Got a job at our local MINI Dealership!!
Got a job at our local MINI Dealership!!
Don't know if this is appropriate to put here or not - hope it is! Haha! :D
But I'm so excited. Next Monday I start a new chapter of my life - at our local MINI dealership, MINI of Louisville (Kentucky). I'll be a Motoring Adviser there... and let me tell you, I am EXCITED!
Can I ask for advice from any current/former MAs?
Thanks!
But I'm so excited. Next Monday I start a new chapter of my life - at our local MINI dealership, MINI of Louisville (Kentucky). I'll be a Motoring Adviser there... and let me tell you, I am EXCITED!
Can I ask for advice from any current/former MAs?
Thanks!
3rd Gear
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 152
Likes: 1
From: Nashville, TN
Congratulations. I am not an MA but I work at a dealership. Keep in mind that it doesn't matter how enthusiastic/knowledgable you are about the product, it only matters if you can sell it or not. Do you have previous sales experience?
Good Luck! It's all about relationships in selling. You can't sell Ice cubes to eskimos unless the eskimos like you more than the next guy tell everyone you know! I bet targeting existing MINI owners is a good bet. be persistent. get the little red book of selling and for God's sake get people to test drive MINIs they'll practically sell themselves. Do whatever you can to entice people to come in and test drive the cars.. push enough in the pipe and eventually some sales will trickle out the other side! Good Luck!!!
tell everyone you know! I bet targeting existing MINI owners is a good bet. be persistent. get the little red book of selling and for God's sake get people to test drive MINIs they'll practically sell themselves. Do whatever you can to entice people to come in and test drive the cars.. push enough in the pipe and eventually some sales will trickle out the other side! Good Luck!!!
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 651
Likes: 0
From: Pinellas Park, FL 33781
Congrats!
I have a friend that recently retired from 20+ years in the Army and went to work for a Ford dealership in our home town. He constantly blows up Facebook with incentives for people to come visit. Once in a while he'll throw in a free car wash for the first person to show up, etc. He seems to be getting some sales trickle in just from that.
I agree with the comment above that the cars practically sell themselves so get people to drive them!
I have a friend that recently retired from 20+ years in the Army and went to work for a Ford dealership in our home town. He constantly blows up Facebook with incentives for people to come visit. Once in a while he'll throw in a free car wash for the first person to show up, etc. He seems to be getting some sales trickle in just from that.
I agree with the comment above that the cars practically sell themselves so get people to drive them!
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee, FL
Yes, my MA told me that he loved his job because the cars sell themselves.
You have to drive one to understand what makes them so unique.
Nose to nose and toes to toes with the people, and get them into the cars.
That's where your enthusiasm and knowledge will come through for you.
You'll do great!
You have to drive one to understand what makes them so unique.
Nose to nose and toes to toes with the people, and get them into the cars.
That's where your enthusiasm and knowledge will come through for you.
You'll do great!
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Almost exactly 44 years ago I also had my first day as a car salesman. The New Age term, Motoring Adviser, had yet to be invented. It proved to be a very rewarding and lucrative profession and I went on to own and operate multiple dealerships before retiring. To be successful, you will need to overcome a number of challenges and disappointments while spending far more time at your chosen job than your peers do in other lines of work.
At the end of the day, you are a car salesman and your success will be measured simply by the number of units you eventually sell. Never lose sight of that. Those who have never done the job successfully, will ever understand what it takes to achieve success in the business and most all of your pre-conceived notions of what it is really like will soon vanish.
Everyone who walks into a dealership has an agenda. Your job is simply to find their motivation and show them how your product fills that need. Simple but not easy. The question "What are you trying to achieve?" should be asked of every potential customer at some point.
Potential buyers are looking for a multitude of different things but not all the same for everyone. Some are looking for performance, some for brand fulfillment,some reliability,some purchase price,some trade-in value, etc. But, everyone is looking for value/afford-ability within their personal parameters. Losing sight of that fact will not end well.
Here is a truth that has been around forever. To buy anything, the consumer will always have five items they need to know:
1. A need or desire
2. Ability to pay.
3. Brand
4. Source
5. Price
The only reason they need a salesman is to find out the price. They think they possibly have the other answers before you see them. Your job is to discover why they made the first four decisions before they met you, re-affirm those decisions, and convince them you have the proper value/cost equation for them to make a positive choice.
At the end of the day, you are a car salesman and your success will be measured simply by the number of units you eventually sell. Never lose sight of that. Those who have never done the job successfully, will ever understand what it takes to achieve success in the business and most all of your pre-conceived notions of what it is really like will soon vanish.
Everyone who walks into a dealership has an agenda. Your job is simply to find their motivation and show them how your product fills that need. Simple but not easy. The question "What are you trying to achieve?" should be asked of every potential customer at some point.
