Study Shows Job Seekers Rank A Car Salesman Position At The Bottom Of Their List

With Millennials not wanting to be judged, going into a profession where you will be judged every time someone walks onto the lot, isn't a good match for their little snowflake hearts. Now factor in their laziness and you have another way they don't fit. In car sales you have to dedicate time and effort into making the money happen. The money can be great, but they don't want to work that hard. It's also quite easy to fail at being a car salesman and Millennials don't like doing anything where they could fail because their self-esteem is so fragile. Why Millennials? They are the majority seeking jobs as car sales staff. I've terminated interviews for applicants not being dressed appropriately, not knowing how to shake hands (the hand-bump thing is not allowed), not having command of proper English, having a timid personality and other foolishness. People do not want to sell car--bottom line-- because it's hard work and you cannot be timid.

There was a very successful salesman at the Toyota dealership our family has used for 2 decades. He sold cars for 25-30 years. He knew everyone in town. He has a nice house, a cottage and an old Triumph TR6 and has retired well. If you do it right and work hard at it can be a good life for you and your family.

While I am sure that as CANADIANCOMMENTS points out, some car salespeople can be honest, ethical, and a pleasure to work with, here in North America, there are good reasons why the term "car salesman" is synonymous with schmoozing, lying, spin, and pressuring prospects to close a deal. Most car shoppers would rather have a root canal than go through the car buying process.

I believe things are likely very different in car dealerships where:

- Salespeople have no quotas, and are not measured by number (or value) of deals closed. This would mean NOT measuring sales by salesperson. Why measure it if it's unimportant?

- Salespeople are not incentivised IN ANY WAY to close more deals.

And for the good folks who are about to chime in "Tesla salespeople don't work on commission," realize that's NOT the same as the two criteria I mention above.

Are there dealerships around today where these two criteria exist? Saturn is the only one I can think of that existed in the past.

Even though I am pretty good at haggling, I have spent up to 5-10 hours in the past getting the best price on cars (pitting dealerships against one another). Looking back at opportunity cost of time, I would have paid an extra $500 to not have to deal with that. I can promise you most millennials do not enjoy the traditional car dealership experience either.

Once autonomous cars hit the market, I think that sales model will quickly die off. That means fewer options for consumers and less variety on the road as the competition becomes which car-sharing app to use on your phone.

The Steve's business is typical socialist BS. No one makes an effort and everyone get paid. Fixed-price stores are not consumer friendly. The set a price. Take it or leave it. The dealer always makes the desired profit. The consumer always gets a raw deal.

Typical MDarringer extremist rhetoric: Only capable of seeing things in “black or white,” “us or them” terms, and needing strawmen to support his antagonist, contemptuous, and hateful views (e.g., Anyone not marching with a Tiki Torch is the enemy).

(Sigh)

Typical @TheSteve blustering. When Steve-O cannot prevail, he flails wildly and does drama. The fact is that he routinely spews socialist policies that are in every way detrimental to the livelihood of people.

MDarringer wrote “…The fact is that [Steve] routinely spews socialist policies that are in every way detrimental to the livelihood of people…”

I’d like to address that, so thank you, Matt, for the opportunity. Here are some of my admittedly socialist beliefs (**NOT** policies, as I am not a government official who has the power to transform my beliefs and values into policy):

- All Americans deserve a world-class education
- All Americans deserve the protection and services of world-class police
- All Americans deserve the protection of a world-class fire department
- All Americans deserve access to world-class libraries
- All Americans deserve access to world-class affordable health care (*I* see citizens’ health as a basic human right. I am NOT talking about gym memberships, boob-jobs ‘cuz you have AAs and you want Cs, etc.)

If caring for ALL Americans – especially those who need it the most, like the poor, the elderly, and the infirm – makes me “socialist,” then paint me “socialist.”

Note that in a purely Capitalist America, no American is entitled to the things I listed. Popular thinking decrees that aside from your constitutional rights, you should get only what you can afford; no more. That’s why there are good schools, and there are really bad ones (they’re in the poor districts, by the way, so tough cookies for being poor). That’s why some locales across America have limited 911 access, such as no services available after 11 PM or on weekends because there’s no budget for it. You guessed it: that’s only in poor areas.


Re MDarringer’s assertion “…in every way detrimental to the livelihood of people…”

That’s what wealthy politicians would like you to believe. A guy like me says it would help American society – ALL Americans – to place higher value on world-class public education, or to ensure that ALL Americans are healthy and well. That’s “socialism.” Pure Capitalism says “Hell no!...But we’ll pour more tax money into prosecuting attorneys, judges, the legal system, the prison system, parole officers, warrant officers, etc. to handle the extra crime. Profit is more important that the wellness of the American society.” (Hint: The US has about 1% of its own citizens in prison. That’s the highest per-capita rate on the planet; higher than Russia, China, North Korea, Iraq, Iran, etc. It’s about double the next highest nation.)

Both approaches provide livelihoods for people. One approach improves the quality of life for the American society as a whole, while the other favors only the financially comfortable and higher.

Oh that evil Steve! Trying to destroy America single-handedly, and hell-bent on decimating people’s livelihood. At least, in MDarringer’s mind :-/

Once autonomous cars hit the market, I think that sales model will quickly die off. That means fewer options for consumers and less variety on the road as the competition becomes which car-sharing app to use on your phone.

Good riddance. The current sales model is obsolete, and the guys still working in it our Dead Men walking.

It sure isn't an easy job but it is quite fulfilling when you are successful at it I must admit. I have been doing auto retail for a great dealership for about 10 years now and don't foresee me switching to management in a dealership anytime soon... I like helping my customers get what they want and being an expert on the product.

And a sales staff like that is pure gold. Good dealerships identify, support, and enhance such people to keep them around for a long time. Currently, our turn-over rate is very low. We don't have spots open in our stores for new people and the new ones we take in are immediately trained, under scrutiny, and are follow up with regular evaluation. Some find it invasive other realize we are mentoring them to be excellent.

Selling cars is easy. This business is easy if you are self motivated and can do things on your own with very little help/supervision. The pay is really good for the one's willing to put an effort to work. Management in my 13+ years have all been really easy to work with(including the "tough" one's) because they to like work with sales people that "go-getter's"

At my current store (Audi) we've hired millenials, and the most of them suck. Don't come in dressed when asking for an application. They think everything will be handed to them. People who built this country didn't have a handbook/training, they worked and learned on their own. So, I don't blame anyone who doesn't want to train someone who doesn't want to learn, or have the chops to work hard.

I understand customers are demanding, and thats the climate we must adapt to. If the person has a little thick skin, they'll be alright.

Selling cars is a skill, and as these cars get more advance, customers will still have a need to seek out a salesperson for assistance more than ever.

I personally look forward to spending 2-3 days straight to learn the new A8. I'm closing on my first home in a couple weeks because of this career choice.

For all you thinking the sales model is obsolete, think again.

AMEN

I do a LOT of training of new sales people and it is amazing what they have to be taught in mannerisms, etiquette, grooming, speech, and active listening. I'm very demanding of following procedures and protocols.