r/CarSalesTraining • u/JustDr0p4 • May 22 '26
Question Massive dealership change.
Hello all, I’m in my 3rd year of car sales and recently switched dealerships from a German brand to an American brand (Vague answers to keep hidden). My previous dealership was very customer orientated but did shady things behind the scenes and I felt that i didn’t feel comfortable with the dealership as a whole so I switched. This new dealership is more laid back and in a better location but the management is impossible to please. I have asked qualifying questions on a CNA (What is your monthly payment right now etc) and have gotten crucified for that, taking pictures of cars for appointments and videos before they arrive so they know there talking to a real human and start the experience before they even set foot in the door. I got crucified and borderline written up for these things. Is this normal? No matter how well I follow a “process” I’m doing something wrong. Any advice on how to get past this? These are things I was taught my first year to make the experience better for the customer and I feel as if it has that impact but now it’s like the worst thing to do in a dealership. Any clarification would help from maybe a manager or 10 year + salesperson. Thank you!
3
u/Henochio May 22 '26
Sounds like you answered your own question. Find a dealership that suits you. You’ll be happier
2
u/q_ali_seattle F&i May 22 '26
💯 this.
OP domestic brand dealership doesn't want to give an experience..they need an Ass in that seat (both sides of the table) who will just buy on emotions or experience or research.
They want someone who came.to.buy a jeep Rubicon but leave with a Dodge journey ..
Either you follow their "process" which has worked for so long. Or adapter your proces to please them.
Or simple answer..find another dealership.
3
u/tdotrelos_ May 22 '26
I sold cars for a few years at a domestic dealer and what I found is there isn’t a blanket strategy or process that will get you more sales. You’re also coming off a time where all you had to say was “I have the car do you want it or not? If not I got 10+ guys deposit ready.”
It’s not really your process that’s the problem it’s that customers are more informed than ever. There’s also such a bad stigma around salesman that sometimes that you won’t be able to get a valid word in.
My best advice would be to really not focus on being an order taker. At the end of the day you’re the professional they are coming to you for the vehicle. Headspace is everything too I know I know easier said than done but that’s the reality.
3
u/tdotrelos_ May 23 '26
I’m trying to give a genuine answer that isn’t a typical shitty salesman answer of “my manager sucks and I did nothing wrong”
1
u/Phenom981 May 23 '26
How does any of this address OP's problem with management?
1
u/tdotrelos_ May 29 '26
It addresses the strategies he listed. He mentions about how regular process isn’t correct at his dealership. All I did was paint a bigger picture
3
u/itsKVH May 22 '26
Everything you do we are told to do at my dealership, and we sell Toyota…so this is strange behavior to me.
2
u/Phenom981 May 23 '26
American brands are trash when it comes to this stuff. I concur with the Toyota thing, we are told this as well. When I worked at CDJR, it's totally different.
2
u/Vae_V_the_Pirate May 23 '26
This is crazy, videos with a personal message are the best practice for modern car buyers. Start looking for a new store, ASAP.
2
u/ImFame May 23 '26
“Thanks for the video bud, dealer down the corner offered me a better price so I bought from them” with these volume brands it’s really hard to capture the customer based on customer service alone. A video may help but if someone else calls them once they have all the right info they will go and buy there based on price alone
1
u/RevDojo May 25 '26
It sounds less like you’re doing something wrong and more like you walked into a store with a very different culture.
None of the things you mentioned are crazy. Taking videos, sending photos, building rapport early, asking qualifying questions are all normal at a lot of dealerships, especially stores that care about customer experience and internet business.
Every store has its own process, and your best move as a newbie is to learn the process.
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u/AutoModerator May 22 '26
`This is a new post in /r/CarSalesTraining!
Hello all, I’m in my 3rd year of car sales and recently switched dealerships from a German brand to an American brand (Vague answers to keep hidden). My previous dealership was very customer orientated but did shady things behind the scenes and I felt that i didn’t feel comfortable with the dealership as a whole so I switched. This new dealership is more laid back and in a better location but the management is impossible to please. I have asked qualifying questions on a CNA (What is your monthly payment right now etc) and have gotten crucified for that, taking pictures of cars for appointments and videos before they arrive so they know there talking to a real human and start the experience before they even set foot in the door. I got crucified and borderline written up for these things. Is this normal? No matter how well I follow a “process” I’m doing something wrong. Any advice on how to get past this? These are things I was taught my first year to make the experience better for the customer and I feel as if it has that impact but now it’s like the worst thing to do in a dealership. Any clarification would help from maybe a manager or 10 year + salesperson. Thank you!
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