start your own dealership. 
Fighting Burnout Lately
Hey all,
I almost feel guilty that I haven't been posting more.
I actually run my store's website now, and it isn't even hard, being the e-Manager, training coordinator, and 3rd-string sales manager at my store now. The hard part is handling the phone calls, as they interrupt what I'm trying to do no matter what.
As most of you guys, and girls, know, I've deliberately shielded my dealership for both good and bad, because I'm a member of this forum, and my participation on this forum is as a product advocate and salesperson's advocate first and foremost, and so that I might be able to gripe now and then.
Now the gripes.
1. Like most dealerships, we run crazy, unrealistic ads with the "includes all rebates" disclaimer. Like all dealerships who advertise, we have to. The alternative is looking like the most expensive dealership in the paper. The downside is that I have the explain the darn ad 242x daily, whether I'm trying to help a customer, answer an email, or train a salesperson.
2. My schedule is crazy. I'm working on that, as right now, I'm the only employee in the whole frizekin' dealership that doesn't get a day off every week. That wears me down a whole freaking lot, but, loyal supporters, it's a "problem" that I am not only capable of dealing with, but it -will- be fixed next month.
3. Our sales staff is weak. With that in mind, I'm immensely proud of many of them, especially the younger sales consultants, for their hard, independent work in earning their 2004 Chevy Sales Consultant Certifications. Overall, though, I have a young group that I'm training, and at the same time I'm still learning how to relate with them, all while taking 242 phone calls daily. See #1. As it is, I'm still an unofficial salesperson, as few of our staffers can really show what our vehicles can do, much less demonstrate the knowledge necessary to sell a Corvette.
4. The lack of integrity disturbs me. I work with a lot of people, including both salespeople and managers, who are still [other brand] nuts. These people should be gone, if nothing else, selling a product they believe in. The fact of the matter is that they themselves are convinced that my product is not as good as the one they "like," when it is actually better, since we have no Lexus or Caddilac fans on our staff, and "their" brands all rank below Chevy.
5. In relation to #2, being the "bottom-rung" manager, I wear all the hats that nobody else wants to wear. That's no big deal, and everybody who's ever had a boss has to deal with the same issue. The phone deal becomes the big issue again.
Life's rough, I know it, and I'm a delegator by nature. Just a few gripes on behalf of an evil sales manager who feels the pressure now and then, on a forum that knows what I think and feel better than most.
All replies welcome,
Ghrankenstein
:frankie:
I almost feel guilty that I haven't been posting more.
I actually run my store's website now, and it isn't even hard, being the e-Manager, training coordinator, and 3rd-string sales manager at my store now. The hard part is handling the phone calls, as they interrupt what I'm trying to do no matter what.
As most of you guys, and girls, know, I've deliberately shielded my dealership for both good and bad, because I'm a member of this forum, and my participation on this forum is as a product advocate and salesperson's advocate first and foremost, and so that I might be able to gripe now and then.
Now the gripes.
1. Like most dealerships, we run crazy, unrealistic ads with the "includes all rebates" disclaimer. Like all dealerships who advertise, we have to. The alternative is looking like the most expensive dealership in the paper. The downside is that I have the explain the darn ad 242x daily, whether I'm trying to help a customer, answer an email, or train a salesperson.
2. My schedule is crazy. I'm working on that, as right now, I'm the only employee in the whole frizekin' dealership that doesn't get a day off every week. That wears me down a whole freaking lot, but, loyal supporters, it's a "problem" that I am not only capable of dealing with, but it -will- be fixed next month.
3. Our sales staff is weak. With that in mind, I'm immensely proud of many of them, especially the younger sales consultants, for their hard, independent work in earning their 2004 Chevy Sales Consultant Certifications. Overall, though, I have a young group that I'm training, and at the same time I'm still learning how to relate with them, all while taking 242 phone calls daily. See #1. As it is, I'm still an unofficial salesperson, as few of our staffers can really show what our vehicles can do, much less demonstrate the knowledge necessary to sell a Corvette.
4. The lack of integrity disturbs me. I work with a lot of people, including both salespeople and managers, who are still [other brand] nuts. These people should be gone, if nothing else, selling a product they believe in. The fact of the matter is that they themselves are convinced that my product is not as good as the one they "like," when it is actually better, since we have no Lexus or Caddilac fans on our staff, and "their" brands all rank below Chevy.
5. In relation to #2, being the "bottom-rung" manager, I wear all the hats that nobody else wants to wear. That's no big deal, and everybody who's ever had a boss has to deal with the same issue. The phone deal becomes the big issue again.
Life's rough, I know it, and I'm a delegator by nature. Just a few gripes on behalf of an evil sales manager who feels the pressure now and then, on a forum that knows what I think and feel better than most.
All replies welcome,
Ghrankenstein
:frankie:
1 - 5 of 5 Posts
Don't worry Ghrank, youll get through it, and if not, like Skie says: Open up your own!!
At least you have a good job, man. A lot people would like to have work related headaches, meaning they have a job. Keep your head up and delegate some responsibilities. That is part of being a manager.
Ghrank it's just 1 day don't give up.
#1 All ads are the are done the same way from all dealerships, and customer's expect fine prints.
#2 Thats how we advance in the business, and lets face it after a few years we are not in it because we love cars anymore it's because of the $$
#3 As a sales mgr. you must work with each sales rep (weak or not) on there individual needs, and create a TEAM atmosphere, and always praise jobs well that aredone. My top salesman this month was a GM parts mgr for 25 years, sales people come from all walks of life, some make it some don't. just remeber that Less than 5% of the people on the lot are wasting time, they are there to purchase a vehicle!
#4 After 13 years of selling GM, 9 of which as a Sales Masters Guild member, and heavy with product knowledge. I now find myself as a sales mgr at a Ford dealership , still making money and friends because that is what sales is about.(people)
#5 The ladder starts at the bottom (unless you are family) just keep trucking the ladder does reach the top, At the required corse to obtain a sales licence here the instrutor leads out by saying that 1 year from now 80% of you will not be selling cars.There are so many factors as to why, dealers, sales mgrs and sales person themselves can all be to blame.
Anyways Ghranky you'll get through this , from your comments and the fact that the higher ups have givin you all this responsability, I believe that you can handle this and get stronger by doing it HANG IN THERE
#1 All ads are the are done the same way from all dealerships, and customer's expect fine prints.
#2 Thats how we advance in the business, and lets face it after a few years we are not in it because we love cars anymore it's because of the $$
#3 As a sales mgr. you must work with each sales rep (weak or not) on there individual needs, and create a TEAM atmosphere, and always praise jobs well that aredone. My top salesman this month was a GM parts mgr for 25 years, sales people come from all walks of life, some make it some don't. just remeber that Less than 5% of the people on the lot are wasting time, they are there to purchase a vehicle!
#4 After 13 years of selling GM, 9 of which as a Sales Masters Guild member, and heavy with product knowledge. I now find myself as a sales mgr at a Ford dealership , still making money and friends because that is what sales is about.(people)
#5 The ladder starts at the bottom (unless you are family) just keep trucking the ladder does reach the top, At the required corse to obtain a sales licence here the instrutor leads out by saying that 1 year from now 80% of you will not be selling cars.There are so many factors as to why, dealers, sales mgrs and sales person themselves can all be to blame.
Anyways Ghranky you'll get through this , from your comments and the fact that the higher ups have givin you all this responsability, I believe that you can handle this and get stronger by doing it HANG IN THERE
1 - 5 of 5 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
GM Inside News Forum
A forum community dedicated to GM owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about General Motors news, concepts, releases, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Recommended Communities
