You could be selling Lexus cars from a dealership or junkers out of a trailer....car sales is a very rough profession.

55-60 hr weeks, fighting with greedy, scummy other salesmen, etc.

I would follow the advice of others on here in sales.

 

Average $64K per glass door. See the link in my previous post.

 

Yeah, you should. You're never going to be a great salesperson if you don't listen to people who are highly successful salespeople. If you're truly a good salesperson, $100k is nothing. Thats not gloating, thats reality. I have colleagues in my own field who make millions of dollars a year, I'm nowhere near that successful, but when they talk I listen. Good salespeople listen more than they talk, and salespeople are production and money motivated, so they're going to not be shy about being successful. If you think I'm "gloating" you're going to love the break room at a car dealership lol

If this is true:



And your target is $100k, you're not thinking big enough. I'm not trying to bust your ***** here, I'm really trying to help you.

As a GM and certainly a GSM for sure. Every good car salesperson I have ever known that has stayed in the car field has become a sales/general manager because thats where you can make good money without killing yourself. $100k isn't enough money anymore to work the kind of hours and make the personal sacrifices you need to make to be a career commission salesperson. If you're not topping out at $250k+ and you really are good and at or near the top of your peers in production you're in the wrong field.

In many ways, thats true...which is the point. Why sell something where you can make $50-500 depending on the deal instead of something where you can make $5,000-$50,000? Theres a point where if each deal is too huge a chunk of your income its really stressful because something going south impacts you so strongly, but if you want to make $10k a month, and you make an average of $500 per car (which is good), you have to sell 20 cars a month. That may not seem like a lot, but if you work ~22 days a month thats essentially a car a day...if you don't have that margin, its easily 30+ cars a month, even 40 cars per month. On many deals a car salesman may make as little as $50.

The other side of it too is the backend way the pay is structured based on your customer survey ratings, one 8/10 survey because the guy didn't like the bathrooms could cost you your bonus for the month and cut your income in half after you've earned it.

I'd LOVE to go sell cars, I'd be great at it and I love cars and have far more passion for cars than what I do sell, but you just can't make a good enough living selling cars...and if I were to be a GM or GSM I wouldn't be selling cars anymore.

It really doesn't matter at the level of Lexus, MB, BMW, etc. If we're talking RR, Bentley, Ferrari, Lambo etc thats another story and those guys can do very well, thats a very different business. Lexus will hire anybody who presents well.

 

Why would a luxury car dealer want to hire someone with no car sales experience over someone with a proven track record of selling cars and being #1 at his or her particular retail location?

 

They want to hire both. The reason is though that the salesperson with the track record is going to demand a higher split/load commission and the less experienced person is going to demand less. The salesperson with no experience will also just do what they say and they have no ego to deal with.

In the car business nowadays, the skill and ability of the salesperson is not as important as it once was. Consumers have access to so much information and buying services, etc...the salesman basically just meets and greets the customer and does a quick assessment and then hands them off to a manager who does the actual negotiating and closing. I buy a *lot* of cars, I buy a new car every year or two myself basically and I negotiate car deals for my friends and family for fun, so I'm involved in at least 4-5 car purchase negotiations a year, car salespeople have basically *no* role in the actual sales process today. And 90% of them have zero sales ability. There is also high turnover, and there's little repeat business anymore so salespeople's relationships don't really matter like they once did. Lexus is no different. In fact, I find MB and BMW salespeople in general are better than Lexus.

People with sales ability quickly tire of the low pay, brutal interactions with consumers and their management and move on to more lucrative sales. Many of them wind up in my business, and many people who cannot hack it in my business go to car sales. NOBODY who is successful in my field goes into the car business.

In my experience, most car salespeople make $40-50k, those that are consistent and successful. Elite car salespeople can make $100-120k. The key word is "elite".

 

Hard to imagine a luxury dealer hiring a salesperson with no car sales experience whatsoever. IMO, a high performing car salesperson with previous experience (even more of an asset with Toyota) would be the ideal candidate for a Lexus dealer. Those Toyota dealers that own a Lexus dealer would naturally promote up and within if they were smart.

