It's not entirely off topic. In the end, grade inflation may actually account for a significant fraction of the sales frontlines stories we read here! Many didn't do their homework when they were in school and many don't do their homework before they get to the showroom.
Honda uses a scale of 1-5 an the only good numbers are 5's.
To some teachers, giving a "5" would be like you giving someone an A+.
I know I'm not perfect and I have to explain how the grading system works every time.
Then there are the people who left unhappy after grinding for three hours. This is after they have spent weeks driving cars, spending hours on the internet and pitting dealer against dealer. they buy the car, finally after making it a miserable process for all parties.
They drive off with the nagging thought that somehow they probably paid 100.00 more than someone else did. They are unhappy because we wouldn't give them the 5000.00 "The Internet" told them their 160,000 mile beat up Caravan with a bad transmission and dead airconditioning was worth.
Thjey had failed to convince us that the transmission "just needed an adjustment" and the air conditioning "just needed a charge".
They couldn't understand why the 160,000 miles could possibly be a problem since they were "ALL freeway miles"
So they left unhappy and some hard working salesperson got trashed on the survey!
Well, Craig - you can always leave this mooch customer to the other dealer and let them have that bad survey along with mini and bad-transmission Caravan, can't you
You check out two Honda dealers and are told that the price on a new Civic is MSRP + $2K take it or leave it. You proceed to a third who lowballed their email and are told MSRP+ $2K but since we made a mistake on the email we will deduct $1K and are not offered the 2.9% Honda financing. You know you shouldn't buy the car but your son insists it has to be a Civic so you go ahead and purchase from the lowballing dealer.
Now when the survey arrives should the salesman who had the take it or leave it attitude be given all "5s"? or should he be raped as he did with the pricing?
I think it's a no win situation being that they lowballed in the first place and was rewarded by the sale cause the people shopping were too tired to go to another dealer. In the same respect to assume or even hope for 5s would be rather dumb on their part. But then again the commission on MSRP+ might have been worth the bash on the survey.
OK, I think I have this whole car sales career figured out now. You just have to be a genius.
You have to figure out a way to screw the customer out of every available dime and then have him or her be so thankful and grateful that they award you perfect scores down to how the lot jockey washed the windshield.
In order to put up with all the BS they have to, most car sales folks must be making some good money somewhere. Else they would be teaching.
In order to put up with all the BS they have to, most car sales folks must be making some good money somewhere. Else they would be teaching
here is how it works 33% of the people in the biz are in the process of getting hired.
33% are in the process of getting fired
33% are selling cars.
I promise you that on average across the board the average teacher makes more then the average car salesmen. The difference is that the people at the top of our proffession make allot more then the average school teacher.
I would bet a $100 that the same theory would hold true between Realtors and Teachers.
here is how it works 33% of the people in the biz are in the process of getting hired.
33% are in the process of getting fired
33% are selling cars.
Man is that the truth even in high line sales. In the just over three years I have been here we have had six different salesman working here including myself. Only myself and my current co-worker have been here the whole time. Nobody else has lasted more then a few months and one only lasted six weeks. Two of them quit, one was fired and one was transfered to another dealership where he fit in better.
I think you have that backward. Teachers who don't make it end up selling cars. :P
Seriously, let's avoid putting down people in other professions. I know you were kidding but folks here tend to get riled when others generalize about car salespeople so we should afford the same respect for other professions that you would expect for your own.
I think you have that backward. Teachers who don't make it end up selling cars.
Well I don't know if you are kidding or not. If you are I guess you can kid and others can't? No one was putting anyone down. Very light hearted humor. I have the utmost respect for teachers and salesmen.
I think you and jmonroe may be on to something. Just for laughs I looked up all the local Accents for sale. I figured that they would be paying people to take them away. Boy, was I wrong.
Among the over-priced Accents on the list was a 2001 GL with 125K miles for about $4000. Another had a NADA clean retail of $5300 and was listed for almost $7000.
Either the local dealers are heavy on the pipe or Hyundais have developed a following in the northeast. :confuse:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Seriously huh what? My MIL has been teaching for nearly 30 years and has a Doctorate and only pulls down 75k a year which is right at the top end of the pay scale for CT. Then you have my college Roommate's mother who has also been teaching for nearly 30 years has a masters and only makes around 40,000 in Virginia. Granted the mean income in CT is around 78,000 and the mean income in VA is probably around 40,000.
