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I'm Becoming a Used Car Salesman!


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2015 Aug 19, 5:47pm   37,761 views  70 comments

by Robber Baron Elite Scum   ➕follow (2)   💰tip   ignore  

Got hired by a big new and used dealership. I only applied with the intention of learning how to get deals on cars and learn how they fuck you so I don't get ripped off.

So far 3 days of training. Total hours in the training: 24 hours.

Here is what I learned:

The job of the salesman is to avoid talking about price and not bring it up. The salesman is supposed to go over all the features you are getting on the car with the different packages.

The salesman should sneakily get the customer do a test drive without mentioning it directly... They are supposed to lure the customer into a test drive indirectly.

During a trade-in, you must mention to the customer all the flaws on their car if they fuss or disagree with the figure you will pay them.

"Cmon, with that scratch, dent on the rear bumper, cigarette buds, balding tires and that unpopular color, do you honestly think your vehicles is worth what you just said it is?"

If they mention Kelly blue books, Edmunds or any other reputable appraiser - you are supposed to say this "Would Kelly blue books buy your vehicle for that much or anyone else? If so, than please sell it for that figure and than come back to the dealership with that money for your new purchase. But if you are unable to sell it for that figure, than you can always come back with our offer. I am confident you will be back as we are the biggest dealership and we didn't get that way by short-changing our customers."

When you are doing either a trade-in or financing.... NEVER is the salesman to ask the customer how much they can put down and their monthly payment. Nor is the salesman EVER supposed to ask the customer how much they are looking to get for their car.

You are supposed to start with for example a $10,000 down payment on $20K car and with around you can say a $300/month payment. You are supposed to tell the customer these are the numbers you were able to work up with the sales manager.

Around 10-20% of people will accept these numbers and close a deal with them. If they (the 90-80%), fuss about it....

This is what you are supposed to say... "I'm sorry. Let me apologize to you. This is a financing program I do for my regular customers because it is better for most of my customers. You start with more equity from day 1 with the car, your financing term is much shorter, your payments are lower, your interest is very little and you are exposed much less to leverage. It is simply better for you. But the goods news is that it's not a requirement nor is it for everybody."

"What are you able to put down?...9k? 8K? 7K? What are you able to go up to?"

Customer offers...

"That's the best you can do? Because you may have to offer $6500... you just may have too"

The truth is the dealership will take no money down if really pressed by a customer.

But they much rather just have you give them a large down payment because they make more that way through the financing lenders they work with and they also would prefer to have their money faster.

No money down terms are just more riskier of default and the financing lenders do not offer as high of a backend kickback to the dealership.

Another thing: When a customer asks to talk numbers... You are supposed to say... "Well before I get to the numbers let me just check to see if the car is still available..."

That's a lie to instill scarcity. And than once back... "Goods news... the car you want is in stock and I also brought the numbers you asked for..."

During test drives, you are supposed to shut the fuck up and let the car drive do the selling.

Once done with the test drive, you say...

"So that V6 was very smooth and powerful, wasn't it?"
"That leather was very comfortable, wasn't it?"
"That sports package gave the car extreme handling, didn't it?"

Than you go inside and say...

"So you will do it with the leather, right?
"You will do it with the V6... right?"
"You will do it with the sports package... right?"

And than finally you have to say... Would like any coffee or anything cold to drink while I get the papers to wrap this up?

If they object to closing the deal... They make you divert them from the price and talk about the features... "Building value..."

You are not supposed to focus on the price for negotiation. But rather on the "value"... But that is a fallacy in my opinion because "value" is completely dependent on the price. It's basically just being devious, clever and putting high pressure on the customer.

Consumer advocate salesman make around $70,000 a year. While profit-driven salesman regardless of the consumer satisfaction, makes $200,000 a year with the same number of sales.

Regarding the total price... You are never supposed to go down more than $2500-$3000. The sticker price or MSRP is supposed to be called the "market value" by salesman.... Selling price the discounted price.

The warranties are dog shit. Do not buy them.

If you are doing financing, get your own financing! Tell them you are paying cash and than once the papers are signed show them your financing. Do not ever tell them the timeframe you will buy!

