOT buy a car from a certain salesman? ie.attitude,demeanor,arrogance?

Thanks in advance

 

should have stayed in for another tour and gone recruiting. if you can sell the military, new cars would be a breeze.

 

Product knowledge would be nice to see.

 

I thought about that but I would do 3yrs then have my last year, who knows where.

[/QUOTE]Product knowledge would be nice to see. .[/QUOTE]

Thats a good one. But im not gonna lie its difficult to learn all of the specs of all the vehicles out there!

 

Product knowledge would be nice to see. .[/QUOTE]

Thats a good one. But im not gonna lie its difficult to learn all of the specs of all the vehicles out there! [/QUOTE]

It's your job! Start reading. Know your product.

 

Personally, nothing pisses me off more than a "Salesperson", whom I know much more about the product,than him/her is trying to sell ! Consumers are incredibly knowlegeable about something that they want to purchase! Be an educated salesperson about the product that you are selling, be curteous, & treat potential customers the same way that you would want to be treated! Personally my best experience buying a vehicle was when I purchased my 2005 Cadillac CTS! Awesome sales & service!.............Good Luck!.....

 

You shouldn't learn every detail about every vehicle, but a good overview of most would be nice.

I took my truck to the dealer two weeks ago. While they were checking the computer, I took a lap around the lot. I was checking out a new Boss Mustang they had. I love messing with salesguys... but this one couldn't tell me if the Boss package was cosmetic, performance, or both. He sure knew the price tag, though.

Oh, and a little tip. If I'm on your lot, don't EVER say "So, what would you like your payments to be?" If I'm there to actually buy something, I'm buying a vehicle... not a loan.

Anyway, good luck in your future endeavors and thank you for your service!

 

Ok so Product knowledge=#1... got it. lol Ive been trying to read about 1 vehicle a night, but damn it gets boring reading about a chevy aveo!

so Sleepy, are you going to be needing a vehicle in a month?

 

My father-in-law retired from the army in the recruiting field and became a top Ford salesman.

His line, "What have I got to do to put you in this car today?"

 

Me, personally, I can't stand when salespeople throw out that line. Maybe it's just me.

 

What other line would you throw out?

 

I sure hope not. I have four of 'em as it is!


When the '05 Mustang convertibles hit the lots in the spring of '05, my wife and I were there bright and early. We picked out a nice shiny black GT. The salesguy was nice and all, but he wouldn't let us test drive it. He said that because it was a GT and brand new (it had 4 miles on the ticker), there was no way the Sales Manager would let us test drive it. We could either take it or leave it. So, after about 30 minutes of this run-around, the salesguy looked me dead in the eye and said exactly that, "What have I got to do to put you in this car today?"

I told him to PUT US IN THE DAMN CAR FOR A TEST DRIVE and we would be 90% certain to buy it right then and there.

Nope. They still wouldn't let us off the lot. After a few choice words for the sales manager we left.

Luckily for the dealership, there wasn't another vehicle like that one in a 500mi radius. Lucklily for my wife, she's pretty and knows how to "talk" me into doing things I don't necessarily want to do.

 

I would have told them, "No test ride, No green!" & walked out!........

 

You are standing there, he is standing there. He can't read your mind.
It seems like the right thing to say.

He doesn't know if you.....
have to have a payment no greater than $250.....
have to get $5,000 for your trade or you'll feel ripped of.....
have to have a different color than the one your staring at.....
have to see this thing in a four door with a luggage rack.....
have to get your wife/dad/whoever on the phone....
etc...etc...

He has to 'put you in the car' to do his job and get paid so he can feed his family.
How does one say it better?

 

Being in sales myself I can't stand it when someone tries to sell me. If people are interested they will buy it. Most people know what they want when they show up.

Your going to have to put up with everyone wanting a deal and doing the old price war with other dealerships.

Dealing with the general public can be very annoying. People are stupid.

Know your product and be helpful but not pushy.

Be yourself and figure out the type of sales person you are.

^ That being said you also need to know what kind of person is standing in front of you.
- Sometimes when I talk to people you feel like asking the person if they are alive because they have no emotion or give you nothing.
- Other people you can joke around with make it a little more laid back, not so serious.
- Some people make the process way too serious.

Don't use this line "What have I got to do to put you in this car today?"

For the record I am not a car salesmen but a salesmen none the less.