Need to get a new job in the near future.I was in the motor trade from the early 70's to the early 90's and got out because of the very low basic wage, the August and January new car delivery spikes,the preponderence of the Leasing companies,the gradual erosion of new car margins (which I was paid on) in favour of retrospective bonuses (which I was not),and the raping of the sales dept. by the service dept. preparing used cars for sale.The previous credit crunch also meant that almost nobody could get credit.
Can anyone involved in the trade tell me if things have changed at all?I've heard that basic wages have improved but how is it these days trying to make a living selling cars?
I was thinking of a Citroen dealership as they do seem to be on the up,do some very economical/low CO2 cars and advertise well.
Any information would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Isisalar
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Pretty much unrecognisable from the '70s,and cheap cars,ie Cit C1 will pay very low commission based on the very low price.If you want to earn in the motor trade these days its all about add ons,ins/gap/fancy polish etc.
If you are any good as a sales person there are many better paid products/services to sell.
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So Citroen are on the up? Don't you mean uppers? They're fast following Fiat into oblivion.
Shoddy; flimsy; over-complex; unreliable and virtually given away to the fleets to get any sort of market penetration.
Three years old; ex-fleet and nobody wants them.
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Looks like Ford will be manufacturing in India. Maybe Indian Fords will be the future in the UK?
tinyurl.com/5a3pxh
;)
Edited by oilrag on 29/06/2008 at 16:06
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So instead of Dagenham Dustbins it will be Delhi Dustbins.
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A good recession proof job: - selling Bentley Continentals to people who can no longer afford that Rolls-Royce Phantom they'd been promising themself!
Edited by Sofa Spud on 29/06/2008 at 18:56
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Thats not a bad thought , but,another reason I got out of the trade(was selling expensive German cars)was that a lot of the customers were horrible lying arrogant rude pigs,much like their driving style.Thought a more bread and butter type of car customer might be a bit more pleasant to deal with.
Anyway, the reason I started this thread was for some advice.Anyone recommend any particular brands that are doing well.I never did like selling £20 worth of polish for £400 and calling it a car 'Protection system' or conning people into having PPP etc.
If cars are not good news at the moment what is?
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If cars are not good news at the moment what is?
Remembering '92; disposal auctions? Liquidation specialists? Debt collection?
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The major banks are all doom-pronouncing at the moment (e.g. see www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/20...l). Looks like we could be in for some really bad economic times. Probably selling expensive consumer goods, like cars, is not a job to go for - if you must then pick a brand known for small and economical motors.
OTOH training as a debt advisor might prove to be fruitful!
Edited by qxman {p} on 29/06/2008 at 19:30
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The real money if you are a salesman now is quite simple, either work your way up in the company and become sales director, but this means still towing the company line and pleasing/ ego massaging all above you.........................or............................GET OUT and go into the used market, (the proper one, not Gary & Steve's decent motors guv!) if you know your product and customer base here, and yes that means knowing every whim, market trend, matching right car to right person, ie:Used Nissan Micras are proven to be very reliable, frugal, and relatively cheap to buy and own, BUT...................... why don't you see Used Micra specialist's, fill a site up with these they must sell mustn't they? well no actually! ever wondered why all the pretty young things are driving KA,CLIO, PEUGEOT 206 etc: a lot less reliable in my opinion but they sell in bucket loads on the used market, the micra image is blue rinse brigade, wait for someone over 60 to arrive and then try to explain that 40,000 miles really isn't high!!!!!
The truth my friend is that that is just one car fact in amongst hundreds, used car dealing is hard, very hard, i was a New Car salesman at Ford many many years ago, to much politics even then, lousy commission even then! got out and went on my own (1984) never looked back, even now in this climate it is possible to earn fantastic money (and pay your tax and VAT) but you have to eat, drink and sleep it, so.........."Hows the motor trade now?" alot better
if you don't work for a Main Agent Dealership! Good luck, your gonna need it.
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Wife's cousin became sales manager at a Renault dealership. He eventually asked to be 'demoted' and returned to being a salesman. Said he earn't far more selling cars himself, than relying on the results of others.
He still seems to be making a decent living. Helped by the old lady, who comes in every twelve months to buy a new Clio. Pays list price and accepts the first p/x offer on her twelve month old car.
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Thanks for your input MLC,Looks like I'd better stick to being a handyman.At least I'm paid for what I do and have some job satisfaction.Anyone need any jobs doing in north London?
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Anyone need any jobs doing in north London?
There's a big football match coming up early August between FA Cup and Premiership Champions.
The procedes from all the half time burgers at ten quid a pop needs to be shifted to a bank.
I'm thinking three retro cars (FIAT 500's if BMW won't play ball), football crowd as cover and use the tube tunnels as an escape route as they'll probably be empty with all the drivers out on strike by then.
Now, all we need is a computer programmer who looks like Benny Hill...
What d'ya reckon ?
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I know this is not the true subject of this thread but I will chuck it in anyway. I am currently looking for a new car and have spoken to a number of salesmen. I am amazed at how many of them do not know even some of the basic details about their cars. At one dealer which will remain nameless, I had to tell him that an engine option he said would soon be available, had actually been available for about six months and when I asked another about standard equipment, he listed optional extras which I knew were standard on the car I was considering. If I can do my homework on a number of makes, surely they can do it on their own.
