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Gerald · Oct 8, 2009

Hey Alex- good to hear from you. LOL, no I am not privvy to what you and Jeff are writing...

However, as you say the paranoia of social media can best be illustrated by the now infamous case of the young woman who fired for fbooking her boss was a wanker and some other quality remarks about her place of employ.

the point is, she is an illustration of why it is important for a business to keep a reign on what is being published. By keeping it in the hands a select few with control will minimize that business' liability or embarrassment in the online AND real communities

Oct 8, 2009

hahaa... A new criteria for hiring a sales rep is how many FB followers they'll bring!

Or... "we can't fire him, he's got all those FB connections"

Oct 8, 2009

OTOH, If I am a sales rep, I am all over Social Media because it's an extension of yourself. It leverages your personal connections (and travels with you where ever you go

.

Social Media = Self Media.

Oct 8, 2009

I'm in Joe's camp. Before you can maximize your opportunities on your own website, I wouldn't put a lot of resources behind Social Media...just yet a least.

Oct 8, 2009

Steven - do you have a link to IBM's policy?

Oct 8, 2009

I'm on the record on this topic, "The Emperor has no clothes" http://forum.dealerrefresh.com/f44/emporer-has-no-clothes-243.html

My 2cents...
Working Social Media is simply working an audience. Have you "worked" your web site's audience to its maximum potential?

FACT #1).
99% of your BUYERS visited your site prior to purchase (that's powerful!)

FACT #2).
99% of your sites visitors... DON'T BUY FROM YOU.

Want Proof? Read our forum thread, "Where did they all go?" http://forum.dealerrefresh.com/f43/web-visitors-vs-sales-survey-218.html

YOUR TIME IS NOT INFINITE.
We're talking ROI of your time! Why work Social Media when there are so many marketing and merchandising opportunities on our web sites!

Do the math, improve your visitor to sales ratio by one tenth of one percent, now that's ROI that gets me juiced!

@Gerald · Oct 8, 2009

@Gerald your last point is a big one. How many dealers even read their online reviews or know where and how to find them. Also how to engage with a customer in the social realm is different, do you know his /her social graph, best avenue to approach, plan in place to resolve. It is different than the telephone for sure.

I think making a dashboard for the key folks to be able to hear and see what is happening with their online conversation would be the best way for them to start.

@alex just had a big conversation about this blocking thing- "with my i-phone and my own laptop. I don't need the companies stinking computer to do what I need to do? (GenY comment and thought in survey) Also the next gen will not be interested in working in that environment. Social media policy needs to be put in place so that everyone know the rules and what it would take to be fired over it. IBM has one of the best out there, and it will work for any business because the size doesn't matter because being social is a 1-1 game if done right. Look forward to reading future posts.

Oct 8, 2009

Jeff,

You hit all the key points. I have recently worked with a small dealer group on just getting their understanding of what the future will look like in the near term with the Gen y buyers, and the future impact it will have on the sales methodologies that will be needed.

Your last statement that the dealer needs to be his own brand really hits home for me ( I agree), how do you truly make your dealership not the same as the customer base is doing everything to make it a commodity- If you asked all the GM's at the dealer level if they have a written mission statement that is written anywhere besides the employee handbook and is talked about weekly in some format what % do you think will be doing it. (when was it updated last, with employee, customer, vendor involvement?)

From a business ecosystem there are some flaws that make it a short term quick sale 100% commission..if they leave you never get them back mentality that will make it very tough to look long term- why did it take so long for them to adopt real e-commerce compared to other industries? Social Business Design is the way it really needs to be looked at- not Social Media because with that term you just get the "oh a new channel or tools" not a ah-ha moment of wow I can listen to my customer, I can engage with them, and can get them to help me change my way of doing business that aligns more with the way they want to do it. These communications technologies will be changing our society the same way that Mr.Ford did at the start of the industrial revolution- it will be that big. The dealers will all get there over time it just going to be the forward thinking ones that can really make the biggest moves...