Potential buyers are looking for a multitude of different things but not all the same for everyone. Some are looking for performance, some for brand fulfillment,some reliability,some purchase price,some trade-in value, etc. But, everyone is looking for value/afford-ability within their personal parameters. Losing sight of that fact will not end well.
Here is a truth that has been around forever. To buy anything, the consumer will always have five items they need to know:
1. A need or desire
2. Ability to pay.
3. Brand
4. Source
5. Price
The only reason they need a salesman is to find out the price. They think they possibly have the other answers before you see them. Your job is to discover why they made the first four decisions before they met you, re-affirm those decisions, and convince them you have the proper value/cost equation for them to make a positive choice.
Thank you everyone for your insight! I really appreciate it!
Yes, I know it's going to be difficult, but I'm really hoping I'll like it more than my current job (computer repair). I get along great with everyone at the dealership and they think I'll do well since I'll be the only female MA they have.
Also, I believe I'll be working with the internet sales more than anything, but I can't remember. I'll find out Monday for sure!
Yes, I know it's going to be difficult, but I'm really hoping I'll like it more than my current job (computer repair). I get along great with everyone at the dealership and they think I'll do well since I'll be the only female MA they have.
Also, I believe I'll be working with the internet sales more than anything, but I can't remember. I'll find out Monday for sure!
6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 46
Congratulations. What a great opportunity! One thing I learned selling airplanes is to never judge a customer's purchasing abilities by his/her appearance. I will always remember watching a customer take delivery of a new King Air wearing tattered overalls. May good fortune follow you.
2nd Gear
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 115
Likes: 1
Almost exactly 44 years ago I also had my first day as a car salesman. The New Age term, Motoring Adviser, had yet to be invented. It proved to be a very rewarding and lucrative profession and I went on to own and operate multiple dealerships before retiring. To be successful, you will need to overcome a number of challenges and disappointments while spending far more time at your chosen job than your peers do in other lines of work.
At the end of the day, you are a car salesman and your success will be measured simply by the number of units you eventually sell. Never lose sight of that. Those who have never done the job successfully, will ever understand what it takes to achieve success in the business and most all of your pre-conceived notions of what it is really like will soon vanish.
Everyone who walks into a dealership has an agenda. Your job is simply to find their motivation and show them how your product fills that need. Simple but not easy. The question "What are you trying to achieve?" should be asked of every potential customer at some point.
Potential buyers are looking for a multitude of different things but not all the same for everyone. Some are looking for performance, some for brand fulfillment,some reliability,some purchase price,some trade-in value, etc. But, everyone is looking for value/afford-ability within their personal parameters. Losing sight of that fact will not end well.
Here is a truth that has been around forever. To buy anything, the consumer will always have five items they need to know:
1. A need or desire
2. Ability to pay.
3. Brand
4. Source
5. Price
The only reason they need a salesman (or woman in this case :P) is to find out the price. They think they possibly have the other answers before you see them. Your job is to discover why they made the first four decisions before they met you, re-affirm those decisions, and convince them you have the proper value/cost equation for them to make a positive choice.
At the end of the day, you are a car salesman and your success will be measured simply by the number of units you eventually sell. Never lose sight of that. Those who have never done the job successfully, will ever understand what it takes to achieve success in the business and most all of your pre-conceived notions of what it is really like will soon vanish.
Everyone who walks into a dealership has an agenda. Your job is simply to find their motivation and show them how your product fills that need. Simple but not easy. The question "What are you trying to achieve?" should be asked of every potential customer at some point.
Potential buyers are looking for a multitude of different things but not all the same for everyone. Some are looking for performance, some for brand fulfillment,some reliability,some purchase price,some trade-in value, etc. But, everyone is looking for value/afford-ability within their personal parameters. Losing sight of that fact will not end well.
Here is a truth that has been around forever. To buy anything, the consumer will always have five items they need to know:
1. A need or desire
2. Ability to pay.
3. Brand
4. Source
5. Price
The only reason they need a salesman (or woman in this case :P) is to find out the price. They think they possibly have the other answers before you see them. Your job is to discover why they made the first four decisions before they met you, re-affirm those decisions, and convince them you have the proper value/cost equation for them to make a positive choice.
). I worked at Lowe's for seven years as a Customer Service Associate and this hit it on the nail perfectly..
HaHaaa
Congratulations. What a great opportunity! One thing I learned selling airplanes is to never judge a customer's purchasing abilities by his/her appearance. I will always remember watching a customer take delivery of a new King Air wearing tattered overalls. May good fortune follow you.
I didn't think my friend looked particularly disreputable, just like a typical engineer. Common in this area. I know a lot of people at work who can afford very interesting cars and look like typical engineers. (I had lunch with several today, someone showed up in a new McLaren, another guy in his new Porche GT3, I only had the new JCW.)