Tell them you will only buy if the price is right... and be aggressive!

Aggressive customers in my dealership are eventually cut the slack on all the games and given the numbers and more easily and quickly negotiated on the price.

In my dealership, a credit card is necessary to secure a commitment to buying the car. They do not run the credit card they say to the customer but they ask for it to prove to them that you are serious in the deal.

They tell you, we can only do the deal with current numbers if you are able to commit now with your credit card because we can't offer these kind of deals all the time. If they refuse, tell them I can maybe add-in an extra option - the sports package if you let me talk to my sales manager...

in most cases, they add some of it's features partially.

Some other things:

-Never tell a customer they are upside down on their current trade-in car's financing term. Even though they are and it makes no sense to trade-it-in for a newer car with another financing deal. In other words, don't mention what is good for the customer or because they might get very offended.
-Never ask about credit score or reports
-Talk to the wife and the kids... Get the man pressured by the wife and kids.

My dealership is all about hard selling...

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5   justme   2015 Aug 19, 6:54pm  

That's what I'm talking about.

DieBankOfAmericaPhukkingDie says

You should have punched the finance guy in the face.

6   Strategist   2015 Aug 19, 7:01pm  

DieBankOfAmericaPhukkingDie says

You should have punched the finance guy in the face.

He would have understood.

Next time I'm taking you with me. Bring your flame thrower.

7   RWSGFY   2015 Aug 19, 7:24pm  

Robber Baron Elite Scum says

Consumer advocate salesman make around $70,000 a year. While profit-driven salesman regardless of the consumer satisfaction, makes $200,000 a year with the same number of sales.

You seem like a proper material. Will be interesting to see whether you'll be able to achieve the latter number.

PS. Can the numbers be trusted. Are you sure they aren't just dangling that $200K carrot in front of you to make you pull harder? They ARE used car salesmen after all.

8   Ceffer   2015 Aug 19, 7:29pm  

Yes, becoming a used car salesman is a nostalgic way to revisit sociopathic roots.

9   Strategist   2015 Aug 19, 7:29pm  

Straw Man says

Robber Baron Elite Scum says

Consumer advocate salesman make around $70,000 a year. While profit-driven salesman regardless of the consumer satisfaction, makes $200,000 a year with the same number of sales.

You seem like a proper material. Will be interesting to see whether you'll be able to achieve the latter number.

PS. Can the numbers be trusted. Are you sure they aren't just dangling that $200K carrot in front of you to make you pull harder? They ARE used car salesmen after all.

I'm sure the numbers refer to seasoned salesmen. The industry probably has a 90% turnover rate.

10   indigenous   2015 Aug 19, 7:34pm  

DieBankOfAmericaPhukkingDie says

Still, it was a lot of fun holding up a bag of cash in a clear plastic bag in the lot, pointing at my crotch and shouting BLOW ME! at the dealers' office.

Classic AF, nice

11   Robber Baron Elite Scum   2015 Aug 19, 7:35pm  

Strategist says

I believe you. No one sells at a loss.

Tell me what you think on this example:

10 years ago I offered $28,000 for a Sienna Minivan. They did not even counter, and just blew me away.

3 days later, the salesperson calls me back, and tells me the exact same car is being advertised the next day for $25,000. He said if I came in first thing in the morning, he would get the car for me at the advertised price without haggling. I had offered all cash.

I got the car as promised by the salesman. The finance guy seemed pissed and refused to shake my hand. He even asked me if my check was gonna clear?

I should have complained to Toyota, but did not. What is your opinion? Could I have done better?

You did alright. Just ok. You didn't get ripped off but you didn't get the deal of a lifetime either and you actually left some money on the table to be honest.

In a normal deal, they actually discounted by not much. The finance asshole was pissed because he made no commission or any money from you doing business at his dealership. He asked if your check would clear in the hopes that he would make a commission on doing you a finance deal if the check bounced.

Generally the best way to get the killer deal on a new car is find out when a dealer is selling a particular car for less than what they bought from the manufacturer and than negotiate. Even telling them you know they get backend payments from the manufacturer and you will not buy unless they cut down the price further.

The most important next step is to go ahead and WALK AWAY...

