[apachelongbow]

Originally Posted by AlphaKilo

So you say every IT guy must start selling cars? I would love to see a world free of IT madness.(No offence meant to IT guys, but a mechanical engineering running away from core engineering just for money and current generation of students not interested in core engineering knowledge makes me feel really bad about this industry.) I hope I have started a war between IT vs. Rest engineering here. That is not my intention.

But then there is not only this direct brand sales dealerships but also many smaller ones which sell multi-brand, used and new cars too. The situation there as much as I have seen is very good because, the SA's know their cars and are much better than these so called brand sellers.

Hahaha!! I assume so, anyways Indians only chase money. Interestingly AlphaKilo, if you observe core engineering specialists earn a bomb today. In fact there is a dearth of talent in such areas. Earlier people who loved programming got into IT, today we have people, especially from a certain state who want to go to US of A, reason to earn dollaras :P

[selfdrive]

Originally Posted by AlphaKilo

But now he says, the sales consultants' job has become very easy, that most of the customers are well informed and know the cars or either buy whatever the Sales guy bluffs.

Is this very different from people who are proud (some rightly so, but not all) of what they did and want to disparage anyone else who is not upto their lofty standards? Perhaps this person's work ethic is different. But these days there is the added challenge of multiple dealerships in the same city. If I want to buy a Fiesta for example, and get shoddy service from a SA at one dealership, I will walk out straight into another Ford dealership.

No offence meant, but comparison across age groups may not help. There were hardworking & lazy people then & now. Perhaps the percentages may differ and there may be more lazy people in this profession now but I dont think life is any easier for them. Especially as in these days of googling, every person who walks in for an enquiry is a Mr. Know it all

Originally Posted by apachelongbow

Earlier people who loved programming got into IT, today we have people, especially from a certain state who want to go to US of A, reason to earn dollaras :P

I think we are going offtopic with this discussion. However, I see nothing wrong in someone wanting to earn money. Its his/ her priority and choice. I dont understand why any of us should have an issue with that regardless of the currency involved.
The problem though is that many of us stay glued to one profession all our lives. If we realise a passion late, we should have an opportunity to change to something we are passionate about. But considering living costs today, how many of us can afford to do that?

[AlphaKilo]

Originally Posted by selfdrive

Is this very different from people who are proud (some rightly so, but not all) of what they did and want to disparage anyone else who is not upto their lofty standards? Perhaps this person's work ethic is different. But these days there is the added challenge of multiple dealerships in the same city. If I want to buy a Fiesta for example, and get shoddy service from a SA at one dealership, I will walk out straight into another Ford dealership.

No offence meant, but comparison across age groups may not help. There were hardworking & lazy people then & now. Perhaps the percentages may differ and there may be more lazy people in this profession now but I dont think life is any easier for them. Especially as in these days of googling, every person who walks in for an enquiry is a Mr. Know it all

No I am not comparing any ages or times of the year. But I am talking about the passion and dedication towards one's job. Simple. I understand your point and I accept to it that no matter what every person has to struggle to earn his cup of tea. But, some enjoy the hardwork and the result it pays and some don't and I am talking about only those who don't enjoy it. That is not applicable to the field of car sales but equally to every other field.

Copying a famous movie dialogue: "Agar ghaas kaatne waala bano toh bhi, acha ghaas kaatne waala bano...(etc.rest is known to you all!)". This is what is I was trying to bring forth in my previous post. Accepted that a SA need not be a petrol/diesel head to be a car SA but on the other hand, having chosen this profession, he is supposed to know his monkey which is ensuring him his daily food! No one forced him to become a car SA in the first place, any one in a country like India(democratic!) is free to choose his mode of livelihood. So, if he/she chooses to be something, if not be the best, atleast try to be good is what is expected.

Further, I wanted to add but was already explained here by another Bhpian, a view point from the side of SA's. What could the SA's do with such idiotic customers who just want to utilize the facility to the core? How many times in his career does a SA encounter real car enthusiasts or real buyers?How do you differentiate between a genuine buyer, an enthusiast (one who may not buy, but will not even trouble the car while on test drive!) and finally the one who is there just to make fool of the SA or he has nothing else to do at home or his house has a power outtage and wants to enjoy some a/c?