Oct 8, 2009

Gerald - did you get a schedule of the next few DealerRefresh articles? There are a few in the can about a lot of what you just said.

The big point you have is something we aren't planning to write, but I'd love to....maybe I will now. It would be an address to the IT Directors and the people who pull their strings about dropping their paranoia of social media. In today's business environment the IT department's policies can hamper business, and I believe some reorganization is needed in that area.

Gerald · Oct 8, 2009

Why indeed. My response is there are several reasons. First, lack of understanding. They not only don't understand the magnitude and reach of social networking, they may not perceive it as a value-added benefit to the store.

If they do understand the reach, they probably do not understand HOW to use it. For example, one dealer I work with called a buddy and told him he has to get a facebook and twitter account for his store. That was it. No advice on how to use it because he thinks simply putting a vehicle on fbook and twitter will yield sales.

Secondly, to your point, there may not be someone to take ownership. And if there is, wouldn't that take time away from selling a vehicle? That is the thought. If someone is not in front of a customer or calling someone on the phone, they are not being productive. Many times I heard the "get out there and prospect" speech, but push came to shove, management would seldom let sales people leave the store to prospect.

Third, and there was a recent post on Mashable about this, more than half the employers block social networking sites, and in many instances, for good reason. This would preclude the opportunity to engage.

Lastly, it is amazing to me to see how much attention is given to fbook, twitter and other user generated content sources, yet those who ARE using social networking are not paying ANY attention to their onine reputations. I would be interested to see if the latter is actually HAMPERING a dealers online efforts, especially with regards to social media.

bpulseadmin · Oct 7, 2009

Reynolds and Reynolds announced today the nationwide roll-out of a new product for automotive dealers and the car-buying public: CarLocate.com, a car search portal designed to offer a better way for consumers to find a car they want to buy and to give dealerships another proven way to market their vehicle inventory to more consumers.

“Reynolds designed and built this new product from the ground up to better connect the business needs of dealers with the car-buying needs of consumers,” said Trey Hiers, vice president of Corporate Marketing at Reynolds and Reynolds. “We’ve taken our knowledge of automotive dealerships – and the entire car buying process – and applied that to the Web experience that consumers go through in searching for a car.”

CarLocate.com is available to dealerships that use the Reynolds POWER or ERA® dealership management system (DMS).

“When you consider the substantial number of dealerships that operate on ERA or POWER, along with the aggregate inventories those dealers carry, we have an opportunity to put consumers in touch with a vast number of cars – and better choices for finding the car that matches best with what an individual consumer may want,” Hiers said.

Hiers indicated the company has seen a strong initial response from dealers to partner with Reynolds on CarLocate.com, with nearly 3,500 dealerships already signed to use the site. Reynolds currently is in the process of adding active inventory from these dealerships.

“CarLocate.com is one more advantage of being a Reynolds customer,” Hiers added.

Benefits for Dealerships

Eight out of ten car buyers typically shop online for a vehicle before visiting a dealership. CarLocate.com is designed to help dealers reach consumers more cost-effectively and to extend the value of the dealer’s data in the DMS.

“Since Reynolds develops both the DMS software and the CarLocate.com site, we’re able to design the site and search features to make optimal use of vehicle data in the DMS,” Hiers said.

Hiers also pointed to two other advantages that CarLocate.com offers for dealers: First, Internet leads from CarLocate.com are loaded automatically into the dealer’s customer relationship management tool. Second, when a dealership updates its vehicle inventory in the DMS, the changes are seamlessly reflected on CarLocate.com.

“We’re not just another media company or Internet start-up looking for a way to replace classified ads or clicks, like many of the sites out there today,” Hiers said. “We are experts in automotive retailing and in technology and in bringing the two together, which is what we’ve done with CarLocate.com.”

CarLocate.com is one of a number of new products that Reynolds has developed and launched this year.