I had no idea you were another would be teacher who got a lousy student teaching assignment. I'm in the same boat. I graduated with this nice teaching degree knowing there was no way I was going to do that.
As the son of a teacher I can testify to the fact that during the school year teachers bring home tons of work. So darn much of everything you do has to be document several ways. With all the nutty stuff they've added, the nuttiest being No Child Left Behind I can only imagine how much worse that would be now.
2015 Mazda 6 Grand Touring, 2014 Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback, 1999 Mazda Miata 2004 Toyota Camry LE, 1999.
You will hear of the many hours grading papers, teacher-parent conferences and how they have to buy their own supplies.etc.
Overtime? gee whizz quit whining and join the real world where OT is a given.
As for buying their own supplies? Not when I was in school, not when my kids were in school. Seems like every week there was a note from the teacher stating that the kid needed supplies and we had to get them.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
It would be extremely difficult for any teacher, or car salesperson, to be PERFECT.
I think we all agree on that one but like I said in an earlier post I gave the salesman’s I bought from in 05’ and 06’ perfect scores of 10. And after being here at Edmunds I’m glad I did. Both of them gave me the price I wanted and the deal was done in less than 30 minutes, what more could they have done for me? After learning here that they could lose some money if I didn’t give perfect scores would have been totally unfair to them because of a ridiculus grading system.
In 06’ because I knew the ropes by then, I told the salesman I understood the system and I’d give all 10’s but I told him to tell the departments that weren’t as perfect as him to carry my words to the appropriate people so they would be corrected.
Just a little explanation:
Although the detail job was great and I’m sure they spent some time doing it, they must have done it with the radio on and the doors open the whole time because when I went to get in the car to take it for a test drive the battery was dead. This wasn’t the end of the world but it did delay the test drive for about 45 minutes until the battery was charged. I should mention that when the salesman saw this he was irate and called someone and told them to come over immediately and he said it like, “I mean right now, not when you finish whatever you’re doing, but right NOW”. We then went into F&I to hear that spiel but no papers were signed until after the test drive.
None of that was his fault so why should he lose money for something he can’t control?
The system needs fixed but we as customers, in the know, can’t fix it by giving less than perfect scores to a person who took care of us. All we are doing is killing the goose that laid the golden egg.
Now I’d like to hear from the guys in the biz what they have been doing to fix the “system”.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
There was a guy asking a question in the question and answer section under performance mods. He asked if there were any performance mods for the Hyundai he owned. I mean seriously cmon performance mods for a Hyundai. That's the last thing on a Hyundai owner's mind. There is always and exception. Needless to say no one answered that question.
And there are teachers that also sell cars. In my short stint at another Toyota store I met a lady that's a full time school teacher and sells cars on the weekends when school is in. When school is out she works the summer months everyday. This supplements her income as a teacher rather nicely. Most of her customers are parents of the kids she teaches and church members from her church.
Sure, why not? Hyundai makes the Tiburon which is very popular with the young crowd. They are coming out with the Genesis sport coupe which looks like a beauty of a sports car. Say what you want about Hyundai but they are on their way up. If they had the strong dealer network that Honda and Toyota have we would be using Hyundai in the same sentence. Mack
"The difference is that the people at the top of our profession make alot more than the average school teacher."
That's true in our profession as well. School principals make from $75k-120k depending on the size of their schools. The top end is always your high school principals. Superintendents make from $150k-$250k depending on the size of the school system.
"How many days and hours per year does a car salesman average?"
Why you old traitor! :P I counted you in the profession. Let's not forget that your teachers have to grade papers and make out tests at home. They also have to call parents, attend school functions, etc.---with no extra pay. In addition, they don't get paid for the two summer months. Finally, they take care of those little "demons" all day, and you only have them on the bus for an hour. I'm going to have to keep you in after school. You'll miss your bus.
