Looking to start a career...

[allstar34bd]

The new thing in Car dealerships is the “BDC Department” they are basically like the annoying extended warranty people that call you randomly and you have no clue who they are. Asking about your 2010 silverado; but you haven’t owned it in 3 years.. Loyalty and trust in the car business still exists; but within 5-7 years I believe 70% of all new dealers will be base salary plus a small commission. People shop the internet so heavily, they don’t just take Johnny’s word that he has the best price anymore. The margins are getting smaller and smaller and the big guys won’t stick around to see the bottom fall out.

Your 2025 Chevy Silverado will be purchased over the internet with a scheduled appointment; at your convenience, to meet with Charlie the $11 an hour product specialist. He will have it gassed, detailed, and ready to hit the road on your 10 Day Money Back Sign & Drive.

 

[allstar34bd]

What’s the Cost of Living in Knoxville?
Decent amount of industry and corporations with opportunities for employment on a manageable income?
I’ve been to Knoxville once and loved the city; All was wonderful apart from the beat down Bama put on us there.

 

[Tri-CitiesVol]

I’ve been doing the same thing for 7 years... and I’m sick of it. Miserable work/life balance (65+ hrs weekly) and definitely not how I want to spend the rest of my life. Does anyone here live in Houston, TX? What are your thoughts on that area? I just went on a short visit and really enjoyed it down there. I’ve saved up almost $70k so if I fall on my face I can always move back and be comfortable; but I want to achieve more than comfort in my life time. (26 yrs old) so I guess I still have time ? Lol

Check out gulf states Toyota/Friedkin companies.

 

[Omar V Tinko]

On that note...
look at South East Toyota.
It’s a private distributor for all toyotas in Fl, Ga, NC, SC, AL.
Fantastic company consistently in the top 50 of the Forbes best places to work list.

 

[Omar V Tinko]

The new thing in Car dealerships is the “BDC Department” they are basically like the annoying extended warranty people that call you randomly and you have no clue who they are. Asking about your 2010 silverado; but you haven’t owned it in 3 years.. Loyalty and trust in the car business still exists; but within 5-7 years I believe 70% of all new dealers will be base salary plus a small commission. People shop the internet so heavily, they don’t just take Johnny’s word that he has the best price anymore. The margins are getting smaller and smaller and the big guys won’t stick around to see the bottom fall out.

Your 2025 Chevy Silverado will be purchased over the internet with a scheduled appointment; at your convenience, to meet with Charlie the $11 an hour product specialist. He will have it gassed, detailed, and ready to hit the road on your 10 Day Money Back Sign & Drive.

BDC and internet departments are gaining in importance.
It’s not a dealers BDC that’s usually calling you about the Warranty. That would be a warranty company who’s bought a list of registrations and is calling based on that.

The business is changing. I’d say we will see a majority of dealers going to a one price - no negotiation model. There’s several doing it already and the customer reactions are positive. Along with that, profitability is higher for the dealer.
Dealers have to adapt to the preferences of today’s customers.

 

[allstar34bd]

BDC and internet departments are gaining in importance.
It’s not a dealers BDC that’s usually calling you about the Warranty. That would be a warranty company who’s bought a list of registrations and is calling based on that.

The business is changing. I’d say we will see a majority of dealers going to a one price - no negotiation model. There’s several doing it already and the customer reactions are positive. Along with that, profitability is higher for the dealer.
Dealers have to adapt to the preferences of today’s customers.

You are 100% correct, the car business is evolving from Sales to Order Taking and it’s getting worse by the day. Adapt or Die I guess.

 

[overseasorange2]

I’ve been doing the same thing for 7 years... and I’m sick of it. Miserable work/life balance (65+ hrs weekly) and definitely not how I want to spend the rest of my life. Does anyone here live in Houston, TX? What are your thoughts on that area? I just went on a short visit and really enjoyed it down there. I’ve saved up almost $70k so if I fall on my face I can always move back and be comfortable; but I want to achieve more than comfort in my life time. (26 yrs old) so I guess I still have time ? Lol

After living overseas for 12 years, I moved to Katy about 10 years ago. It's about 25 miles west of downtown Houston. It's one of the fastest growing counties in the U.S.. I like it because great schools and relatively safe, but still can easily get to the big city when desired. Many job opportunities in the area. I work in the oil industry, which was down the last three years, but I can start to see the rebound. It can be unsteady but does pay very well.:hi:

 

[Omar V Tinko]

You are 100% correct, the car business is evolving from Sales to Order Taking and it’s getting worse by the day. Adapt or Die I guess.