“We’ve always believed in a strategy where we continue to invest in our business for the long term,” Hiers concluded. “We’ve actually increased our focus on product development during this downturn. That will put us in an even stronger position to help dealers grow their business once the recovery takes hold. CarLocate.com is the latest example.”

Appeal for Consumers

CarLocate.com is built to offer consumers an appealing choice in car search portals. The site features:

A clean, uncluttered design that’s easy to navigate;
A single focus on finding the right car;
More efficient vehicle search features to deliver results more closely tailored to what consumers want; and
Easy-to-use tools to narrow searches across more than a dozen specific attributes – location, car model, engine type, price, miles per gallon – or search on several attributes simultaneously.

The nationwide launch of CarLocate.com coincides with the 46th annual Northwood University International Auto Show, Oct. 2-4, where CarLocate.com is one of the featured booths. The show, which is billed as the largest outdoor auto show in North America, expects some 50,000 visitors throughout the three-day event. The opening ceremony and ribbon cutting are scheduled to feature Robert A. Lutz, vice chairman, marketing and communications, General Motors Company.

Reynolds has a longstanding, active relationship with Northwood University, dating back to 1975.

# # #
About Reynolds and Reynolds
Reynolds and Reynolds is the automotive industry’s largest and most trusted provider of automobile dealership software, services, and forms to help dealerships improve business results. The company is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio, with major operations in Houston and College Station, Texas, and Celina, Ohio. (www.reyrey.com)

About CarLocate.com
CarLocate.com combines the best in search technology with the best in site design to make the experience of locating and buying a car simpler, easier, and more effective. (www.carlocate.com or e-mail info@carlocate.com)

CarLocate.com also can be found on:
Facebook: Facebook
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/carlocate
YouTube: Car Locate

Oct 8, 2009

Widget heaven here. Great idea with a great future. Like this one big time. Some new skill sets will have to be learned to engage in this manner for sure. Any interest in taking that into other industries? Pizza Hut i-phone widget now get your car that way too. LOL It is part of the future. What % of dealer websites are 2.0 types yet? % using chat, video e-mail response, salesman livestreaming any out there yet? I know several insurance, real estate types that are...

bpulseadmin · Oct 5, 2009

ActivEngage Launches New Facebook Application to Connect Automotive Dealers with More Consumers Online

Orlando, Florida, September 29, 2009- ActivEngage, the automotive industry’s premier provider of proactive live chat with business intelligence for dealer websites, today announced the launch of a custom Facebook application to increase online engagement and reach for auto dealerships. As the world’s largest and fastest growing online social networking site, Facebook offers auto dealerships significant opportunities to connect with more consumers online. Dealers can now use ActivEngage live chat on Facebook to communicate in real-time, even if they are not logged in to their dealership account. The application also allows dealers to share content and videos with consumers on Facebook via live chat, and even post information on consumers’ profile walls.The new Facebook application is ActivEngage’s latest tools to help dealers better leverage technology and connect with more consumers where they spend time online. According to Facebook, the site now has more than 300 million active users and more than 120 million users log on to Facebook on a daily basis. In addition, more than two-thirds of Facebook users are outside of college and the fastest growing demographic is users who are 35 years of age and older.

The new ActivEngage application provides significant advancements to merely having a dealership Facebook page; dealers can now connect with consumers via ActivEngage live chat, even if they are not logged in to the dealership Facebook account. The new application offers dealers a single location to manage chat interactions with consumers, no matter where the communication takes place online: the dealership website, microsites, Facebook, email, newsletters and more.

In addition, dealers can now use ActivEngage’s “shop with me” technology on Facebook to share videos and other dealership and vehicle information, creating a virtual sales experience via live chat. Further, with consumers’ permission, dealers can even post content directly on users’ profile pages from the new chat application. This means that vehicle and dealership content can now be consumed by “friends of friends” on Facebook, creating a viral platform for dealership content. Users can also add comments on dealership profile postings, providing even more exposure by encouraging their network members to comment on postings, even if they are not in the dealership’s Facebook network. The new application can expand dealership reach to hundreds, or even thousands, more Facebook users through sharing content on friends’ and fans’ profiles.