I'm sorry that we missed you and Craig as teachers. You should have had a better support system. You needed me because I never just dump my new teachers and come back in eight weeks to see if they are alive. :shades:
I am in the car businees now and have 10 years experience in everything form sales to finance to sales manager...I am currently an Internet Manager for a HUGE company. My companies pay structure is desinged around the percentage of satisfied clients that complete the survey. If we fall below 92% average...we lose a huge chunk of pay. One bad survey out of 10 takes costs severely. While we desperately try to satisfy all our clients, the truth is some are going to hammer us on the survey. That is totally unacceptable in the car world today. The sad reality is a common way to get a decent survey is to bribe them with a free tank of gas or some other non cash item. While I am highly impressed with the number of salesman that do not partake in this bribe, I have to admit that the average salesman is pressured from upper management to call every client and offer them this or some other freebie in return for the actual survey...to completed by the salesman and then mailed in to the manufacturer. The manufature is catching on and has automated the system to offer online surveys emailed to you. I only write this to underline the importance of the survey to a salesman's compensation and job security. You have a lot of power so please use it wisely.
Let me understand this. After pulling bait n switch, lowball, two team, hiding potential clients keys, etc. in your opinion you believe that the salesperson should get a good survey for a free tank of gas or lube job?
Not saying that every dealership does this and even those that do and get away with it still believe that the salesperson should get a perfect survey? Or do these stores that actually encourage these practices immune or simply don't care about surveys?
The only reason I ask is that in my opinion it is unreasonable to expect a good survey if the customer felt intimidated, insulted, or taken advantaged of. Then again a tank of gas is worth more each day. :shades:
There is a difference in the young crowd that wants their car to look fast (ricer) and those that actually want it to go fast. I'm sure the aftermarket companies are aware of Hyundai and the fact that no one makes go fast parts for their cars says something.
I mean they make CAI and coffee cans for Corollas how much more could it cost to make one for a Hyundai?
You nailed it. As I mentioned before, those 100% expectations and bonus moneys are designed to squeeze last drop of salespeoples' (and dealers) sweat to push the stuff AND STILL NOT to be paid out to a salesperson/dealership. Dangle it in front of them and then put it deep into a vault and throw away the key... Just like 1 partnership shot "offered" to 100 associates in large law firm, a tenure track in Ivy Legue (without real change for a tenure) and other similar schemes. All just so you guys bust your asses and still come away with nothing.
I know it may be a heresy to say it here, but it appears to me more and more that the salespeople might be better off (at least in terms of achieving balance)considering the money NOT THERE FOR THEM at the first place - and if they get it great, if they don't - well, life goes on. I would not plan my mortgage payments on those CSI bonus payments, if I were in the frontlines, anyway.
It sounds to me like the company you presently work for has made a very good business decision as far as increasing profit margin at the expense of the employees. To have a big part of your income rely so heavily on a piece of paper that will more than likely be thrown in the trash or filled out by a person who is having twinges of “buyers remorse” is not fair to the employee. I have never been in the selling business, but looking at it from the consumer side You are really at my mercy. Lets see: I need a car and I know what I want. I know I’ll be putting out about $5000 up front and will be stuck with $500 a month payments for the next 6 year. You sell me the car and do a wonderful job BTW, I take it home. It’s a great car, looks good, I could not be happier. Several days later or two weeks later the survey shows up in the mail. I sit down to fill it out and you start to think back: Gee, The coffee was not that good. Or he/she had to take a phone call while helping me, or I should have got grey instead of blue.
Awww screw this guy, I’ll never see him again . all zero’s
I perceive your employer as not having a very high regard for the people that allow him the ability to buy a better brand of Scotch.
You have to figure out a way to screw the customer out of every available dime and then have him or her be so thankful and grateful that they award you perfect scores down to how the lot jockey washed the windshield.
That's what's called "Putting someone together" :shades:
This is another term that is used in the business that I don't it think has been mentioned yet :surprise:
Comments
It's not entirely off topic. In the end, grade inflation may actually account for a significant fraction of the sales frontlines stories we read here! Many didn't do their homework when they were in school and many don't do their homework before they get to the showroom.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Honda uses a scale of 1-5 an the only good numbers are 5's.
To some teachers, giving a "5" would be like you giving someone an A+.
I know I'm not perfect and I have to explain how the grading system works every time.
