10 Things I Learned from Car Salesmen

Recently, I bought a new BMW M3, both to commute around San Francisco and to race (guess which one I like better??).  And while my business success allowed me to buy the car of my dreams this time around and made the process of car shopping a lot more enjoyable, I’ve had plenty of different experiences – both good and bad – with car salesman throughout my life.

It’s certainly not a job that I’d ever want to try my hand at, but I believe that there’s a lot you can learn from the men and women in this profession.  The following are just a few of the lessons I’ve picked up from my past experiences shopping for cars:

Lesson #1 – Appearances matter

While car shopping during my most recent trip and over previous sales, I’ve always been amazed by the variability you see between shops.  Some car lots go above and beyond to transform their showrooms into galleries that showcase the best features of their various makes and models.  Others have looked so dirty and disorganized that I was afraid to even test drive their cars – let alone hand over my hard-earned money.

The truth is that appearances matter, whether it’s the clothes that you wear as you walk down the street or the way your website looks to new visitors.  It isn’t shallow to care about appearances – it’s a vital part of conveying to the people in your life just how much you care about your business and yourself.

Lesson #2 – Listen first

A good car salesman knows to listen to what the customer is saying before making any recommendation.  After all, initial appearances might not reveal that a young couple is looking for a larger vehicle before starting a family, or that a seemingly young adult might be looking for a top-of-the-line luxury vehicle.

The same goes for business people in any industry.  Stop thinking that you have the magic answer to any question, or that your product’s features alone will get you a sale.  Instead, start listening to what your customers are actually asking for and then determine how your products or services can meet their standard needs.

Lesson #3 – Know your products

If you think about it, keeping up with the number of cars that enter and exit a salesperson’s lot every day is a pretty tall order.  Not only are cars being sold all the time, but these salesmen must also stay caught up with both new line models and all the cars being brought in off trade-ins.

But for these same salesmen – and really, anyone else who sells something in his line of work – knowing the intimate details of an ever-changing product line isn’t just a good idea.  It’s a “must do” for salespeople who want to increase their odds of matching the right customer to the right vehicle.

Lesson #3 – Let the customer fall in love

Now, assuming that you – as a salesperson – have done a good job listening to your customer’s needs and matching him up with available products, you should be able to make a product recommendation that represents such an obvious solution that the sale is practically guaranteed.  Indeed, for many salespeople, one of the biggest challenges in making a sale is simply getting out of the way and letting it happen!

Good car salespeople know that they don’t often need to do much actual convincing.  Instead, what they need to do is match customers with their ideal cars and then let the products they’re selling speak for themselves.

Lesson #4 – Think about your buying environment

If you walk into a BMW dealership, you aren’t going to be greeted by a greasy salesman with a thick moustache and an open collar.  Instead, you’ll likely encounter a well-groomed sales team member who escorts you into expertly designed rooms and offers you an assortment of snacks and beverages.

This isn’t by accident.  The dealership understands how important it is to put customers in a buying state of mind before they even begin negotiating on numbers.  You can do the same thing in your office, in your store or on your website – really, wherever you sell products or push ideas.  Put some effort into creating the right frame of mind within your prospects, and you’ll be much more likely to make the sale.

Lesson #5 – Think long term

One of the car salesmen I encountered in the past said something that really stuck with me.  He said, “I’m not trying to sell you a car – I’m trying to sell your children cars.”

While he obviously did want to make a deal with me, his point was clear.  Sure, he’d love to get me into a new car, but he was ultimately more concerned with making sure the car and the deal that came along with it met my needs so successfully that I’d ultimately return and refer others to him in the future.

If you ask me, that’s a pretty powerful way to think about business.

Lesson #7 – Make things manageable

By now, most people are familiar with the car sales industry’s “four squares” trick.  Basically, instead of negotiating on price alone, car sales people present you with four different cost variables, including your trade-in value, your monthly payments, your down payment and the car’s sticker price.  Then, they begin negotiations based on the car’s estimated monthly payment, as this number is smaller and much more manageable for buyers than it feels to address the total price right off the bat.

Of course, if you’re the one buying a car, negotiating around your ideal monthly payment is the worst way to go, as these calculations almost always benefit the dealer over your own financial interests.  However, from the perspective of a salesperson, it’s an important lesson to learn.  Instead of forcing your prospective customer to stare down the full cost of a car’s sticker price, looking at monthly payment figures seems much more manageable – making it more likely that a sale will occur.

You can do the same thing with your products or services by breaking down higher costs into payment plans or smaller intervals (for example, “For just $5 a day…”) in order to help customers see your prices as being more affordable and doable.

Lesson #8 – Know your break-even point

When it comes to price negotiations, car salesmen always have an advantage over buyers – they know exactly how much money they have into a given car.  Although you may be able to estimate their investment into a vehicle based on online invoices and trade in estimates, there are a number of incentives available to dealers that only industry insiders have access to.

The advantage here is that the car salesperson knows exactly how low he can go in negotiations without losing money.  But surprisingly, plenty of people selling products and services these days don’t know their own break-even point – resulting in businesses that are losing money, despite high demand and high conversion rates.