2nd Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
Good luck to you! I spent many years in the premium car business. Some days it will try every fiber of your soul. Others, it will be the most rewarding thing you've done. Just try to make sure that the latter outnumbers the former, and you'll do just fine!
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Eastern Shore, VA
Being a Mini person will enhance your selling ability.
We went to a Chevy dealership and looked at an 09 S. The salesman knew the basics
about the car, but couldn't get the hood open.
After having read up on Minis (primarily here) I knew a lot more about it than he did.
He was somewhat embarrassed when I opened it up for HIM.
Good luck to you!
...ED
We went to a Chevy dealership and looked at an 09 S. The salesman knew the basics
about the car, but couldn't get the hood open.
After having read up on Minis (primarily here) I knew a lot more about it than he did.
He was somewhat embarrassed when I opened it up for HIM.
Good luck to you!
...ED
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 422
Likes: 0
From: Palm Harbor, FL
Before making my final decision to buy my MINI I went and looked at every convertible and roadster on the market for under $60,000. Being retired, I don't get dressed up and when weather permits I ride my Can Am. I know I didn't look like your typical high end car buyer. Some salesmen didn't know as much about the car as I did. Others just didn't listen to what I was saying, and others were just jerks. Sure you have to believe in what you are selling, but people have choices and knowing the competition is crucial. One salesman said to me, "You'd have to be an fool to look at brand x." Yet another looked at my jeans and t-shirt and didn't even want to talk to me. The funny thing is that the people at the BMW dealership (next door and owned by the sale company as the MINI dealer) were rude, didn't want to show me the models I was interested in an never even offered a test drive. The folks at MINI were great, my guy is young but very knowledgable and took me for test drives in a Justa, an "S", and a coupe. They had no roadsters to test, but I was assured that I'd get a call as soon as they had on come in.
While waiting and visiting other brands, I went to a brand new MINI dealer about 30 miles from my home. They had a roadster to test which I did. The salesman was also young, but incredibly arrogant and pushy, wanting me to sign on the bottom line even though the roadster i drove wasn't the color I wanted and don't have the options that I needed. Other than giving me a free bottle of water I have nothing good to say about them.
I went back to the local dealer and gave him my deposit. Built my car and am now waiting to take delivery.
My advice to you is be positive and enthusiastic but don't leave your humility at home when you go to work.
Good luck!
While waiting and visiting other brands, I went to a brand new MINI dealer about 30 miles from my home. They had a roadster to test which I did. The salesman was also young, but incredibly arrogant and pushy, wanting me to sign on the bottom line even though the roadster i drove wasn't the color I wanted and don't have the options that I needed. Other than giving me a free bottle of water I have nothing good to say about them.
I went back to the local dealer and gave him my deposit. Built my car and am now waiting to take delivery.
My advice to you is be positive and enthusiastic but don't leave your humility at home when you go to work.
Good luck!
5th Gear
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 719
Likes: 0
From: Tallahassee, FL
My husband arrived at the Toyota dealer on an old, rusty bicycle in a downpour.
He drove out in an Avalon with the old bike in the trunk.
His salesman told him the other salesmen groaned as they watched him plowing through the parking lot, dripping wet. His salesman was the only one who saw the obvious and said "That man needs a car, NOW!"
He drove out in an Avalon with the old bike in the trunk.
His salesman told him the other salesmen groaned as they watched him plowing through the parking lot, dripping wet. His salesman was the only one who saw the obvious and said "That man needs a car, NOW!"
1st Gear
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
You know I too have a funny story about appearances but not necessarily salesman. I live in a building in NYC and park my Mini in the car park at the building. One of my neighbours is a pretty high profile lawyer ( so much so that I don't want to say his name). Anyway I often see him in the building or sometimes in the car park waiting for his Land Rover to be brought up. I have seen him in a scruffy suit, or a shirt with a button missing or even a shirt which was creased and unironed.
One day I was talking to one of the doormen at the building when he went by and the doorman greeted him and said good morning. We got into a conversation about him and the doorman tells me......this appearance thing is all a show for the courts.
When he goes into the courtroom he doesn't want to appear in a $5,000 Armarni suit and cuff links as automatically it would switch off some of the jurors in his cases, and they think smarmy lawyer.
If he goes in a bit scruffy with a button missing and his tie a bit crooked, some jurors look at him and feel a bit sorry for him. he even has a old nokia cell phone which is like a brick, with a bit of duct tape on and a really old leather briefcase.
Then when the jurors see the opposing attorney ( who is more often than not the guy wearing the Armarni suit, cuff links, chatting on his iPhone and carrying a swish fancy leather case with his initials stitched into it.) this impression automatically gives him an advantage.
