Commissioned Salespeople Get A Bad Rap. Here's Why You Should Hire More.

Forbes ^ | October 31, 2017 | William DeFries

[2ndDivisionVet]

“Used Car Salesman.”

The moment you read those words, what do you see in your mind’s eye?

Probably a hyper-enthusiastic, slick-tongued guy in a cheap suit who’s more than happy to overpromise and underdeliver while doing his best to hide the fine print.

It’s easy to imagine, isn’t it? The Used Car Sales profession has become synonymous with dangerously unethical persuasive tactics.

As the Owner and Founder of businesses in several industries -- from Integrated Systems to Family Restaurants to Car Washes -- I network with other Entrepreneurs on a regular basis. During casual chit-chat, more than once someone has vented about a recent poor customer service experience using that phrase.

“That person was like a Used Car Salesman!” You can hear utter disgust in their voice.

“Funny you say that,” I always respond coyly. “My first job after serving in the United States Marine Corps was Used Car Salesman.”

After that mic drop moment, you can always hear a pin drop immediately after.

“You?! Really?” The Business Owner points a finger at me, as if to accuse me of some unusually perverse crime. “I never would have guessed that about you.”(continued)

[slumber1]

I sold cars and managed sales people for many years and made a good living at it. I discovered early on that if I was honest and did what I said I’d do it went a long way toward dispelling the myth of the dishonest salesman.

[MNDude]

Good article. That is why I sell Amway.

[dfwgator]

“Used Car Salesman.” The moment you read those words, what do you see in your mind’s eye?

"You think you hate it now, wait 'til you drive it."

[Dr. Sivana]

I sold cars and managed sales people for many years and made a good living at it. I discovered early on that if I was honest and did what I said I’d do it went a long way toward dispelling the myth of the dishonest salesman.

My teen daughter aspires to be a car sales lady. And I have been giving her the advice you lived by. I also told her there was more money in used cars than new cars, which she found counter-intuitive.

[Sergio]

bkmk

[Responsibility2nd]

I also told her there was more money in used cars than new cars, which she found counter-intuitive.

 

Most people do. Most people believe the adage that you should never buy a new car and lose that depreciation. Always buy used.

WRONG.

As you may know, dealers make far more profit selling used cars than they do new ones.

[Vendome]

My mission statement in sales has always been:

1. I help people achieve important goals in their lives.

2. Sometimes I make a dream come true.

3. Solve problems.

Simplifies things for me and removed the objectification of another human being....

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

They make more profit because they pick up the used cars cheap.

Technically I make more money selling used books then new ones for the same reason.

Buy low, sell high!

[tinamina]

In my youth I did many things. When I was 38 someone told me that I could sell anything to anyone.
So I studied up and got my insurance license and started out in that profession. I ended up being very successful and my approach was always educate on the superior benefits of the policy and ask for the sale without pressure.
“I had a sign on my desk that said “Faith is living with invisible means of support.”
Living on commissions is a true test of how much you believe you can do without someone promising you a paycheck every week and how much you can do alone without having to appear at an office 9-5. It’s much more of a challenge but if you can master it you can be your own boss, a true entrepreneur. And I doubt you’d ever enjoy having a “job” again.

[Manuel OKelley]

I’ve made an extremely good living since the early 90’s in sales living on commission....

Its’ stressful as hell sometimes (hence the payout) but I take exceptionally good care of my customers and they know it-—having had some of them for 20 years despite several changes in employer.

Very much prefer dealing with people who I know have incentive to give me what I want.

[webheart]

I was a computer salesman when Apples were new and when Macs were introduced. I worked 10 years on commission. Every time it seemed like I was getting successful, they would hire someone new and change the commission structure to make it harder for me to make money. The one guy had a jaguar and I was driving a 1969 Ford Fairlane. The owners of the next place closed the store and didn’t sign my last paycheck. The next people I worked for built a big beautiful house right on top of a mountain. Then they fired me for being late one day after working for them for five years. And at my current job they hired a guy who was once a computer store owner but he was the worst person to work for. A real a-h.

So yes, it is smart to hire commissioned salespeople. They can be a exploited quite easily.

[Manuel OKelley]

I’m sure it happens but if anything it’s usually me doing the exploiting as my bosses have always known if they lose me they lose all the money I make them which has never been an insignificant amount.

That said I’ve never worked retail and almost without exception with enterprise level customers.