If you’re selling something, you’ve got to know exactly what it costs you to market and close a sale.  Be sure to account for both fixed and variable costs (including any overhead and staffing expenses as well) in order to determine exactly how to price your products to ensure you actually make money.

Lesson #9 – Always follow up

Over the course of my last car buying decision, I wound up talking to quite a few different dealers before making a final purchase – which, of course, resulted in a stack of business cards from the various salespeople I met with.

What surprised me, though, was how different each dealership’s follow up approach was.  Some called so often that it got annoying, while others never even bothered to call back.  Only a few hit the sweet spot of following up at appropriate intervals that gave me enough time to evaluate my options and come up with follow up questions based on the cars I saw.

And while nobody likes being bothered by overly-enthusiastic salespeople, it was clear that those who never followed up didn’t really want my business.  Instead, it was the salesmen who called to check in occasionally that demonstrated that they cared about me and my needs, which went a long way towards helping me to finalize my eventual purchase decision.

The lesson here is that, if you want people to trust you, show them you care by following up at appropriate intervals!

Lesson #10 – Develop a thick skin

Honestly, I’m not sure if there’s anyone else in the world with a thicker skin than a car salesman.  Think about how often he’s told “No” in a given day – from customers who will wind up making purchases elsewhere and from managers who won’t give the go-ahead on the final numbers that are needed to make a deal.

I think there’s a huge lesson to be found there.  No matter what industry you’re in, you’re going to hear the word “No” from time to time.  Whether or not you’re able to brush off your disappointment and continue to push forward towards your goals is going to play a huge role in your success, so stop getting upset when you’re told you can’t do something and start learning how to move forward using a different set of tactics.

Overall, while it may not be the world’s most glamorous job, there are a number of skills that every marketer can learn from car salesmen.  The lessons represent a few of the techniques I’ve picked up from these employees, but if you have any others to share based on your own personal experiences, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below:

 

Entrepreneur & Digital Marketing Strategist

I build and grow SaaS companies.

“When it comes to marketing, Sujan is the best. I’ve never met someone with such creative tactics and deep domain knowledge not just in one channel, but in every flavor of marketing. From content, to scrappy guerrilla tactics, to PR, Sujan always blows my mind with what he comes up with.”

RYAN FARLEY Co-Founder of Lawn Starter

Comment (10) - Cancel Reply

David L. Jack, Sr. 146 months ago

I was a former car salesman. Once the customer leaves the lot without a deal, than your chances of making that sale drops to around %10. A good salesman must get a commitment during the sales presentation or move on to the next customer.

Reply
alanauer 146 months ago

“… it was the salesmen who called … demonstrated that they cared about me and my needs….”

Are you serious?

Reply
tahrey 143 months ago

Is lesson #6 “pay attention to the small details”?

Reply
civic 143 months ago

car salesmen (and estate agents) are useless to this planet …

Reply
Edgar 93 months ago

Mooch customers who are not happy even after they took all the profit are useless including you my friend

Reply
Randy Surles 143 months ago

The most important point you made was that the salesman must listen to the buyer.

A salesman must also empathize, sort of crawl into the mind of the buyer and feel what he or she is feeling during the process. A salesman who pressures when the buyer is feeling cornered will never get the sale.

In a way the process is like asking a lady for a date. The salesman must never come across as “desperate” or over-anxious. Often times, he or she who *seems* to care the least comes out with the sale, not meaning that the salesman doesn’t care what the buyer wants and needs, but that the salesman is always in tune with the buyer’s mental and emotional state – and acts accordingly to fulfill those wants and needs.

Reply
Melissa 141 months ago

Thank you for this insightful article! As a car salesperson, I have learned a great deal about marketing, finance, how to really listen, personal accountability, and how to handle rejection with class, among many other things. I have worked in the corporate world and in and educational setting, neither of which prepared me for the world of car sales. It’s a tough business, but also very rewarding. Unexpectedly, this job has helped my confidence, ability to communicate with my peers, and has made me a more resilient person. It’s not for everyone, but a few years in the business can really change you for the better and provide invaluable tools for many other positions.

Reply
Dan 141 months ago

Melissa / Randy,

Long story, but I too am coming out of the corporate world into BMW sales. Haven’t started yet, but doing my due diligence.

Can you elaborate on your experience? How long have you been doing it? What are you selling? How much are you earning on average? Was there anything that you were surprised to learn (good or bad) after starting? Any other recommendations (besides listening & being empathetic) on how to be successful?

Thank you!!

Reply
Your Marketing Horoscope for Late September - The Craft - 110 months ago

[…] charisma that you never knew you had. To truly hone these skills, read Sujan Patel’s article 10 Things I Learned from Car Salesmen or The Art of Seduction by Robert […]

Reply
jimy odarnl 106 months ago

great stuff, every little tid bit of knowledge is a good thing,like an apple. I haven’t started yet but I am looking forward to testing my abilities in this profession. The really antagonizing part is how much product knowledge is needed. The cars and trucks are incredible. I am excited about selling these beauties.

Reply