Commentary: The Role of the Salesperson

[cc1999]

If they did't, those 8 lug wheels on the 1500HD should have the first clue. I thought the reason for the 1500HD was to rush a so called 1/2 ton crew to market at the last minut when Ford and Dodge left GM behind pushing there extended cabs. I was however surprised once GM did come out with a real 1/2 ton crew cab, that they didn't drop the 1500 HD.

[mobyss]

I've got a question that three salespeople at the Chevy dealer couldn't answer - is the power sunroof actually available in the 2007 GMT900 Silverado?

If you look at the brochure most of the crew cabs shown have sunroofs, but it is nowhere to be found in the specs and packages in the back. And none of the crew-cabs on the lot (about eight or nine) had a sunroof.

Otherwise they were very nice looking trucks, and I was tempted to test-drive on with the 6.0 vortech Max.

Getting back into my 2003 after the oil change was done seemed a little boring after sitting in the 2007.

[mobyss]

Originally Posted by cc1999

If they did't, those 8 lug wheels on the 1500HD should have the first clue. I thought the reason for the 1500HD was to rush a so called 1/2 ton crew to market at the last minut when Ford and Dodge left GM behind pushing there extended cabs. I was however surprised once GM did come out with a real 1/2 ton crew cab, that they didn't drop the 1500 HD.

The payload on the 1500 crew cab is only around 2000 pounds - the 1500HD is closer to 3500. For some people the low payload is not enough for what they want to haul, but they don't want to step up to the spine-crushing springs of the 2500HD for everyday use. My boss is such a person.

[AndrewGS]

Originally Posted by mobyss

I've got a question that three salespeople at the Chevy dealer couldn't answer - is the power sunroof actually available in the 2007 GMT900 Silverado?

If you look at the brochure most of the crew cabs shown have sunroofs, but it is nowhere to be found in the specs and packages in the back. And none of the crew-cabs on the lot (about eight or nine) had a sunroof.

Otherwise they were very nice looking trucks, and I was tempted to test-drive on with the 6.0 vortech Max.

Getting back into my 2003 after the oil change was done seemed a little boring after sitting in the 2007.

Yes, it is. A few of the 900s I've looked at have them. It's a $685-$795 option depending on trim level.

[throwback]

Interesting commentary. There is a GMC dealer in South Jersey that runs cable ads featuring their customers. The customers talk about how the sales people know trucks. The customers are small business owners and the ads are very effective. If I were looking to buy a truck I would go to this dealer first.

[ermatthe]

zzyzx1122
Walking

Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Morgantown, WV
Posts: 2

Re: Commentary: The Role of the Salesperson
Having been a pretty successful car salesman for a number of years, I always find it interesting to read the comments of enthusiasts on these boards.

Being an enthusiast myself, I can understand the desire to have a salesperson that knows all the specifics and is a complete expert on every vehicle they sell.

However, most people who shop for cars just don't care about technical details. They buy because they like the styling, comfort, or some other features. But rarely do people go much beyond the basics.

I've *never* had a customer ask me about hydro forming.

Nor has anyone ever asked me about OHV engines vs. OHC. They just want to know if it has good power.

I'll never forget hearing a customer ask one of the guys "What kind of engine does this have?" His answer - "I don't know, but it's a good one!"
The customer laughed, drove the car, and bought it.

So the average salesperson can usually answer the questions of 95% of customers with pretty limited product knowledge. Personality and closing skills can go a long way.

As far as the ride & drive booklets and other sales training guides that are provided from the manufacturer... they are usually written by well-intentioned college grads who have never sold cars in their lives. There's a little bit of a disconnect with reality.

And finally, I must say that the average "know it all" guy who comes in to the showroom and expects you as a salesperson to be a complete expert on everything (asking questions they already know the answers to, in order to "test" you), they are the same people who expect the dealership to make practically nothing in selling them the car.

Then they get on internet forums and bitch about how the salesperson knew nothing, wouldn't deal, bla, bla, bla.

Trust me, if sales people made a decent commission per sale, you'd see more professionalism out of them.

So, like the one guy said before me... if you get a salesperson who is really professional, knows the product, and gives you good service... support them.

Believe me, I could spend hours going over everything on a vehicle and completely servicing a persons needs, but the typical customer will just as soon go buy the same car that I showed them, from a guy who knows nothing about it, if they think it will save them a few hundred dollars.

Unfortunately, that's the reality of most car sales these days.

There are exceptions. And selling cars can be great. But I wish people on these boards could see what it's really like to me on the front lines. Dealing with the public can be really interesting.

Hope I provided some insight. Thanks!

Wow, I could have wrote this word for word. I've only been selling for little over a year but everything said in this comment has proved true in my experience. %99.9 of people out shopping don't care about DOHC, hydoforming or any of the extreme technical stuff. And the ones that expect you to be able to explain all that stuff on the fly are the very one's that don't care if you or anyone at the dealership are ablee to make a living or not (the general public thinks car salemen make a killing off of every car they sell).

[doh]

A good write up, a little heavy on the Kool Aid but good points are made.

