Be a car sales man?

Okay so I work in social services. I have been doing substance abuse and mental health counseling for the past 15 years. I'm 39 years old, have a wife that stays at home, and I have a young family (3 kids, all under the age of 7). I like the fact that I work 40 hrs a week and be with them at night and on weekends..

BUT... this job is not cutting it money-wise. My real passion is sales. My background in psychology, extremely driven nature, and communication skills would be a good asset to be a car salesman. I heard you can make over six figures if you are competitive, work hard, and build your name base. Then again I know car salesman work at least 60 hours a week, and that it can consume your whole life.

The job I'm at now doing counseling has great insurance for my family, and I am helping a lot of people. The selfish part of me wants more money, and the fact that I'd get a rush doing it. Hell, even selling things on eBay for the Tundra I want at the end of the year gives me a rush! Also I know if I did well in car sales, and made good money, I could retire at a certain age. With my current job, I will be working until my mind fails.

Any car salesman here that can say it's a good idea or not? I feel I could sell a ketchup popsickle to a woman in white gloves (Tommy Boy ref)

 

How well can you lie by omission?

 

Would you be a salesman for Chevy?..just curios..

 

The car sales guys I have known that did well had to work 6 days a week and 10-12 hour days. Also had to work a lot of Holidays.

They would do well, get use to the money and not be able to make a change if they wanted to.

 

I would not lie, that's part of the problem. I would want to be an honest car salesman, Or is that an oxymoron?

 

At one point break it down like this.

Is the extra money(if you have good numbers) worth it you not being with ur family?

I don’t make a bunch but I love my M-F 8-5 and love having the time with my 3 kids. But that’s just my .02

 

Try carmax part time in the evening to see if you really want it. I did it while I was in school and enjoyed it

 

Not sure if the high salaries are still there... Thanks to the internet, most car buyers look online and go to a dealership with a specific vehicle in mind. The last few times which i purchased a vehicle, i may have only lasted 2 hours at the most. I just went to test drive the one which interested me and make sure the numbers didn't change. From there, i went straight to F and I. Several salesmen stated that the margins aren't there anymore, low margins=low commissions.

 

What about real estate? I think that could be more lucrative and not as time consuming?

 

Don't do it. Only way you'll make anywhere near that kind of money is 6 days a week at 10-12 hour days, most if not all holidays, constantly calling up past customers searching for a sale and hoping for repeat business from past customers and referrals. You'll also have to break in past the guys that have been there for years and usually get "first crack" as lot walk ons. Not gonna make a whole lotta money at first. Pay is also not predictable as you're at the mercy of people coming in and buying from you. Some month's you may close to nothing and some you may pull in $12k.....not consistent enough for a single income household IMO...but that is just me. Saw it first hand for about 4 months while I worked internet sales/lot hand/whatever else the GM told me to do at a dealership while I was trying to get another IT job (my field). My advice, don't do it.

 

I thought about that. Wouldn't be hard to get a real estate license. I got that on back burner if I choose not to go into car sales.

 

Being with my family is more important, but my life is boring. I feel like a servant now. Selling cars would be a nice and new fresh start. Plus it would be a rush!

 

You can't get back the time away from your kids. I love my 2 daughters and work takes a backseat to them..... I know it's not possible for everyone and part of loving them is providing for them. When they were really young I worked everyday. We moved into a new house and after a few months my oldest, about 5 at the time, asked, "when's daddy gonna live with us?" Holy Shit!!! That question changed everything.

 

+1. I feel real estate agents are more honest than car salesmen. Plus once you know the market you can do flippers and make bank

 

There are better sales jobs out there. Hospital beds, tools, manufacturing parts etc... I know people that sell the above and do well.

Social work never pays. Escape while you can.

 

Hand Modeling is where its at. Small hours and big$$$. Very stressful, but worth it IMO!

 

You only have to lie if you're selling used cars or new Fords.

 

How about a national company that needs local or regional sales people to manage their accounts?

 

I have an interview next Monday. I know a guy whose going to see if they'll be willing to let me sell cars on the weeknights and Saturdays. We'll see how it goes! If not I'll do the hand modeling thing. I keep thinking about the Seinfeld episode where George is a man model and wears gloves all the time. LOL

 

You don't have to lie, just KNOW YOUR SHIT.. some car salesman know less about the things in the vehicle than me when I go buy cars (new or used). Lame. If you know your shit and answer their questions/ concerns that should work. At least to someone who REALLY is in the market.