“We constantly monitor automotive consumer behavior and trends to make sure that our dealers can engage with shoppers, no matter where they are online,” commented Ted Rubin, ActivEngage co-founder. “And consumers of all ages now spend more and more time on Facebook, in greatly increasing numbers. We developed this easy to use application to help dealers reach more consumers through this vital channel.”

About ActivEngage: (www.ActivEngage.com)
ActivEngage’s proprietary business intelligence helps automotive dealers meet the needs of shoppers by providing dealerships easy to use, powerful website tools. Advanced live chat services let dealers identify, initiate interaction and communicate with website visitors in real-time. The essential person-to-person Meet & Greet that dealers require at the physical showroom is now possible on the dealership website through ActivEngage. This proactive website engagement decreases abandonment rates and increases website lead generation with the thousands of visitors the average dealership receives each month. ActivEngage provides the edge that dealerships need to engage more customers who browse for information because it starts building a personal relationship with shoppers from the moment they hit the dealership website. ActivEngage offers three tiers of service to ensure that all website visitors’ experiences are enjoyable and uncomplicated, thereby increasing the value of dealership websites through better lead generation.

bpulseadmin · Oct 5, 2009

AutoUSA Reports 500% Increase in Email and Phone Leads for Dealers From Pay-Per-Lead Inventory Listing Network

Fort Lauderdale, FL October 5, 2009 — AutoUSA (www.autousa.com), the industry’s leading provider of the highest quality, Internet-generated consumer leads to auto dealers nationwide, today announced a 500% increase in email and phone leads for dealers since April 2009 from its pay-per-lead Inventory Listing Network, powered by Vast.com. The company also reported that the number of dealers listing their inventory through the service has been steadily increasing at a rate of 20% per month.

“AutoUSA is experiencing great success and phenomenal growth with its pay-per-lead Inventory Listing Network,” said Mike Shawd, director of sales at AutoUSA. “Vast.com is doing an incredible job exposing dealership inventory to in-market buyers.”

AutoUSA’s Inventory Listing Network currently provides exposure to 15 million unique in-market car shoppers monthly, and is expected to grow to an estimated 20 million buyers by year-end, for a dealer’s used and new inventory listings. Inventory is posted at top automotive sites such as Kelley Blue Book’s The Trusted MarketplaceSM, AOL Autos, CarPerks.com, Overstock.com, AutoMedia.com, CarDomain.com and AutoUSA’s used car website, AutoUSAused.com.

The service also includes a pay-for-performance pricing plan in which dealers only pay for the valid leads they receive each month. When inventory becomes depleted, dealers only pay for leads on available inventory listings.

“Instead of paying per lead for used car leads, most dealers pay a monthly subscription fee to list their vehicles on a website. When the inventory shrinks, like what has happened on the other side of the Cash for Clunkers program, the dealer ends up with fewer leads, but still has to pay the subscription fee,” said Phil DuPree, president of AutoUSA. “Our pay-for-performance service eliminates this entire problem.”

Dealers who sign up for AutoUSA Inventory Network can have their inventory appearing online within a week, with a phone number shown on each listing, allowing consumers to contact the dealer while viewing the listing.

There are no long-term contract commitments, and dealers can opt out of the program at any time with a 30-day notice. AutoUSA also employs a stringent scrubbing process for incoming leads from the Vehicle Listing Network that eliminates duplicates and filters out leads with missing or incorrect contact information, such as phone and email addresses.

“We’ve been using AutoUSA’s Vehicle Listing Network for the past year and the quality of leads is superior to all the other lead providers,” says Suzanne Brief, e-commerce director for Dallas Dodge Chrysler Jeep. “I’m in the process of severing relationships with most of my 3rd party providers, and AutoUSA will be one of the few we keep.”