This guy could probably buy all of our cars on this forum down to this daily performance .
So there you have it.......don't judge a person on appearances !
One day I was talking to one of the doormen at the building when he went by and the doorman greeted him and said good morning. We got into a conversation about him and the doorman tells me......this appearance thing is all a show for the courts.
When he goes into the courtroom he doesn't want to appear in a $5,000 Armarni suit and cuff links as automatically it would switch off some of the jurors in his cases, and they think smarmy lawyer.
If he goes in a bit scruffy with a button missing and his tie a bit crooked, some jurors look at him and feel a bit sorry for him. he even has a old nokia cell phone which is like a brick, with a bit of duct tape on and a really old leather briefcase.
Then when the jurors see the opposing attorney ( who is more often than not the guy wearing the Armarni suit, cuff links, chatting on his iPhone and carrying a swish fancy leather case with his initials stitched into it.) this impression automatically gives him an advantage.
This guy could probably buy all of our cars on this forum down to this daily performance .
So there you have it.......don't judge a person on appearances !
In my few years in sales I remember one piece of advice that has helped me in so many places later in life. Romance the sale! So many decisions are emotional.. If you can make someone feel something - nostalgia, individualism, independence, fun, success, love.. whatever speaks to that client. Make them have an emotional response to the product and everything else will fade into the background. My .02
Before making my final decision to buy my MINI I went and looked at every convertible and roadster on the market for under $60,000. Being retired, I don't get dressed up and when weather permits I ride my Can Am. I know I didn't look like your typical high end car buyer. Some salesmen didn't know as much about the car as I did. Others just didn't listen to what I was saying, and others were just jerks. Sure you have to believe in what you are selling, but people have choices and knowing the competition is crucial. One salesman said to me, "You'd have to be an fool to look at brand x." Yet another looked at my jeans and t-shirt and didn't even want to talk to me. The funny thing is that the people at the BMW dealership (next door and owned by the sale company as the MINI dealer) were rude, didn't want to show me the models I was interested in an never even offered a test drive. The folks at MINI were great, my guy is young but very knowledgable and took me for test drives in a Justa, an "S", and a coupe. They had no roadsters to test, but I was assured that I'd get a call as soon as they had on come in.
While waiting and visiting other brands, I went to a brand new MINI dealer about 30 miles from my home. They had a roadster to test which I did. The salesman was also young, but incredibly arrogant and pushy, wanting me to sign on the bottom line even though the roadster i drove wasn't the color I wanted and don't have the options that I needed. Other than giving me a free bottle of water I have nothing good to say about them.
I went back to the local dealer and gave him my deposit. Built my car and am now waiting to take delivery.
My advice to you is be positive and enthusiastic but don't leave your humility at home when you go to work.
Good luck!
While waiting and visiting other brands, I went to a brand new MINI dealer about 30 miles from my home. They had a roadster to test which I did. The salesman was also young, but incredibly arrogant and pushy, wanting me to sign on the bottom line even though the roadster i drove wasn't the color I wanted and don't have the options that I needed. Other than giving me a free bottle of water I have nothing good to say about them.
I went back to the local dealer and gave him my deposit. Built my car and am now waiting to take delivery.
My advice to you is be positive and enthusiastic but don't leave your humility at home when you go to work.
Good luck!
Anyway, have you checked out Sunshine MINIs? It's a Florida MINI forum that's good for getting to meet local MINI people.
Good luck with the wait for your new MINI!
Thank you everyone! I really appreciate everyone's insight and opinions!
Clay, I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself while you were here. That's what I aim to do. I'm still in love with your car.
I've been at MINI of Louisville for about a month now, and I've got to say I'm so glad that I chose to do this. I didn't think I'd have the confidence to sell cars, but my passion for them definitely makes things so much easier. I sold my fourth car last night. I feel like this is my home.
Clay, I'm so glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself while you were here. That's what I aim to do. I'm still in love with your car.
I've been at MINI of Louisville for about a month now, and I've got to say I'm so glad that I chose to do this. I didn't think I'd have the confidence to sell cars, but my passion for them definitely makes things so much easier. I sold my fourth car last night. I feel like this is my home.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Brooksville, FL
Rev,
I know just the BMW dealer you're talking about - bought my wife's 3 series there. If you think sales was rude, try service... Needless to say we haven't been back, especially for service. I actually waited until that "other" MINI dealer opened to go look at 'em. Wouldn't give the other guys another $. My MA there was young, but pretty nice.
I know just the BMW dealer you're talking about - bought my wife's 3 series there. If you think sales was rude, try service... Needless to say we haven't been back, especially for service. I actually waited until that "other" MINI dealer opened to go look at 'em. Wouldn't give the other guys another $. My MA there was young, but pretty nice.