Off course, there's always those tire kickers that won't buy regardless.

 

The guys I know who retire early, retire well funded and had plenty of time was insurance guys. I hate cold sales calls ( I sold to food service at one time), something you'd have to do but might want to think about that.

 

Imho don’t get into sales. There’s a lot of money in it but there’s much more to life than money, and sales will take everything else from you unless you can balance everything in your life perfectly, and it’s really hard to do that and stay happy.

Based off of what you’ve said is important to you I would focus on spending quality time with your family with the great schedule you have right now. Maybe figure out a way to earn more side money or cut expenses to fill other needs.

You will probably have a more fulfilling and happy life outside of sales. With that said, if you think you can handle spinning plates like a circus act, the money is there for you my friend!

Edit; I’ve been in car sales for 8 years now and look 20 years older.

 

I work in car sales. I'd gladly discuss. PM me if you want. But if you value your family time, car sales is not the career move.

 

My son-in-law is a sales manager at Toyota. He makes good money, but works long, long hours. He never gets Saturday off. The sales people who work for him make decent money, but also work long and hard for it. It takes time to build up a client base and a few years before the money comes.

 

A friend is about to retire from her car sales job. She said it's just not worth it. Every time she consistently hits the sales quotas, they move the bar, and commissions are fluid. The dealer and manufacturer incentives are also moving targets. A constant turnover at the managerial level makes it hard to know what will happen day to day. Every new sales manager wants to bring in his favorites from his previous dealership, and that means culling the existing herd at the new dealer. Good sales are shifted to a favored salesman, repeat clients are sniped, desks are rearranged (if they want you out your either by the AC vent freezing or by the west window sweating, customers complain and someone else gets the sale), and vacations and days off dwindle. If you decide to make the shift, always keep your eye out for the opportunity to move up. The dealerships see you as an easily replaceable commodity and feel they owe you nothing. Be ready to treat them the same way.

 

Or just blatantly straight-up.

 

OK I went in the opposite direction. I was making more money but I was never home. Sometimes working 16 hour days. Never home for the holidays with no health insurance or retirement. I felt my family slipping away. Didn’t know if we were going to make it. Missing school events and pretty much not knowing anything that was going on because I was always gone. I dialed it down and got a 630 to 3 PM job. Great health insurance and retirement. On paper I make more money but I really made more before because some of it was under the table. I miss the rush of doing what I did. I was able to eat whatever I wanted, because no doubt I was going to burn it off. Best shape of my life! But I wouldn’t trade what I’m doing now from what I used to do. My family and I are so much closer. I can now pick my daughter up from school, go to doctors appointments, school events etc. me and the Mrs. are much closer as well. We hang out every night now.

Now when I think of making more money, instead of thinking about my old lifestyle hustling. I think about a lateral movement to another company that has more job opportunity within where I may be able to move up or keep myself interested by learning another craft or trade. Right now I am a plumber for my local school district. I’m looking to get into the sanitation department so that my retirement will transfer over. They have so many different jobs that it sounds like I can stay interested for the rest of my career.

You sound like a smart guy, have you thought of something other than Sales that you can use your skills for? Maybe you could just pick up Saturdays working somewhere for a few extra dollars.

I have considered maybe working Friday and Saturday nights as a bar back/security guard. A few extra dollars in tips as well as a little bit of a rush to go along with it. The wife is not too keen on it LOL

 

I'm in the field- Toyota dealership in Canada. Been in sales for most of my adult life. You can do very well being honest and upfront. Just be genuine and people appreciate that. The hours do suck however. Weekends are your play ground, so as long as you're ok with some sacrifices, especially in the early days then giver a go. The big issue with sales, is perception. "everyone" dislikes us, until they get to know you. So have some thick skin and ignore the haters if you know when you look in the mirror who you are.

Even in this thread there is the typical poison that just perpetuates the stereo type... "All sales people are liars... All Customers... yadda yadda"

If you want to know more, feel free to send a PM my way, I'd be more than happy to share my own experiences, answer what I can and be sure to keep in mind that no two experiences will be identical.

 

You know what's funny, I took that StrengthsFingers a few years ago and I have WOO!
My top 5 were: Connectedness, Belief, Strategic, Restorative, and Woo.

Maybe it's a sign!