[selfdrive]

Originally Posted by AlphaKilo

No one forced him to become a car SA in the first place, any one in a country like India(democratic!) is free to choose his mode of livelihood. So, if he/she chooses to be something, if not be the best, atleast try to be good is what is expected

This, I totally agree with. But at all levels, I think we are obsessed with numbers. It would not matter a jot to the SA's manager if he knows anything or not if he meets/ exceeds his targets on an ongoing basis. It is the same story everywhere. I have been told point blank it doesnt matter if you are overqualified or have different skill sets, if you are assigned to this job, you need to meet its targets. Numbers. We dont expect anything else.
If people thought subjectively, then it could be a different story. After all, like you (or your friend) says, very few of us buy a car due to what the SA tells us. We only expect the SA to help us with logistical process of buying a car that we choose, either by our analysis, or via friends or looking at the neighbours garage!

Originally Posted by AlphaKilo

What could the SA's do with such idiotic customers who just want to utilize the facility to the core?

Lets take the example of chess. If the opponent puts forth his pawn/ soldier, we would try to negotiate/ counter with a pawn. Very rarely would we put the minister or bishop to counter it.
Now add the opinion of the minister/ bishop to this. Any sales manager in todays scenario would come into the picture only for an escalation or clarification. Anything else is 'below' his domain. Of course there are exceptions, but yes unfortunately thats the majority behaviour.

[anjan_c2007]

While begging to disagree with the 50-70 K figures posted by anonymous, I too feel the salary of these guys may be in the region of Rs 10 K to 30K and no more.
In metros the sales figures are too high and their incentives per car sold may add up to something higher but definitely not Rs 50 K or above.While in smaller cities (Tier II) and towns such incomes may be only pipe dreams.
Or else, all the youth with a savvy for marketing would have lined up for such a lucrative job.
But there are exceptions.Here where I live, the sales guy for Mercedes cars (he was doing this job for the Audi and BMW dealers too)applied his ingenuity taking it a bit too far. He was the dealers' clearing agent for the local octroi too. The guy issued fake receipts pocketing the octroi amount from gullible buyers and this went on for a few years.He was caught by a vigilant eye in 2011 and the total octroi so pocketed ran into around a crore. But such cases are one in several thousands or so!
The local corporation has enacted a law that makes it levy a fine of ten times the amount evaded by a person.
Now the car owners are faced with a piquant situation and the guy was behind the bars. I am not aware of the latest turn of events.

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by anonymous

.... I was completely blown away when he said that a sales representative earns somewhere around 50-70k per month as incentives if he/she meets the target and also can earn 2-3k daily by cheating customers.
...

I've worked in Automotive sales ( I was with Nandi Toyota, B'lore) and no that kind of numbers are not realistic. I can't comment much on cheating customers bit. It doesn't really happen at the sales rep end. At best, he may sell accessories for a higher price or sell 'value added' services for a profitable sum. This is not cheating. that is clever selling.

[one-77]

I can't comment on how much they earn, but the salesman who sold us our Linea was an enthusiast and we had a nice experience overall dealing with him. He used to drive a Baleno himself, and told us he bought it for the performance though it was a fuel guzzler. We were offered all the standard accessories free by the salesman, and when we asked him if he would mind if we were to negotiate with his superiors for more, he was frank enough to tell us that what we get will be taken off his earnings from the sale; so we let it rest.

[oxyzen]

Originally Posted by AlphaKilo

So you say every IT guy must start selling cars?lol

Yep I guess so. So should all professors.

Originally Posted by AlphaKilo

No offence meant to IT guys, but a mechanical engineering running away from core engineering just for money and current generation of students not interested in core engineering knowledge makes me feel really bad about this industry.

And those in mechanical core do nothing but envy them. Ponder upon the thought of leaving the IT companies in college.



Show them this thread and their new love will be to be a salesman.

[Evil]

Originally Posted by AlphaKilo

So you say every IT guy must start selling cars? I would love to see a world free of IT madness.(No offence meant to IT guys, but a mechanical engineering running away from core engineering just for money and current generation of students not interested in core engineering knowledge makes me feel really bad about this industry.) I hope I have started a war between IT vs. Rest engineering here. That is not my intention.

But then there is not only this direct brand sales dealerships but also many smaller ones which sell multi-brand, used and new cars too. The situation there as much as I have seen is very good because, the SA's know their cars and are much better than these so called brand sellers.