I would say that the sales skills have to be higher now than they ever did.
I’ve been in the business for a long time. It takes a higher level of skill to make a good living now than it did when I started out. When the ability to discount or sell a price goes away the skills necessary will be even higher.
We’re moving towards a place where the salesperson who greets a customer will also handles all the pricing and the Finance contracts along with follow up and tracking. It’s closer to an account management model than the old school.

 

[allstar34bd]

I would say that the sales skills have to be higher now than they ever did.
I’ve been in the business for a long time. It takes a higher level of skill to make a good living now than it did when I started out. When the ability to discount or sell a price goes away the skills necessary will be even higher.
We’re moving towards a place where the salesperson who greets a customer will also handles all the pricing and the Finance contracts along with follow up and tracking. It’s closer to an account management model than the old school.

And all of this for a $100 mini? What do you sell? Our new vehicles are losers just to gain more business 50+ miles out. PACK eats all of the used profit ($1750 + Service Dept). If your not selling 20 a month or more you are having a very average paycheck. The internet has eaten all profit opportunities.

 

[VOLatile]

I'm a college student in the same boat. I have good grades, and I'm a year away from graduation but I have to do 2 internships beefore I graduate, but kd rather find a job in the field I'm interested in. I already have a job where I go to school full time and work 40+ hours a week, but its not related to my field at all, and I can't leave my job to move to an unpaid position. Lastly there is no way I can take full time classes, do an internship and work 40 hours and have any kind of sanity left, its tough enough to juggle two of those

I have held down 2 jobs (40 hr + weekend pt) and a full time class schedule and have accumulated a 3.55 GPA.

I've been applying for full time positions. There aren't any unpaid internships, or internships at all, available in the vicinity. I have an interview scheduled with the US Army Corps later this week. That would be a home run right out of the gate.

Should have just been a union lineman, traveled the world and make $$$$

I tried. I bombed the board interview and they suggested I go back to school... so I did.

 

[VOLatile]

It gets so much easier. By the time you have a wife, kids, a mortgage and two car payments, a recession will hit and you'll have to work for two years on night shift with a cut in pay. Enjoy!

I survived the 2008 housing bust, I can survive anything maybe.

 

[DinkinFlicka]

What’s the Cost of Living in Knoxville?
Decent amount of industry and corporations with opportunities for employment on a manageable income?
I’ve been to Knoxville once and loved the city; All was wonderful apart from the beat down Bama put on us there.

Knoxville might be the cheapest of the three major cities in Tennessee. Employment seriously depends on the field.

I miss it sometimes and visit when I can.

 

[Omar V Tinko]

And all of this for a $100 mini? What do you sell? Our new vehicles are losers just to gain more business 50+ miles out. PACK eats all of the used profit ($1750 + Service Dept). If your not selling 20 a month or more you are having a very average paycheck. The internet has eaten all profit opportunities.

That’s the thing. If the salesperson is doing all of that it’s not the $100 mini. They would have a different pay structure. With no negotiation it’s often a flat on the car sale and then they are paid like an F&I Mgr on that portion of the deal since they handled it and created profit there. Most of the profit in dealerships coming from the car sale is attributable to F&I.
Also, manager pay is less because you don’t need them on every deal. So the overall compensation is a net wash or a drop. The dealer would then have more profit in and possibly lower cost of business.

 

[Boca Vol]

OP,

Have you ever considered starting a car buyer business? You seem to know your stuff. I would be happy to hire you to purchase a car at a great deal and reduce the time spent walking from office to office...which is where the real sales (profitability) are with extended warranties, gap policies, etc.

 

[allstar34bd]

There is a market for people that do brokering; but unfortunately most dealers hate them and won’t communicate with them at all. It would be a great opportunity in a bigger city I suppose. The trick would be to build up enough of a customer review/ referral base to keep business coming in.

 

[allstar34bd]

I guess, if a person could receive a lead from the customer that wanted the vehicle; then you could work the deal as if you were them and shop around to get the best price as if you were the customer. It’s all about how you handle the process.