This is actually why they called you back with the $3,000 deduction on the price from your original offer. You made the right action...

But than you made a mistake. What you should have done was countered with $20,000-$23,000 the most. I am willing to bet my left testicle, you could have gotten the vehicle for $22,000 the most if you started with $20,000 and weren't afraid on the phone to hang up.

This game is a lot like poker. Both parties must bluff...

Only that the dealers always win on every deal regardless...Even if you get a steal, they still make a profit from backend payments from the manufacturer.

So around $2,000-$3,000, you left on the table.

12   Robber Baron Elite Scum   2015 Aug 19, 7:59pm  

In all honesty, cars are always a horrible deal - it just depends on the extent.

Let me explain.

With the new car - you are taking all the depreciation. The value will be gone very very rapidly. Easiest way to lose shit loads of money,

With the leased car - you are avoiding the depreciation but are limited to mileage and are penalized for any excess wear or any kind of damage. After 3 years, you blew around $5-$10 grand but end up owning nothing.

With the used car - For $10 grand, you could buy a honda or toyota used private party that will last for another 300,000 miles or 150,000 miles if a $5 grand used car, if you use the car in a sensible manner. The only problem with used cars is you just have to do a lot more research and know how to determine if the car is mechanically sound, its servicing history, accidents, etc. Other than that, used is much much better than both new and leased in my humble opinion.

Also what is a new car?

There is no such fucking thing! The car salesman, mechanics, delivery guys, customer test drivers - all abuse the cars on the lot. They rev it hard, break hard and drive the piss out of the car. No new cars on the lot have 0 mileage meter. They have around 10-300 mileage - small mileage - sure but defiantly abusive mileage on a brand new engine.

The only way to have a truly new car is to have the dealer order it direct from the manufacturer and have their truck deliver you the car at your home.

13   Strategist   2015 Aug 19, 8:11pm  

Robber Baron Elite Scum says

In all honesty, cars are always a horrible deal - it just depends on the extent.

Let me explain.

With the new car - you are taking all the depreciation. The value will be gone very very rapidly. Easiest way to lose shit loads of money,

That very same Toyota Sienna Minivan will be for sale after a couple of months. I already have people who want it.
Perfect condition. Clean cut. Very low mileage. Always maintained. I would use synthetic oil, even though it was not necessary.
I don't expect to get more than $8,000. :(

14   Robber Baron Elite Scum   2015 Aug 19, 8:13pm  

justme says

I mean, in now way isthe "invoice" price what the dealer ends up actually having piad for the car they sell you, right?

LOL... Of course not. Don't be so naive or gullible.

15   Robber Baron Elite Scum   2015 Aug 19, 8:28pm  

Strategist says

That very same Toyota Sienna Minivan will be for sale after a couple of months. I already have people who want it.

Perfect condition. Clean cut. Very low mileage. Always maintained. I would use synthetic oil, even though it was not necessary.

I don't expect to get more than $8,000. :(

I would say to keep it. Not worth selling and defiantly not worth trading-in.

After 10 years for low mileage, I'm guessing around 75K miles? It can go another 250K miles as long as it is used sensibly, not abused and oil changes done regularly.

Next-time buy used. I don't suggest leases unless you own a business and can get a tax write-off from it. Even with that said, leases are a horrible deal compared to buying a used car with very low miles and well-kept for $10 grand that can go for another 250K miles easily. Around 15 years of service.

Tell me what fucking lease gives you 15 years of service for $10 grand? Even if they did, once you return the car - they WILL nickel and dime the shit out of you for little scratches and cosmetic damages. You own nothing and may even have to pay at the end from penalties I mentioned.

With a used car that is dead - you can still salvage it and get something even if it's $300 bucks at the end of it's life.

Used cars require hardly any repairs and are reliable as long you bought the right car and knew what to look for. New cars are actually more unreliable and it's where you get the most lemons from actually.

("Trade-ins" by the way are hardly ever compensated by dealers fairly, they basically steal your car by adding the money you think they gave you on what you are buying.)

16   Robber Baron Elite Scum   2015 Aug 19, 8:48pm  

Think of it this way...

If you bought the car for $25,000.

