10 Things Every Car Salesman Should Know

Whether you are just starting out in the car business or if you have been around since the good old days these are the 10 things every car salesman should know. Things have been changing in the car business very rapidly over the past few years, but these remain to hold true and probably will as long as we are selling cars.

1. Two People Meet and One Gets Sold.

When it comes to people and selling cars this is one thing that is always true. Somebody gets sold. Whether you sell your customer on why they should buy a car from you today or the customer sells you on why they are not buying a car today. What is it going to be? Are you going to sell your customer an automobile or are they going to sell you on one of their reasons for not buying now?

This is one thing to ask yourself every time you are with a customer and probably one of the most important things a car salesperson should know. Who is getting sold you or them?

2. They’re All Just Looking.

Of course they are all at the dealership to look at cars and nothing will happen until they meet a salesperson, but not just any salesperson it must be a car sales professional. They won’t tell you that they are here to buy a car they will tell that they are just looking and buying in the future, but if you are a REAL SALESMAN or SALESWOMAN you can sell them a car. Just looking is the car buyer’s first line of defense against the car salesman you can accept it or you can sell them a car, you decide.

3. Bad Mouthing Your Competitors Will Hurt More Than Help.

Don’t let yourself get caught in the trap of bad mouthing the competition because it will do more harm than good. You don’t know what they are thinking and you might even be insulting them without knowing it. Show them why you, your vehicle and your dealership is the best place to buy a car. I have seen many deals lost after a salesman talks trash about another dealership or brand. Your customer might be a regular customer at the dealer you are running into the ground for the past ten years and they just came by to see what you have to offer. Stay positive and show them what you have to offer and let them decide or you might be chasing them back to that competitor.

4. The Dumber the Better.

Use the selling system that you were trained to use to sell cars and don’t start thinking that you know a better way. This is the quickest way to see your sales drop. When you start leaving things out and short cutting the system you could be shooting yourself in the foot. Sales and training systems were designed to work throughout the dealership and be consistent. One step is made to work with the next and the one before. I will guarantee that you will lose deals when you start thinking you know better. Get back to basics and you will sell more cars.

5. There is Always More and F&I Will Prove It.

We have all had the customer that wouldn’t dump another dollar, but after they got done in F&I their payment went up 20, 30 or 40 dollars. There is always more, but when you believe that they won’t go another dollar think again. Maybe you didn’t show them a reason to spend more or provide enough value. Think about how bumping them another $100 will equal 20, 30 or 40 dollars in your pocket. If you don’t get it the F&I Department will.

6. Price Isn’t Everything.

Stop thinking that price is the only thing that will close the deal because that is not the case. Almost everyone is will to pay more when they see the value in something. Stop working the desk and start working the customer and provide more value. Many salespeople work the desk harder than they work the customer, but when you show them “What’s in it for Them” you provide more value and ultimately make more commission. This is something every car salesman should know whether they are a newbie or a veteran, but some times they forget.

7. “Be Backs” Won’t Be Back.

You may have heard this one a few hundred times, but that is because it is usually true so I will say it again: Be Backs won’t be back. They say they will, but what they are really saying is that my car salesman didn’t sell me on why I should buy a car from them and their dealership. They think there is more to be had somewhere else because you didn’t make them feel otherwise. They sound so sincere and they have numerous reasons, but that is their way of giving you the bad news. Granted they may visit another dealer and feel the same way about them, but if they meet a REAL CAR SALESMAN they will buy and a car and all the follow in the world won’t help.  Once they tell you that they will “Be Back” your only chance is that they visit another dealership and tell them the same thing and then you have a remote chance with follow up if you something more to offer.

8. Enthusiasm Sells Cars.

Even the grumpy old fart that buys a car is excited about buying a new car, but they certainly aren’t going to tell or show you that. Car buyers don’t want the salesman to think they are excited about the prospect of driving home in a new ride, but they are and enthusiasm will heighten that excitement and engage more of their emotions. Being positive and enthusiastic about them having a new vehicle will only help you sell more cars and increase your commission. When people use their emotions to purchase a vehicle you are the one that comes out on top. Enthusiasm is an emotion and your ticket to sales and logic is the quickest way to a short deal. Be enthusiastic and upbeat with your customers and you will sell more cars and make more money.

9. The Sales Manager Wants to Sell a Car as Badly as You Do.

You might think otherwise, but it really is true. The sales manager gets paid based on sales and gross and they really do want to sell cars. When the desk or sales manager won’t accept your deal it is because they feel there is more room, the customer can be bumped or that the next person will pay more for the same car. It’s not personal they want to sell cars just like you do.

10. Buyers are Liars.

I left this one for number ten because too many salespeople like to use this for an excuse when they don’t make deal, but it is true in many cases. Talk to enough car buyers both on and off the car lot and you will find out that the average consumer thinks that lying to the car salesman is acceptable part of the game. Even that person that never tells a lie thinks that it’s not a lie, but part of the car buying process. Again this is one of the few things that the customer uses as a defense because they don’t want to be taken advantage of by a car salesman. Every car salesman should know that this is how the customer thinks and understand that they need to break down this barrier to what the customer thinks is acceptable. This is also where body language, tone and facial expressions are important when selling cars for a living. Most people are honest unless they are buying a car so they will usually give themselves away with their facial expressions and eye movement. Accept this fact, but don’t use it as an excuse for not selling a car.

These 10 things every car salesman should know are basic, but true nonetheless. They are many other things that you should know when you are selling cars for a living, but these will get you started or remind those of you that may have forgotten some of them. If you have some things that car salespeople should know please add them in the comment section below and I will publish them when appropriate.

Later, Fresh Up on the Lot

KB

Back to Basics is thrown about the dealership all the time, but there is a lot of truth to it.

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