But I guess opinions differ.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=lexus...wn&htivrt=jobs

Lexus Downtown has an immediate requirement for an experienced New Vehicle Sales Consultant to join our successful dealership in Toronto. In this key role, you will be responsible for the sale and lease of new Lexus jvehicles to existing or new guests, while ensuring a high level of customer satisfaction and retention. What we offer Competitive compensation package, comprehensive Group Health and Dental Benefits, employee purchase program, friendly and supportive culture and work environment work life balance commitment, ongoing training and development, educational assistance program, company sponsored social events, etc.`

Responsibilities

• Represent the Lexus Brand with the highest level of professionalism, knowledge and price.
• Provide an exceptional purchase experience that exceeds the expectations of our guests
• Work closely with our Sales and Financial Services Managers to offer and finalize attractive deals on new and pre-owned vehicles that benefit both the company and the guest
• Handle internet phone and live chat inquiries using a variety of tools such as social media, responding to guests, answering questions and setting up appointments
• Conduct professional product demonstrations and presentations, utilizing your well developed knowledge of product, available services, accessories, prices and key features
• Build and foster a network of loyal guests and referrals by effective follow up and management of leads Qualifications
• Previous automotive sales experience is a must. Solid knowledge of sales principles, methods, practices, and techniques
• Post-secondary diploma/degree in any discipline, or equivalent experience
• Proven sales track record
• Enthusiastic learner who maintains up to date knowledge about all products, services, finance options, accessories, competitive trends
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications
• Excellent Verbal and written communicator
• Effective negotiations skills. Goal oriented
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Available to work a flexible schedule including some evenings and every Saturday
• OMVIC certification in addition to a valid driver’s licence Lexus Downtown is an equal opportunity employer that welcomes all applicants including persons with disabilities, visible minorities, women and aboriginals. We thank you for your interest, however, only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted

 

Yep, thats a job description. I know several current Lexus salespeople that had zero prior car sales or any sales experience. It also obviously depends on the dealership, how competitive the marketplace is, etc.

All the car purchases I've been involved in, I can think of 2 car salespeople EVER who actually fit that description posted above, and I have never met a car salesperson who knows as much about any car I've ever looked at as I do.

To be fair, both of the people I'm thinking of were Lexus dealers. Sadly one of them passed away recently but I bought multiple cars from him.



That should read EVERY evening lol

If you're interested, submit an application, put zero car sales experience and see if they call you.

 

This is exactly how it's done. I sold cars for about 2 seconds years ago, fresh out of college I don't know what I was thinking lol. No deal happens without a manager approving it, and if they have to take over to close the deal, they will/do.

And that is definitely not worth the hours. Working 8:30-8-9PM 6 days a week will get old, very fast.

I imagine it's probably even rougher now. I don't buy cars often but the next one I buy will be all through email so I don't even have to go there (well, I probably would to drive the car and just act not interested).

I would never advise anyone to go into car sales, it's a nasty business.

 

I am sure there are those that thrive in the car business of sales. My guess is that someone with experience is more likely to thrive than those with none. I am also sure that some locations/brands help foster sales better than others.

 

True outside sales involves building and working a pipeline. Thats what its all about, maintain a database of clients and customers, get deep with them and be there when they need to buy something you sell. The way you know car salespeople aren't actual professional salespeople is they dont do that. They wait for people to walk into a store and try and sell them something, and when they leave without buying...they're gone and they're on to the next person who comes through the door. Thats why car salespeople with track records don't really matter to car dealerships, because the dealership is getting the customers to come through the door, their salespeople don't really do that. Their salespeople don't even try and close buyers at the dealership, I have found that usually today they introduce you to their manager before you leave and THEY try and close you.

All the cars I've bought, maybe once or twice has a car salesperson made ANY effort to keep in touch with me. VERY rarely does one even follow up when I visit a dealership, or follow up to see if I ever bought anything. When they DO follow up, its an email (quick sales tip, don't follow up over email) and its one attempt. Extremely rarely is the salesperson who sold me a car even still there at the dealer when I go back to replace that car in 2-3 years. The salesman who sold me the 2017 LS is gone, and he was not terrible.

If you are a good salesperson, and you're good at building a pipeline and working your database of potential customers and clients, you are wasted on car sales.

 

Of course, there are people who thrive at anything, but those people who are "thriving" selling cars are making a small % of what they could be making if they were selling something more lucrative is the point. Whenever I see anybody consider selling cars I always try and dissuade them.

 

I test drove a new LS500 earlier this year the salesperson has zero experience selling any cars, he used to own a bike shop. When I went to test drive a BMW this year my salesperson also had zero experience selling cars, he used to work at a bank. Not as hard to imagine as you think.

 

Oh yeah, there was this old guy, about the only human being there I could stomach interacting with, who sold the most cars. He showed me his paystub once...it's been so long but it was well into the $100ks. He also had a (nice) demo car, fuel and insurance paid. Guys like that have it made, but they're few and far between.

And nobody knows anything about the cars either; they're clearly not car enthusiasts. And that doesn't matter to them (the dealer) either.

 

I am sure it happens. I have always found salespersons with experience to be more polished and better at doing what they do. But that is just my opinion.

 

Well of course, that goes without saying.