hey guys, as with most of you, i have a passion for cars. and i love buying them (i've had about 8 cars since i got my license. i'm 26 now). i also love helping friends and family buy cars.

i've been thinking of taking up an internet sales manager position at a nearby toyota dealership. i don't have actual dealership sales experience, but i do have experience working for dealerships and selling personal cars of mine and friends over the internet. can any one you guys school me on the pros, cons, and life of an internet sales manager? thanks.

 

Car sales are cuthroat and unstable. But if you are going to do it, a Toyota dealership would be the place to be. Especially if they have a nice compensation package.

My advice is if you go that route, don't yank the customer around to much, they are going the internet route to avoid that. My wife just bought a car from an Emdunds internet request, and ignored the ones where the manager was being coy and went with the one who was straight with her, even if it cost her a couple hundred extra.

It never hurts to get the title of "Manager" on a resume. The internet manager at the chevy dealership I once bought from, owns a C5 and is trading it for a C6. He must be compensated OK.

 

thanks for your input, vader1. i was actually eyeing a toyota dealership. i just know they're going to boom even more so than before in the coming years.

 

Good luck, it might be a great opportunity. I also prefer someone who is straight with me when buying. Try to be as upfront as the dealer will letyou.

When a salesman says to me "Wanna see if we can make the numbers work? Wanna work the numbers?" or "How much of a payment can you afford?" I know they are gonna waste my time.

Try to understand why some people go through the internet to buy rather than walk in and deal. If you understand the customer, you will be better prepared to sell to them.

 

Doesn't Poindexter work for a car dealer in VA?

 

yeah, i already pm'd him about my situation. he said he'd answer back when he's got the time. so i'm just patiently awaiting his response.

 

It doesn't matter where you go, you should always try to get a job at the most reputable new car dealership you can find. The resources the bigger dealer can provide you make all the difference. Once you get the job, stay honest. Also remember that patience is a virtue, so do not get "mangeritus". When you start seeking management, typically things go in the opposite direction - a good boss will promote you when he knows you're ready for the job. Stay fresh, and don't learn too much from the old guys - some of the most successful salespeople and managers are a plague on your career - they're successful because they work to everyone else's demise, instead of trying to better themselves or the place they work for.

You should apply to be a salesperson first and foremost. Gone are the days of new people entering the Internet department, but there are still some dealerships in the stone age

If you need more advice, I'm happy to help. There are two other people who may lend their support as well: Black Nugget (works for me) and CrazyCracker82 (works at a Toyota dealership in MD).

And oh yeah - Toyota is the best place to go - hands down! There is no other manufacturer that has embraced the Internet like them and there is no other manufacturer who are at the level they're at now - in 10 years their position will be even stronger. I've been in the auto business since 1989 and Toyota has had their act together better than anyone else! Honda is good, but they're terrible with their Internet policies - almost Nazi-ish - BMW is decent, Mini is fantastic, and another amazing one is Porsche. You're going to need a lot of experience, and a huge opportunity, to get behind Porsche though.

One of the worst places you can go right now is a Ford or General Motors store, but if you had to choose one of the two, I'd go with Ford - it looks like they're going to have some exciting new products in the next three years.

 

thanks poindexter, for the very informative post. as far as price goes (internet manager speaking-wise), is there still someone else above that you need approval from? i mean, if i sell vehicles all day long for invoice, is somebody there going to stop me? and someone said internet sales aren't commission based...that they are quantity based.

 

PM CrazyCracker : he's livin' the dream (or something like that).

 

[QUOTE=bigsley18,Jan 17 2007, 02:58 PM] thanks poindexter, for the very informative post.