Then there are the people who left unhappy after grinding for three hours. This is after they have spent weeks driving cars, spending hours on the internet and pitting dealer against dealer. they buy the car, finally after making it a miserable process for all parties.
They drive off with the nagging thought that somehow they probably paid 100.00 more than someone else did. They are unhappy because we wouldn't give them the 5000.00 "The Internet" told them their 160,000 mile beat up Caravan with a bad transmission and dead airconditioning was worth.
Thjey had failed to convince us that the transmission "just needed an adjustment" and the air conditioning "just needed a charge".
They couldn't understand why the 160,000 miles could possibly be a problem since they were "ALL freeway miles"
So they left unhappy and some hard working salesperson got trashed on the survey!
2018 430i Gran Coupe
Now when the survey arrives should the salesman who had the take it or leave it attitude be given all "5s"? or should he be raped as he did with the pricing?
I think it's a no win situation being that they lowballed in the first place and was rewarded by the sale cause the people shopping were too tired to go to another dealer. In the same respect to assume or even hope for 5s would be rather dumb on their part. But then again the commission on MSRP+ might have been worth the bash on the survey.
I don't need or want unhappy customers.
It sounded funny and that's why I didn't comment.
You have to figure out a way to screw the customer out of every available dime and then have him or her be so thankful and grateful that they award you perfect scores down to how the lot jockey washed the windshield.
In order to put up with all the BS they have to, most car sales folks must be making some good money somewhere. Else they would be teaching.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
here is how it works
33% of the people in the biz are in the process of getting hired.
33% are in the process of getting fired
33% are selling cars.
I promise you that on average across the board the average teacher makes more then the average car salesmen. The difference is that the people at the top of our proffession make allot more then the average school teacher.
I would bet a $100 that the same theory would hold true between Realtors and Teachers.
33% of the people in the biz are in the process of getting hired.
33% are in the process of getting fired
33% are selling cars.
Man is that the truth even in high line sales. In the just over three years I have been here we have had six different salesman working here including myself. Only myself and my current co-worker have been here the whole time. Nobody else has lasted more then a few months and one only lasted six weeks. Two of them quit, one was fired and one was transfered to another dealership where he fit in better.
I think you have that backward. Teachers who don't make it end up selling cars. :P
Seriously, let's avoid putting down people in other professions. I know you were kidding but folks here tend to get riled when others generalize about car salespeople so we should afford the same respect for other professions that you would expect for your own.
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Well I don't know if you are kidding or not. If you are I guess you can kid and others can't? No one was putting anyone down. Very light hearted humor. I have the utmost respect for teachers and salesmen.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Bet you didn't know that huh? :shades:
I think you and jmonroe may be on to something. Just for laughs I looked up all the local Accents for sale. I figured that they would be paying people to take them away. Boy, was I wrong.
Among the over-priced Accents on the list was a 2001 GL with 125K miles for about $4000. Another had a NADA clean retail of $5300 and was listed for almost $7000.
Either the local dealers are heavy on the pipe or Hyundais have developed a following in the northeast. :confuse:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Look who's the new teachers pet. :P
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
The teachers in my school district average $60K with many pulling down more that $100K. That's for 180 days of work per year 6 hours per day.
How many days and hours per year does a car salesman average?
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
You will hear of the many hours grading papers, teacher-parent conferences and how they have to buy their own supplies.etc.
Are you sure the average salary is 60k?
As for the Bushs in Compton...
That is true sort of. Rom 1949-1950
Bush loves to play up his Texas Roots even though he is actually a Yankee from New Haven, CT. Texan my...
He did go to prep school in my Home town of Midland, TX.
Not a real happy place for sure.
I had no idea you were another would be teacher who got a lousy student teaching assignment. I'm in the same boat. I graduated with this nice teaching degree knowing there was no way I was going to do that.
As the son of a teacher I can testify to the fact that during the school year teachers bring home tons of work. So darn much of everything you do has to be document several ways. With all the nutty stuff they've added, the nuttiest being No Child Left Behind I can only imagine how much worse that would be now.
Most people I know who buy a Hyundai end up loving them.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
Overtime? gee whizz quit whining and join the real world where OT is a given.