Theres lots of things someone with IT knowledge can sell. Just got to price it right and push it hard. Most car owners would pay some money for a navigation system, internet radio (doable with 3g sims now) etc. Bet you'd pay me at least Rs.1000 if I make your radio stream from last.fm. Someone ought to do this already. Access fees would be even better but even without beats the 5-7 lakh salaries mentioned here. You only need to sell 1000 (30 a day) to make 10L in one month so the "salary" is about a crore/year. No employees even needed at this level. PM me when it's time to get the phone ringing and we can work something out

[greenhorn]

Originally Posted by akshay4587

Are you sure about the 7L figure
Majority of IT freshers from decent institutes dont get such salary package.

Maybe I should have specified B school, not college. Even Mahindra recruits from our college for their GMC, at much higher packages :P

[Fuldagap]

I applied for an SC job at Autohangar Prabhadevi, Mumbai for their new car showroom, February this year. I was hired at 18K plus incentives per month. Don't know about the incentives structure as i didn't join because i couldn't leave my decent paying BA job at an IT company at Pune

It was really tough convincing them how appropriate and willing i was to join them after leaving my IT field. It was very hard getting that offer letter. But till now nothing else has given me the feeling of achieving something as that SC job offer letter did.
A simple offer letter in a Mercedes envelope........wowsome!!

If i, with no prior sales experience at all, could be offered 18K plus incentives then i'm sure with some experience one can make much more, maybe 35K per month, i guess. Still, at a regular(non-Mercedes ) dealership a 50K figure seems too optimistic to me.


One line that i still remember the GM told me during the final round of interview, "It(the showroom and working there) is not so pleasant inside as it looks from outside".
My answer was, "Sir i believe all that ugliness of hard work that goes on the inside, results in the pleasantness of the dealership showroom outside". And i think that what clicked for me getting the job.

[selfdrive]

Originally Posted by svsantosh

not comparing car industry per se, but sales/BD (business devlopment in IT limbo), marketing is where is the Moolah is and any given day "that" job is more risky/tiring/difficult and in the END - VERY REWARDING too!!

quoting your post for benefit of @Fuldagap.

Originally Posted by Fuldagap

But till now nothing else has given me the feeling of achieving something as that SC job offer letter did.
A simple offer letter in a Mercedes envelope........wowsome!!

One line that i still remember the GM told me during the final round of interview, "It(the showroom and working there) is not so pleasant inside as it looks from outside".
My answer was, "Sir i believe all that ugliness of hard work that goes on the inside, results in the pleasantness of the dealership showroom outside". And i think that what clicked for me getting the job.

Three things I would like to say:
1. If the Merc letter is what gave you a feeling of achievement, that is where your interests lie.
2. If you can talk like that, you are wasting yourself in the IT majdoor industry. There might come a stage where you will think that you would have been happier not joining this industry. I hope it doesnt, but some of us are on the same track as you, just a few stations ahead and wish we had been courageous enough to take the other route years ago.
3. just check the post from @svsantosh that I quoted above.

I am sure you have your reasons, but do reconsider if you can. I wish you well in whatever you choose. And while you are in Pune, see if you can hop by to meet up with us local bhpians.

[Fuldagap]

Originally Posted by selfdrive

quoting your post for benefit of @Fuldagap.


I am sure you have your reasons, but do reconsider if you can. I wish you well in whatever you choose. And while you are in Pune, see if you can hop by to meet up with us local bhpians.

Hey thanks for the concern! I've already taken the steps required. I had to take the BA 'majdoor' job because of various reasons, number one being it was among the top 3 college placements . Left Pune in February itself and the job too! Have shifted to Delhi (close to my hometown, Meerut), for good i hope.
I agree, courage is the most important thing required for seemingly tough decisions.
And yes, i always knew my passion lied in automobiles (sales/marketing to be specific). The first time i went to a shop floor of Tata Motors CVBU Pune as an intern..........i can continue writing paragraphs and paragraphs on this 'off topic'.

If in Pune, i would have surely met you @selfdrive.

[sandsun7]

Don't know if this is the right thread to post this, but could not find any other relevant thread and this thread does discuss about sales consultants, so posting here.
This video takes us all through the pains and perils of a Sales consultant. Nicely done I felt.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riINb...layer_embedded

Disclaimer: I am no way associated with any car dealer/brands shown in this video.

[14000rpm]

Originally Posted by sandsun7

This video takes us all through the pains and perils of a Sales consultant. Nicely done I felt.

It indeed is a very nicely made video about a day in the life of a car salesguy. I've been through the same. I was a salesguy in a Toyota Dealershipå and I know how it feels.