And the car now has 100,000 miles left.

Why would you accept $8,000? (assuming you can even get that).

If you accept $8,000 - you lost $17,000 dollars.

Instead of spending $17,000 just to drive a car to 100,000 miles...

You could have bought a used-car from the get go at 100,000 miles for $5,000 and drive to 200,000 miles with the car mileage at 300,000.
Repair costs - trust me you don't need worry about as long as you bought a mechanically sound used car and you use it sensibly.

You could have saved $20,000 dollars by spending only $5,000 instead of spending $25,000 and only ending up with $8,000 saved (if that).

Why not spend $5,000 instead of $17,000 all to achieve the same result?

17   elliemae   2015 Aug 19, 11:23pm  

A friend worked for a dealership in Vegas - they asked for your license before they let you take a test drive. Then they refused to give your license back, he used to joke about how before everyone had a cell phone customers would walk to a 7-11 nearby to call the cops to get their license back. He recommended having a photocopy of your license to give them if they ask.

Also- once they have your car to "evaluate" as a trade-in, you might not get it back for hours until you either buy a car, or are so pissed they know you never will. The game is to keep you as long as possible until they wear you down.

18   HEY YOU   2015 Aug 20, 12:55am  

Robber Baron Elite Scum Car Sales Fucker? Too long of a title?

I'm willing to overpay for my unique car so I can park it in the garage of the unique overpriced house I bought.

19   RWSGFY   2015 Aug 20, 11:57am  

elliemae says

The game is to keep you as long as possible until they wear you down.

In this day and age there is no reason to even set a foot inside a dealership. I once spent 2 weeks negotiating a price on a lightly used truck via e-mail. ;)

20   HEY YOU   2015 Aug 20, 12:04pm  

I'm making one offer,no haggling, to a dealership or private owner.
Take it or leave it. If I look around I might find another vehicle for sale.
ROFLMAO! DUMBFUCKS!

21   FortWayne   2015 Aug 20, 6:10pm  

Used car sales is no match for the astronomical wickedness of a realtor.

22   Ceffer   2015 Aug 20, 6:26pm  

FortWayne says

Used car sales is no match for the astronomical wickedness of a realtor.

A used car salesman is just a Realtor with low self esteem.

23   Strategist   2015 Aug 20, 9:28pm  

Hey Robber Scum,
Please let us know when you go through the class on turning back the mileage on cars.
Also, are there any good cars that were NOT owned by the little old lady driving to church on Sundays?
When you are done, write a book. Here is a suggestion for the title.
"How to screw a used car salesman without him knowing it."

24   zzyzzx   2015 Aug 21, 8:04am  

DieBankOfAmericaPhukkingDie says

I bought a Subaru for cash

When cannibal anarchy comes, your Subaru will need a new head gasket, like all Subaru's do. Either ditch it for a better built car or learn how to fix that yourself.

25   zzyzzx   2015 Aug 21, 8:05am  

FortWayne says

Used car sales is no match for the astronomical wickedness of a realtor.

Would be interesting to read a post about a realtor's new car buying experience and a car salesperson's home buying experience.

26   zzyzzx   2015 Aug 21, 8:18am  

Robber Baron Elite Scum says

Think of it this way...

If you bought the car for $25,000.

And the car now has 100,000 miles left.

Why would you accept $8,000? (assuming you can even get that).

If you accept $8,000 - you lost $17,000 dollars.

Instead of spending $17,000 just to drive a car to 100,000 miles...

You could have bought a used-car from the get go at 100,000 miles for $5,000 and drive to 200,000 miles with the car mileage at 300,000.

Repair costs - trust me you don't need worry about as long as you bought a mechanically sound used car and you use it sensibly.

You could have saved $20,000 dollars by spending only $5,000 instead of spending $25,000 and only ending up with $8,000 saved (if that).

Why not spend $5,000 instead of $17,000 all to achieve the same result?

Only real issue I have with this is that given other people's poor taste in cars, it could easily take me 6 months to a year to find an acceptable used car. Most people don't have that kind of time to wait until something they like comes available. It's either that or if you need another car ASAP, just get anything and use that until you can get what you want.

