I've been in auto sales for 6 months now. Military right after high school, then 10 years in restaurant kitchens, 13 in staffing. Thought I'd finish in staffing, thought I'd spend 40 years loving that business. The company finally had to sell recently and I was devastated as are many of us through out our great country. First time in all my working life, now at 41 yrs old, I'd been "looking for work". Well the very first thing that came across my table I've always leaped in and been successful before so, this time as car sales person, I expect I should be able to do the same.
Letting you, as a fellow 360 person, know that I'm looking for opportunities to sell automobiles is one way, or is it? I'm in Indianapolis area and am a big Chevrolet Camaro person. So when I became unemployed and selling for Hubler Chevrolet came up, I was excited. I've spent 6 short months learning the business. I want to become the best possible partner for a customer as I can. I am very aware of the "stereotypism" that comes along with the profession. Being as we all have to buy our car from "somebody", what does it take in "your" eyes, "your" mind, "your" opinion to be that person?? Dealerships are in business like any other company for many reasons. One of them pretty much "has" to be : to make a profit. That being said, knowing as a consumer, I want the best deal, and understand the company I buy from must stay in business; What do you consider when you think of "am I buying the right car?" How does the "right" salesperson, partner, stay with me through out the process if/when I switch vehicles considered. Reason I'm drawing this out so far is that I've spent minutes, hours, days, sometimes even weeks helping a person shop; only to settle on a vehicle, negotiate down to virtually no profit for the dealer and then find that the consumer, a friend from the past sometimes even; bought the next day elsewhere. Often settling for something far less than what they could have gotten had we changed gears "together" and found the same purchase on our property. For instance, John shopped with me for 3 weeks, settled on something too far out of his price range. We switched to a vehicle in next catagory down and it came time to buy. I realized at the table that he'd wanted an unrealistic amount off on the vehicle although I'd been clear on what we could sell the car for up til figure fiddling with the manager time. Seeing that this might happen, two days prior, I offered to switch to used and mentioned he could get many different types cars than what we wanted, he replied "no, I want NEW". Well when he realized that there isn't the amount possible off on the car he wanted he went the next day and bought something that cost him considerably more than he could have purchased it through me. He'd changed his standards in order to buy, but had changed who he bought it from. It cost me from earning a living and although he spent what he wanted to spend, he bought less than what he should have and worse for both of us, he lost the great personal service that comes for years through a person like myself. I'm always happy for a "shopper" when they get to their purchase and follow through and become a new "owner", wether I'm involved or not. How does one set up the goal of "going through to the finish line together" with "you".
I'm looking for the building trust; put everything on the table comments and have thought these items through and worked on this level of commitment both myself and with shoppers. But, to "you" the reader who doesn't know the person that you wind up on the lot with, how do you determine that this person is "qualified" as a person to help you through the process and switch him (me) from a typical sales person to "the person that I'm going to find the right car WITH" rather than, "well, we tried this" but since I don't get it now and from him I'll change my standards and that means I switch sales person too".
"What does it take to earn your business"??? That's a stereo type remark from someone in this business in the heat of negotiation to "sell right now". Rather than that...."What does it take to assure you that this person you may buy from is the person that you Will buy from and entice you to remain with me through the entire process rather than there be no devotion to a person who works so hard for you just to lose you due to a mood swing.???????
Ok, it looks as if my first attempt at blog post may be a drawn out complaint but it isn't/wasn't my intention, my intention is/was to ask for help in building the relationship in a foolproof way so that I can be the successful salesman that I am destined to be and that the consumer can get the best deal, regardless of vehicle by sticking with their partner, guide, helper.
Thanks for reading.
Marty Hoober
317-250-5656
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