Vast.com is a search and advertising platform optimized to match every shopper to specific, available cars for sale and to a responsive dealer. The Vast network currently reaches 15 million unique in-market car shoppers monthly, and is expected to grow to an estimated 20 million buyers by year-end, with 4.5 million used and new vehicle inventory listings.

For more information on AutoUSA’s Inventory Listing Network, call 877-204-2112. To view AutoUSA’s new Vehicle Listing Network online video, go to: http://no-car-left-behind.com/autousa/

Oct 11, 2009

Amanda - Great to see you here!

I have been exposed to the car business since I was a kid, benefiting the lovely traits from my parents. I sold the old beaters for my dad at the shop to the public. It eventually evolved from there to getting into the Repossession business and so forth evolving to Internet Sales etc. I didn't get suckered into the dealerships to make money, shoot you can make a decent living, very nice, off selling cars. I sold a ton. What driven me to sell more and stay with the dealerships is the passion of sales. Getting to the dealership to help with balloons, getting the lot looking good and making coffee for the boys. This is what made me successful at the dealership is the joy of working a deal and making a family, individual, happy with their purchase.
I did have to fight my battles and to stand my ground. The most popular term of hate, being snaked! Many have tried it however I stood my ground. Drove me a little bonkers and they were shocked how I kept track.... Hello I controlled the CRM / Kiosk etc & Internet. I knew everyone that walked through that door.
People make their own choices of complaining about how sales suck, not making money, on and on and on..... Get your A** out of huddle,drop your smoke, get back to basics and get your feet on the street! You make your decision of making money!

You can complain all day about how sales suck, Surely I am the last person that wants to hear it because you can make money and more sales, just get out there and do it.

Amanda Marsal · Oct 6, 2009

I would definately say that the majority of the people in this business got started just as a way to pay the bills until what they really wanted to do came along, and I am no different. I left Indiana at 18 yr old to attend the Walt Disney World college program. I had a blast, absolutely fell in love with Florida, and decided that after the semester was over that I wanted to stay in FL. Well, I had two weeks to find an appartment (and a job) or it was back to the Hoosier state for me. Where was I able to find a job on such short notice with absolutely no experience as an almost 19yr old girl? A car dealership! They hired me (must have been desperate, because looking back I know I was totally clueless) and I started the next week. I knew that being young and a female, that no one was going to take me seriously, so I had to work twice as hard and know twice as much as the other 30 sales guys (1 other female). Within three months I was selling 25 cars a month, and almost got fired one Saturday because; I had three deals working in three different offices and let one of the families go to lunch and come back later to sign-up. This is the only business in the world where you can almost get fired the same day you sell 4 cars. Needless to say, the biz kind of grew on me, and ten years later, I am the Internet Manager for four car dealerships in Southern Indiana. I am a lifer for sure!

@alex · Oct 5, 2009

@alex...just came back from the Airport and saw you response...YOU ARE FUNNY...my hat off to you and your organization. I am sure we'll see each other soon.
Volker Jaeckel

Oct 5, 2009

I found myself sitting in the service lounge at Ft Myers Toyota getting my Camry serviced on my only day off. Twenty two years in the restaurant business and I had finally arrived, Food and Beverage Director of a prestigious Country Club. Then how come I was still bussing tables, washing dishes, bartending and hosting?

I was sitting there reading the paper looking at the want ads, (remember them?) when it hit me. Everyone here seems happy, they all look like they have a purpose. Honestly I had no idea what kind of money car salespeople made.

I went to the receptionist, remember it was my day off, so I'm in shorts, probably a Van Halen t-shirt, sandals, you get the picture.
The receptionist looked at me like I had three heads when I asked for an application. She then went on to inform me that they did not hire sales people with out experience. So with that I went off filled out the app and brought it back the next day.