As for buying their own supplies? Not when I was in school, not when my kids were in school. Seems like every week there was a note from the teacher stating that the kid needed supplies and we had to get them.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
In IL the average us in the low 50's, with some making 100K+
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I think we all agree on that one but like I said in an earlier post I gave the salesman’s I bought from in 05’ and 06’ perfect scores of 10. And after being here at Edmunds I’m glad I did. Both of them gave me the price I wanted and the deal was done in less than 30 minutes, what more could they have done for me? After learning here that they could lose some money if I didn’t give perfect scores would have been totally unfair to them because of a ridiculus grading system.
In 06’ because I knew the ropes by then, I told the salesman I understood the system and I’d give all 10’s but I told him to tell the departments that weren’t as perfect as him to carry my words to the appropriate people so they would be corrected.
Just a little explanation:
Although the detail job was great and I’m sure they spent some time doing it, they must have done it with the radio on and the doors open the whole time because when I went to get in the car to take it for a test drive the battery was dead. This wasn’t the end of the world but it did delay the test drive for about 45 minutes until the battery was charged. I should mention that when the salesman saw this he was irate and called someone and told them to come over immediately and he said it like, “I mean right now, not when you finish whatever you’re doing, but right NOW”. We then went into F&I to hear that spiel but no papers were signed until after the test drive.
None of that was his fault so why should he lose money for something he can’t control?
The system needs fixed but we as customers, in the know, can’t fix it by giving less than perfect scores to a person who took care of us. All we are doing is killing the goose that laid the golden egg.
Now I’d like to hear from the guys in the biz what they have been doing to fix the “system”.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Mack
Good point. Thanks.
Richard
Those customers probably got "F's" in school.
Richard
That's true in our profession as well. School principals make from $75k-120k depending on the size of their schools. The top end is always your high school principals. Superintendents make from $150k-$250k depending on the size of the school system.
Richard
You really do remember that late night a few months ago don't you?
Richard
We appreciate that, too. :shades:
Richard
He gets an A+ (10) survey from me.
Richard
Why you old traitor! :P I counted you in the profession. Let's not forget that your teachers have to grade papers and make out tests at home. They also have to call parents, attend school functions, etc.---with no extra pay. In addition, they don't get paid for the two summer months. Finally, they take care of those little "demons" all day, and you only have them on the bus for an hour.
Richard.
You know me pretty well by now, don't you?
Richard
Richard
Richard
You cannot lose what you have not earned. :shades:
tidester, host
SUVs and Smart Shopper
Not saying that every dealership does this and even those that do and get away with it still believe that the salesperson should get a perfect survey? Or do these stores that actually encourage these practices immune or simply don't care about surveys?
The only reason I ask is that in my opinion it is unreasonable to expect a good survey if the customer felt intimidated, insulted, or taken advantaged of. Then again a tank of gas is worth more each day. :shades:
I mean they make CAI and coffee cans for Corollas how much more could it cost to make one for a Hyundai?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I know it may be a heresy to say it here, but it appears to me more and more that the salespeople might be better off (at least in terms of achieving balance)considering the money NOT THERE FOR THEM at the first place - and if they get it great, if they don't - well, life goes on. I would not plan my mortgage payments on those CSI bonus payments, if I were in the frontlines, anyway.
2018 430i Gran Coupe
I have never been in the selling business, but looking at it from the consumer side You are really at my mercy.
Lets see: I need a car and I know what I want. I know I’ll be putting out about $5000 up front and will be stuck with $500 a month payments for the next 6 year.
You sell me the car and do a wonderful job BTW, I take it home. It’s a great car, looks good, I could not be happier.
Several days later or two weeks later the survey shows up in the mail. I sit down to fill it out and you start to think back: Gee, The coffee was not that good. Or he/she had to take a phone call while helping me, or I should have got grey instead of blue.
Awww screw this guy, I’ll never see him again . all zero’s
I perceive your employer as not having a very high regard for the people that allow him the ability to buy a better brand of Scotch.
That's what's called "Putting someone together" :shades:
This is another term that is used in the business that I don't it think has been mentioned yet :surprise:
GP
Maybe it will come with your stimulus check
GP
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D