GM started Hydraformed frames in 1999, but Ford has used it since 2004, with the fully boxed feature all the way back to the bumper. Hydra form does hinder accident repair and I am still not sure about the long term snow plow use with Hydraforming.

While push rod engines may have a bit of torque advantage, torque can be multiplied, add a 3.73 or 4.10 differential and see what happens. Remember Ford did have pushrod engines until 1997, did they decide in 97 to build an inferior product?

Some could argue that heavier curb weight equals better built, more metal better road manners, in cross winds etc.


Locking diff G80 is a great feature and I use mine regularly, and it does still work. At low speed it is better than ltd slip, but at higher speed ltd slip wins out. There are occasions that I travel over 20 mph in heavy snow breaking trail across a frozen lake.

GM has done a good job of their new truck, but not earth moving, the Ridgeline is more earth moving, going diiferent than a tradtional truck. Ford is not earth shattering but they did do the bigger is better idea (I feel maybe a little too big).

It is tough to change something that is so important to the Big Three, but maybe a little more creatativity would have helped them all.

[MaxLegroom]

Originally Posted by Bvonscott

I have a thick skin and a Passion for GM. Sometimes sales makes me crazy, but I keep trudging on.

I would, at this point, remind those of you currently in sales to recall Lee Iacocca's remark that the future of the auto industry is decided on the sales floor.

That little bit off my chest, I'd have to agree with espo19047 about asking the salesman questions you already know the answers to. I don't typically do so when I look at a car. The person who commented on personality, charisma, etc. doesn't realize that he hit the nail on the head, in a way.

In the last two months, I tried to get back into the car sales business after a couple of really sad attempts at selling Dodges. While they do a good job of training people to know what to discuss on a walkaround, it is the personality, and motivation that gets the job done. My latest attempt, at a Chevy dealer in Norfolk, involved about two days of training, and we went to work the credit union sale at the Navy base. The people who were moving the cars were, very simply, the ones who appeared to be having a high ol' time doing it. If knowledge ruled, I would have been a top contender.

[DeliveryDave]

The price too, I have a 1500HD - it was cheaper then a 2500 and I don't need the extra weight often enough to justifybut a few times it nice.

Originally Posted by mobyss

The payload on the 1500 crew cab is only around 2000 pounds - the 1500HD is closer to 3500. For some people the low payload is not enough for what they want to haul, but they don't want to step up to the spine-crushing springs of the 2500HD for everyday use. My boss is such a person.

What led me to a dealer that I bought my last two vehicles from was what I put on the commission vs salary. Two dealers were obviously commission based and I was bombarded with people who just wanted a sale. The last dealer the one I bought from when I went in was greeted and asked what I was looking for, said truck, they looked and said "our truck sales professional is with a customer do you have a few minutes" I said sure, she said "would you like a soda or fresh coffee while you wait, we have some half-hour old pizza from lunch if you would like" and gave me some brochures to look at. As soon as he was done came over greeted me and asked "do you have any questions, would you like a test drive, or already know what you want.

I was very happy from the start to finish with the dealer and would definitely go back.

[Dwide Shrude]

I went shopping a lot of dealerships when I bought my new Jeep. I don't see any reason why I shouldn't waste a salesman's time. I looked a number of mid-size pickup trucks, even though I knew I wanted the Wrangler 4-door. In my opinion, if they were good enough salesmen, I might have actually been talked into one of their inferior trucks.

[FamilyTruckster]

Ghrankenstein is right about the trucks. Know the trucks and you'll make your self a lot more money.

We sell more new GMC and Chevy trucks than any other vehicle on our lot combined. When it comes to someone looking for a truck because they need a truck for a specific task, heavy towing or hauling, you better know what you are talking about.

In many cases truck customers know the trucks inside and out and if you can answer their questions about them and have a good conversation you'll earn their respect and their business.

[61BelAir]

I personally think the sales people should have some depth of knowledge regarding the vehicles they are selling. I don't think they should have to know intimate details on Hydroforming but if they do then thats on the plus side for them.

One thing that does bother me is when they have the information wrong. For example I test drove a GMC Envoy in September and the saleman told me the engine was a V6. I didn't correct him, but to me it seemed he should know a little more about what he is saying before he speaks.

[Duramaximum]

I was looking at a used 1999 Silverado this week and I asked what motor it had, the 5.3L or the 4.8L. The salesman replied, it has the 5.7L 350, it's a '99, the 5.3L didn't come along until 2000. Realizing this guy was an idiot, figured it must be the 5.3L instead of the 4.8L, I popped the hood to prove to him that it had the 5.3L. Sure enough, there it was. Then I asked if another truck they had came with the Z71 package. It didn't have the sticker but it looked like someone might have taken it off and it had a skid plate.

Salesman: "Z71 is just a Skid plate."

Me: "Actually, it's a skid plate, locking rear diff, larger shock absorbers, jounce bumpers, and will have at least the 4.8L V8."

I have a hard time buying a truck who is a total goon and tells me I'm wrong.