Well I got the interview with John Marazzi and ultimately the job, but it was one of the most incredible interviews ever. In fact it totally changed my perspective on interviewing people, and I have interviewed hundreds!

John asked me how many hours a week I worked, hah, 80 or so. He asked how much i made and I proudly exclaimed 68k! He said wow, that's a lot of hours for such a little amount of money.

I had no idea what to say, I was actually speechless. John then told that in order to make the transition to selling ca5rs from a 22 year comfort zone there would have to be a considerable amount of pain in what I was doing. He told me to go home and talk to my wife, think hard about it then let him know if I still wanted to make the change.

I did just that. I called him the next day, told him I was ready. I started training the following week. I poured myself into it. I practiced walk-arounds in my driveway at night with friends, family, neighbors. Penciled deals at my dinner table. The point was that there was no try. I had a family to feed. I sold 9 minis in April 2002. I finished that year with a higher year to date than I had ever made before. Seven months later I was promoted to the desk. (The Internet Department is another story.)
Sure this business is stressful at times, but I don’t recall ever smiling, laughing and pumping my fist in the air while bussing tables. Sales can be exhilarating!
If we suck, it’s because we have hired ourselves into that position. I have since interviewed mortgage brokers, realtors, etc. for sales positions and I have asked them the same question that John asked me.
It’s been kind of fun reliving that story and I even felt a bit self indulgent but what the hell. What we as managers need to do is maintain the integrity of Salesmanship. If we choose to let people who want to “Play cars” walk in and out of our showroom on a whim then we will have no choice but to settle for “Suck”

Oct 5, 2009

I was in the Sign Business in Charlotte when I decided to look for a better life. My eye caught an ad for help wanted at the Dodge store on busy Independence Blvd. When interviewed I was sat down with the #1 sales person there, his name was General Washington (I'm so serious). He told me give the car business 90 days, and if I'm not making more money than I ever have, try something else. Well, now 14 years later (not all of that in the car business, but most), I find myself making more money than I ever have. So the General was on the money - and well that's the only reason I work in this business.

DennisGalbraith · Oct 4, 2009

I just couldn't get it down with text alone, so here is the three minute video. - YouTube

Oct 3, 2009

GREAT GREAT post. I was sucked in by the money early on... a good buddy's mom was a service advisor and he always told the tales of making TEN BUCKS AN HOUR MAN, just to wash cars... Boom - i was in! In a REAL small town in northwest Ontario and at 15 that was damn appealing... its now 10 years later and I'm still in it for the excitement.

Oct 3, 2009

John,
Let me clarify my thoughts. This industry does not suck. It is just taking longer for the folks who refuse to bring it to the next level to get out. They got in, made money while it was great in spite of their lack of education, knowledge or self esteem. Those same folks moved up through the ranks and became responsible for the negative perception of the, shall we say, Dealership Salesfloor Mentality. When the business started shifting and the customers were armed with more and more knowledge, the only thing they knew to do was what they were trained, nothing different. Now many of them had the self worth and personal pride to take it upon themselves to adapt, learn, share, and become successful. They found what they never had been given. I agree about it being a pain to train for some time but you seem very intelligent and have zeal. Which is worse, spending more time to be able to do this correctly or, listening to those who say that is the way it is? Those are the 7-8 car guys or the complainers in the service drive. Break the rules, sell a car, learn, assemble what you need, stand in front of them until they give you the answers you need and you can tell them you would rather work smart than blind. Nothing is worse in the big picture than being poorly informed and trying to wing it. When you don't get away with it just one time, you create a bad vision from the customer that has your name tied to it. What does that mean for you over 3 years when they tell everyone they know and they know and on and on. Just say I don't know and find the answer or get someone who does. You will be fine if you swallow the training pill. If they won't arm you, arm yourself, be professional, be proactive every time. It seperates the rock stars from the groupies. Then you will understand why this really is the best business to ever be associated with. Help people and really care or get a job at Burger King. That is what I meant.

