The 5 Most Frightening Things About Becoming a Car Salesman

Who would want to become a car salesman with how the media and the public talk about them? Why would someone want to enter a constantly criticized, scrutinized, and belittled profession? Well, that’s what people have to look forward to if they consider selling cars for a living, so why bother? Good question, but the car sales profession needs good people who want to make a career out of selling cars for a living. Despite all the negative press and the general attitude about being a car salesman, many people would like to sell cars professionally. But there are these five scary things about the profession.

Those of us already immersed in the car sales industry understand how things work, but to help those considering the profession, you may take a closer look at these five frightening things about becoming a car salesperson. Before you jump in with both feet, you should know how things are when you sign up for one of the most despicable, disgraceful, and scandalous careers a person can have—scared yet?

5 Scary Things About Becoming a Car Salesman

Commission: One of the scariest things about becoming a car salesman is working on a commission basis. Regardless of how much research you do, you will never know exactly how things work until a dealership hires you and you start selling some cars. Of course, you can ask for the details of the commission structure during your interview. However, you won’t have the big picture until you start. That is when you will learn all the details of your car sales pay plan. Practically every car dealership has a different pay plan.

The details include the percentage of profit, the dealership pack, bonuses, and spiffs. However, this can vary significantly from dealer to dealer; now, if that is not enough to make you think twice about your new profession, the next scary thing will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up if you have never been paid on a commission basis.

Regular Pay Checks:

If you came from a vocation that paid you an hourly wage or a salary you received weekly or biweekly, you are in for a severe change. Typically, you will be paid once a week if you sold some cars the previous week. However, if you didn’t sell any cars in the past week, you won’t receive a paycheck on Friday unless your dealership pays a draw or a small weekly fixed amount, but once again, every dealership has a different pay plan.

Becoming a car salesman is very different from most careers, but it can be very lucrative. The last thing you want to do when you think about selling cars for a living is to focus on not getting a weekly paycheck. If you sell cars regularly, which is your job, the paychecks will come, and you will wonder why you weren’t a car salesperson years ago. Take a look at how much car salespeople get paid.

Car Salesman Hours: You won’t have to go too far to find someone who was once a car salesperson. They will often say that they left the profession because of the hours. They won’t tell you that they couldn’t sell cars or that they didn’t make a genuine commitment to become a car salesman. They will only complain about the hours and won’t mention their inability to sell cars professionally.

Of course, you will be working more than forty hours a week. But you will also have the opportunity to earn a six-figure income. I don’t know about you, but if I had to work for a living, I would instead work a few more hours per week and make much more money than most 40-hour-per-week jobs. To know the truth, look at the car salesman hours survey here.

Can You Do It? Can you Become a Car Salesperson?

Reputation and Deceive Customers: Are you wondering if you must become a liar, thief, and cheat to become a car salesman? If you are asking that question, I have an excellent used car. If you are considering becoming a car salesman, I can assume you are not concerned about the general public’s talk about car salespeople. Remember the old saying, “One bad apple spoils it for the whole bunch”? That saying certainly applies here because there are plenty of bad apples in the car business. Fortunately, there are fewer and fewer all the time. The bad apples are getting weeded out, and the retail car industry has become filled with professionals.

To be a car salesman, there is no need to lie, cheat, or steal. Since the Internet has become a significant part of the car business, the customer often knows more than the salesperson. Of course, some thick skin would be beneficial when selling cars professionally. The nature of the car business does not require you to be immoral, dishonest, or corrupt to become a car salesman. You can cast away your fears and doubts because being a successful car salesperson does not involve deceit or immoral behavior.

Can I Do It:

Most everyone questions their abilities at one time or another, and deciding to become a car salesman will probably be one of those times. A car salesperson job is unlike any other job, but if you are not going to jump in and give 110%, don’t bother. The first 90 days of becoming a car salesman is the most challenging part. It would be best to be ALL IN or not; don’t waste your time. You will need a positive attitude, an open mind, and a burning desire to succeed.

Get through the first 3 to 6 months, and you will have a good foundation for becoming a successful car salesperson. I am not saying it will be a walk in the park after that. Or even that you will be the best salesperson at your dealership because it’s still work, but at least you can take a breath. You can do it, others have, and you can too if you decide.

Do You Still Want to Become a Car Salesman?

Have you changed your mind, or do you still want to become a car salesman? It’s not frightening when it comes down to it, so I hope you are still with me because we need people to be car sales professionals. You will find many tips and articles for being a successful car salesperson on this blog and website. Selling cars is a great career choice, but it’s not for everyone.

Later, Fresh Up on the Lot
KB