27   justme   2015 Aug 21, 10:49am  

zzyzzx says

When cannibal anarchy comes, your Subaru will need a new head gasket, like all Subaru's do. Either ditch it for a better built car or learn how to fix that yourself.

When cannibal anarchy comes, everyone will need a head gasket. Oh, you meant CYLINDER head gasket?

28   Maga_Chaos_Monkey   2015 Aug 21, 8:06pm  

justme says

In fact, even when the dealer sells a car at a loss - the manufacturer covers their loss but also pays them an additional amount. Sometimes the amount is up to $4,000 dollars.

True... I did this gig when I was a kid. They don't have you running four squares do they haha? They make their cash on the used cars. New cars they have to make sure not too many people don't complain to the manufacturer resulting in getting their franchise pulled - which they use to make them *appear* more trustworthy than the just-a-used car dealership, when in fact they are perhaps worse than the small guy. If they get their franchise pulled they quickly try to franchise some other brand.

This site has been around for a while: https://www.carbuyingtips.com/

Read the new car buying guide, some of it's pretty funny. Edmunds.com has forums where people brag about the prices they pay. I beat the best price in the US on my last car by $500 vs. the forum. $3,500 under invoice and $7000 below MSRP. They certainly got kick backs. It was in August right before a new body style came out (which was uglier) and I got top-of-the-line everything.

Deal with the fleet manager. Do a fax attack. Get the fighting chance package. Take your time from home and then roll in to pick up your vehicle at a steal - beats the online prices too. Unless it's a super hot commodity; then all bets are off.

29   Robber Baron Elite Scum   2015 Aug 21, 9:59pm  

2 days of training. Just came back after a 12 hour shift today in training and cold calling. Didn't have time until now to post updates.

We have a special one day sale tmrw on Saturday. Did a lot of fucking cold calling for that shit. Found quite a few suckers who want to go.

Anyway...

Here is what I learned more in my training.

1) Do not ever bring numbers to a prospect and than tell them that these are your numbers nor should you ever imply you came up with the numbers. You should tell them your sales manager came up with these numbers. When actually - you went into the back office and just wrote them yourself. The trainer told the training recruits that they should take a black permanent marker and right down the number so it looks like you didn't write. He said to use a different pen so it truly looks like the Sales Manager used it.

2) The recruit trainer said that you MUST make sure the prospect thinks that you are fighting the manager during negotiation, When you actually are not and in fact in the majority of negotiations the sales manager doesn't even have any hand in it. The salesman is just lying that his sales manager came up with these numbers and he needs to get approval from his manager for any reduction or counter offer.

During my cold calls, a seasoned salesman told me to handle call with fake scarcity and to fake that I am talking to manager for extension on the sale.

30   Robber Baron Elite Scum   2015 Aug 21, 10:06pm  

Everything I tell you about my dealership may not be EXACTLY what they teach in every dealership but it is pretty much in the ball mark.

Also during negotiation, they tell you to not put the price figure of the car on the attention of the prospect. Only the trade-in value and the down payment and monthly payment. Almost forget that part.

Anyway.... I'll update what happens on Saturday Sale.

31   Robber Baron Elite Scum   2015 Aug 30, 7:39pm  

Updates...

Think selling cars is easy? Think again.

Car salesman have huge pressure on their sales managers. You are supposed to steer the conversation away from price and towards "value"....

But price has everything to do with value. If something is sold for 10 dollar in all other stores but you are able to purchase at 8 dollars in Amazon... Guess who gets the business?

Amazon! And that is largely the reason why Walmart, Target and Amazon seem to do the bulk of retail business today.

"We don't sell on price..." Common advice given by training from dealership.

What a dealership does is pressure people into buying. As a salesman, you have to control the process as they put it. Don't let the customer dictate or tell you what to do. Tell the customer what to do.

Don't ask for their information - trick them into giving it to you - have them give it to you indirectly. You have to be devious.

If a customer is not willing to give you their information, THEY ARE NOT A FUCKING SERIOUS BUYER! They are tire kickers (yes, we do get them) or they not sure or the person in power to make the decision or they are merely just half-way thinking about or unsure yet - they want time....

You have to be hard selling. Urgency selling. NOW!