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I am amazed at how many of them do not know even some of the basic details about their cars
Actually they don't need to! Buyers like us are few and far between and most public can't differentiate between cars anyway. A good amount of people (especially women) judge cars only by looks and interior.
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"Actually they don't need to!" But they should. They are meant to be professionals. If times are quiet, then one thing to do is brush up on new and upcoming models/specs.
A good salesman will always know his product, or who to ask for an answer. With cars it's pretty simple as the mfr publishes the specs etc. on websites, brochures etc.
A good sales manager should make sure his/her team is up to speed, and perhaps send in the odd mystery shopper to double-check.
Bet they don't, though. No wonder they have a variable reputation.
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The motor trade is pretty quiet at the moment. We are seeing a downturn in service items, and an upturn in 'emergency' products. The garages back this up as well, which points to people tightening belts & only spending out when absolutely neccessary. I know this isn't car sales but parts sales, but I think it's a fair indicator of where the trade is at, at the moment.
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Quite a few furniture companies are in trouble - Land of Leather, CSC, Ilva (now in administration) which has been put down to the credit crunch and people cutting back on non-essential items. I would imagine it is only a matter of time before this feeds through to new and used car sales, with people waiting longer before changing and maybe not replacing a second car.
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We were discussing the present situation at one of my regular dealers. Long standing and good sales people.
The chaps there are doing reasonably well, as so many customers are trading in large and very often extremely desirable vehicles and buying new low ved economical motors.
Its not what you'd call busy, but they are ticking over nicely, in a strange way the ved changes have benefitted them, and me indirectly.
I wouldn't want to be working for a dealership that hasn't got a good range of economy motors to offer.
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It's going to get messy over the next 18 months as the recession bites and people lose their jobs. I predict three million unemployed by 2010/11.
As for salesmen not knowing their cars, well they don't really need to. The typical customer doesn't know any more than they do and wouldn't know the difference between a suspension bush and a raspberry bush.
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"so many customers are trading in large and very often extremely desirable vehicles and buying new low ved economical motor".
We will be joining the ranks of these on August 1st as OH is about to comit to a new Hyundai 110 and part-ex his Saab 9-5 estate. The mpg and low VED were significant, but the five year warranty swung it. Although, I think I saw today that the gov may delay the VED changes - not surprised, this will be a big vote loser in my view.
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so many customers are trading in large and very often extremely desirable vehicles and buying new low ved economical motor
Isn't the statement self contradicting - it means those vehicles are not desirable any more?
My guess is that in near future, more manufacturers will offer 5-yr warranty, otherwise their sales will be affected.
Edited by movilogo on 03/07/2008 at 15:22
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Isn't the statement self contradicting - it means those vehicles are not desirable any more?
I didn't think it was, but maybe, i had been awake a long time.
Another try, many customers are trading in their previous premium (often) brand luxury cars and going for more ved friendly and economic vehicles.
Hope thats not so contradictory.
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The typical customer doesn't know any more than they do and wouldn't know the difference between a suspension bush and a raspberry bush.
Yes, amazing isn't it, that some people can't work out that one grows raspberries & the other grows suspensions. Puh..
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I've worked at Mercedes in East Anglia for a number of years and the problem is more the method of payment (payplan). Regardless of the profit you make on a car sale Mercedes pay me fixed amounts per sale, so £50 for the car, £50 if you give less than £200 as a discount (tight), £50 for a 95% satisfaction score, £50 for a loan and £50 for pro shine which is £10 worth of polish for £400.
This year our payplan is dire and even if you hit all of the above but have NOT sold a certain amount of new and used combined then you lose the lot. So I earnt £1100 - my s***ty basic.
I worked 70 hours pw of which, the scumbags manage to get 2 voluntary hours a day out of you (so they don't get punished under employment law). For 70 hours I calculated I earnt £4.20per hour which is almost £2 under the minimum wage.
Mercedes expect you just to work longer hours if you're not hitting your target and they abuse the system where they make thousands of pounds profit from people like me and effectively leave me poverty stricken.
I sold a used £100,000 car last month with a trade in which made us £8000 and I made £50 only to be told I had failed my used car target and wouldn't get any bonus.
It is bordering on criminal.
And that is why I am about to resigned because I f***ING HATE MERCEDES
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Do McDonald's pay better?
What are your qualifications?
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Very enlightening post that ihatemercedes, thankyou for posting.
Makes grim reading, best of luck in the search for something else.
I'm hardly surprised mind though as the showroom model is unsustainable, my last visit to our local MB palace was an eye opener, 2 female receptionists, suits galore busy doing nothing, lovely tiles and acres of glass, showroom full of astonishingly ugly new MB's...only one thing missing, customers..in the time we were there they made a gross amount ot £16 from us for a part for my 17 year old MB's seat belt presenter.
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Having done quite a few test drives recently I noticed how many of the salesmen had been in their job only a few months, so there could be quite a lot of people in the same boat as above.
The honourable exception is Jewsons Skoda of Oxford where the same people have been there for the four years that I've dealt with them. My third Octavia is coming from there.
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