JohnScott · Oct 3, 2009

@ Kim Clause.

I watched your video, the one point I found interesting and reluctantly agree with is about employees having contact with customers before they're trained. I say reluctantly because I am a new employee, and think it would drive me crazy to have to sit through a week or weeks of training before dealing with customers. On the flip side I was answering phones and being asked questions from customers about prices on my first day. Doesn't sound that bad , till you factor in that we don't have a price list. There is no printed price sheet, computer database, brochure, or anything that I can go to to find out how much a tire balance and rotate cost.

What do I do? I try to get the attention of one of the 2 SA's and ask them while they're speaking to their customers, so it becomes a chain reaction of chaos. I Often get 2 different answers.

The thing is Ive asked other folks in the industry and they say that's how it is all over.

Whats the big deal? Why cant someone whos sitting around most of the day get on an excel spread sheet and print some prices, codes, with a short description?

I know how to treat a customer and make them feel like they're the most important thing in my life at that moment, but what good is that if I cant answer their questions.

From what Ive been reading here, and from my travels visiting dealers up and down the east coast proper TRAINING of employees and management is one the biggest issues facing this industry.

Lets just say its probably going to be a long time before a dealership wins the Malcolm Baldrige award.

I think all of these issues could be addressed and overcome with a little bit of effort. Wouldn't this "slow" period be the best time to start working on them?

Let me add that I do understand that management currently has a lot to deal with right now trying to keep the business running in this tight economy, so I do feel for them.

This industry doesnt have to SUCK!

Oct 3, 2009

I forgot to mention that I was one of those people that moved around. The most I ever worked in one store was 2 years. I found that real talent does not last long in a store unless that store appreciates you and you are treated fairly. I had some bad experiences like pay plan chopped to position being eliminated to not getting along with the GSM. I am sure we have all had that at one point. This is the major reason why we suck. I see some worthless people who do not deserve to be in their positions thrive simply because they are really good at frauding everyone else. I can write 2 pages of names of people that I am talking about. That is where my hate comes into play. Again, the reward of making good money and making some great friends are what makes me love it. I feel like I am part of something huge especially when I connect with all of you on here, drivingsales, facebook, and Automotive Digital Marketing.

Oct 2, 2009

Well Well,
I am glad to see this proclomation.
I had various jobs I thought were going to be careers before the car industry.
Almost 9 years at Peabody Coal before I was injured, 6 years in the recording industry working 3 weeks and not working for 3 months then our daughter was born. Saw the ad, borrowed a tie from my dad, (still do) and went to the interview. Hired, like all of us but back then it was different. I have done a 10 minute video rant on this. www.youtube.com/kimclouse
We actually had to train. Yes I know it sounds strange now days but I could not even say hello to a customer for 6 weeks. Even if it was a relative, really! Lots of training, one on one with the desk manager, stand outside finance with the door cracked and listen, ride with the used car manager, real training with tons of product knowledge.
I want to know how many sales people hired today are required to take the bottom line, ACV, and back the numbers out to the top line sales price with an adding machine? They should but no, we teach them to go back and forth like a panther in a zoo. You know they walk back and forth, back and forth to the desk. Management that is not trained correctly makes this happen and those who watch it happen are to blame for why we suck today. The sales force knows nothing when they are a green pea. We teach them in our little huddle how to achieve the 8-10 car average, teach them all of the slang,
steal their pay and if they were talented nobody ever knew. That is the revolving door.
Kudo's to all of you who have had to survive and learn the hard way and are now respected professionals. Unless this changes, nothing will help. The strong dealers are doing it right from the beginning. It is like a war, nobody wants to know your name or cares about you until you are there for 6 months because you are leaving anyway. Great point you guys for proclaiming why we suck. All of the slick talking, economy excuse, bullcrap should be.
Would you like some fries with that? Supersize?

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