When Apple comes out with their own cars, I highly doubt they will ever sell the way cars are sold by dealerships today and in the past.

But guess what? I bet they will sell a shit load of them without any hard selling!

Check out Tesla. They sell directly themselves to the customers without any third-parties. Consumers get a much better price and less game-playing nonsense.

All car manufacturers will soon find it is much more efficient and profitable to sell directly rather than through third-party scumbags.

Of course they are laws put in place halting direct selling to consumers in the automobile business and I'm sure the big major car dealerships are hiring lobbyists to try to keep it that way....

But Tesla is still selling cars directly and trying to sell directly where they are prohibited. The FTC has sided with Tesla as well in being allowed to sell direct.

In fact, cars should be sold online. They should just have you verify your identity for any financing online and that's it. No need to walk into any fucking dealership operated by some third-party.

You can test drive the cars by going directly to the manufacturer's stores. Once car buying is completely online, the car dealership business will be toast...

Third-party operated dealerships will be a thing of the past along with the sleazy high-pressure salesman.

32   Strategist   2015 Aug 30, 7:54pm  

Robber Baron Elite Scum says

Updates...

Thanks Robber Scum. Your espionage services are well appreciated here. There must be some way to screw the dealers and give them a taste of their own medicine. Please discover and tell the world.
I endorse you for the Patnet Peace Prize.

33   Strategist   2015 Aug 30, 8:09pm  

You know guys, it might be a great idea to have insiders and customers in various businesses come out and state how to screw unpopular businesses.
Car Dealers
Real Estate Brokers.
Mortgage Loans.
Credit Cards.
Phone companies.
Cable companies.
Internet Service Providers.
Insurance Companies.
Building Contractors.

34   Patrick   2015 Aug 30, 8:15pm  

Strategist says

You know guys, it might be a great idea to have insiders and customers in various businesses come out and state how to screw unpopular businesses.

Car Dealers

...

I'd be delighted if that became patrick.net's contribution to the world. How can I recruit those insiders and promote their posts?

35   Strategist   2015 Aug 30, 8:30pm  


I'd be delighted if that became patrick.net's contribution to the world. How can I recruit those insiders and promote their posts?

Time to brainstorm. There is always a solution, one only has to find it.

36   indigenous   2015 Aug 30, 9:07pm  

We need some more bitches like the one who infiltrated banking inspectors a while back.

http://www.propublica.org/article/ny-fed-fired-examiner-who-took-on-goldman

37   indigenous   2015 Aug 30, 9:27pm  

Now why the fuck can't you use that kind of creativity against the banking industry?

38   FortWayne   2015 Aug 31, 4:57am  

zzyzzx says

Would be interesting to read a post about a realtor's new car buying experience and a car salesperson's home buying experience.

That does bring up an interesting scenario!

39   zzyzzx   2015 Aug 31, 10:00am  

How different is selling used vs new cars?

40   MAGA   2015 Aug 31, 12:08pm  

This weenie is trying to sell me a new car.

Salesturd: "How much per month can you afford to spend on a new car?"
Me: "Nothing"
ST: "What?"
Me: "I pay cash in full"

They are almost as bad as Realtor's.

http://www.toyotaofboerne.com/

42   Shaman   2015 Aug 31, 1:07pm  

I'm surprised you didn't mention the back end of the finance deal. Dealerships send your financials to the bank who then offers a rate. Sometimes the finance guy bumps that rate a point or two and presents the altered deal to the customer. If said customer signs, then the finance guy/dealer splits the extra interest with the bank. It's called "holding points" and it's definitely something to watch out for. It can be worth $500-1500 to the dealer and $4000 to you over the life of the loan.

43   MAGA   2015 Aug 31, 1:18pm  

A favorite trick of San Antonio area dealerships is to load up the car with dealer add-ons. Window tint, protective film, aero kits ($$$). All those add to the dealer's bottom line.

44   EBGuy   2015 Aug 31, 2:50pm  

Anybody have experience with Carlypso? They offer a car price that falls between attending an auction AF style and having to haggle with a used car salesmen. This was the traditional realm of brokers, but they seem to have added an overlay with more transparency.

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