[jayely1]

I really have no idea what I want to do after I graduate in a couple years and I was just curious if any of you know anything about being a car sales manager?
Im sure you have to start out as a salesman for a few years? Any advice would be great. Thanks...

[fatjoez]

met a car sales manager once
he showed me the 135i took me for a test drive
i asked him what he drove
said currently he drove an m5
but ocassionaly he'd drive x5 1 series 3 series 7 series
that was "the beauty of working for bmw for 10 years"

he looked like he was enjoying himself
air conditioned office
relaxed setup

seems an okay job
get in there

[ybbiz34]

It all depends on where you are the sales manager.

[JayKay335i]

Also depends on whether you want a 9-5 or or not.

[BTM]

It seems like a decent job, but nothing great. For example, a guy I work with's father in law is a BMW sales manager at a pretty prestigious dealership. I've talked to him a few times when I was looking for my car, seemed like a cool relaxed guy. We have also recently put in a new A/C and I was on job support, he had an above average house but it was wayyy out in the sticks (I see you are from IL, you know where Elgin is?) There was also an X3 parked in the driveway but I'm assuming it was his wife's as he was at work - I don't know what he drives. While obviously seeing someone's house and wife's car can't tell a complete story, take that anecdote for what it's worth. I'd say it's a "decent" job, but low probability of making you rich.

[Dre01SS]

Can you deal with starting from '0' every month? The pressure of meeting sales goals, and managing your team to perform up to standards? Can you deal with longer-variable hours?

It's a sales job, and sometimes you're seen as being only as good as your last month. It's high-pressure, but the payout can be good...

[CIGARGUY]

I spent 12 years as a sales manager in the car business and can't be thankful enough that I'm out. I trained countless sales people who always said they wanted to be a manager someday. I told them all to avoid it. The ones who didn't listen now understand why I gave that advice. It's a high stress job with super long hours. There were many days I went in at 8am and didn't leave until 2am the next morning, and had to be back at 8am again. No matter how well you did, it's never good enough. The ONLY upside is typically the pay. It should be a six-figure job if it's a somewhat busy dealership/franchise. The problem is that you are making good money but have no time to enjoy it. Be prepared to work most nights and pretty much every weekend. Now, there are some exceptions, I'm sure, but 95% of the dealerships will provide the same experience I had. Take it from someone who saw it the same way you see it now...run Forest, run!!!

[infinitekidM2C]

One downside i see is that the car salespeople and managers i've known HAVE to work weekends...there's no gettin around it.

[jayely1]

hmmm, thanks guys. weekends would suck, how long to you usually have to sell cars before becoming a manager?
You ruined the job I thought i wanted lol.

[khaye1]

hours do suck and it's usually a revolving door with managers and sales people...but pay is awesome and another good thing is some dealerships provide cars to their sales manager, new one every 5000 miles.

[jhv]

Originally Posted by CIGARGUY

I spent 12 years as a sales manager in the car business and can't be thankful enough that I'm out. I trained countless sales people who always said they wanted to be a manager someday. I told them all to avoid it. The ones who didn't listen now understand why I gave that advice. It's a high stress job with super long hours. There were many days I went in at 8am and didn't leave until 2am the next morning, and had to be back at 8am again. No matter how well you did, it's never good enough. The ONLY upside is typically the pay. It should be a six-figure job if it's a somewhat busy dealership/franchise. The problem is that you are making good money but have no time to enjoy it. Be prepared to work most nights and pretty much every weekend. Now, there are some exceptions, I'm sure, but 95% of the dealerships will provide the same experience I had. Take it from someone who saw it the same way you see it now...run Forest, run!!!

what car company did you work for?

[CIGARGUY]

Originally Posted by jh valley

what car company did you work for?

Many of these were multiple franchises at the same dealership, so it's not like I job hopped, but I have been a manager for:

Toyota
Honda
Saab
Porsche
Land Rover
Hyundai
Isuzu
Mazda
Lincoln-Mercury
Jaguar
Audi

[infinitekidM2C]

Originally Posted by jayely1

hmmm, thanks guys. weekends would suck, how long to you usually have to sell cars before becoming a manager?
You ruined the job I thought i wanted lol.

Hey dont let me stop you..im just saying based upon a few conversations....maybe the weekends are more flexible eslewhere...second opinions??

[jayely1]

How long do you think you have to sell cars before you could get a sales manager position?

[Quick6EF]

You're young, give it a try!!

It's not like you will need to do it until you retire.

[CIGARGUY]

Originally Posted by jayely1

How long do you think you have to sell cars before you could get a sales manager position?

I trained salespeople that were offered management positions after their first year, and there are some I trained 10 years ago that have never gotten the offer and never will.

The first thing you will have to do is prove yourself. Over and over again. You will need to consistently be in the top 10% of the sales force evey month. Even then, many dealerships don't want to promote their best salespeople because then they won't have you on the floor selling anymore. Fair? No. Truth? Yes. The business is not like any other where your performance will get attention and justify a promotion. Also, even when I was managing a sales force of 50 people there were only 3 sales managers. The opportunities are slim.

The biggest problem is that you get sucked in by the money and your spending/lifestyle will adjust to that and you get into a situation where you can't afford to make less money. Once you've had your fill of the industry and would kill to get out (trust me, that day will come), you don't have enough time off to look for another job. Not only that, but there is such a stigma surrounding car sales that many people won't even consider hiring you (ask me how I know).

Please, take my advice and do yourself a favor. Try anything else and make the car business a last resort. Cars have always been my passion. Being in the business does not fan the flames. It will change you in ways you never thought possible. Everyone I know that has left the business, and the ones I know still in it, are completely jaded because of the customers.

[jayely1]

Thanks for the advice.