Posted on 01/04/2016 6:12:11 PM PST by saleman
I'm in the Automobile business and have been for about 25 years. Believe it or not the Auto business has gotten into the internet age. Big time!
Heck, our dealership has only had a website for....maybe 8 years? Something like that.
We don't have an internet dept. Salespeople receive internet leads based on a round robin type of thing. When an internet lead is sent then the first thing sent is an auto response. Then the salesperson responds with a template and if a phone number is included, a call.
Here's the thing. As of today, sales people are required to respond personally to an internet inquiry. After hours, off days, holidays, Sundays...anytime a request is sent.
A year or so ago I made it very clear I wasn't going to respond "on my own time". Which meant when I was not at work. Did I tell you we don't get paid for this?
We had a meeting today and the sales vs. internet inquiry's dealership wide is approx. 2%. That is for a 90 day window. Did I mention I don't get paid for this? Unless they buy.
So, I'm sure what I'm going to do. But I wanted some input so I don't think I'm being unreasonable. In other words, should I be required to do work after hours for something I don't get paid for?
Hell, really, should I be required to respond, period to internet traffic that I don't get paid for? Well 2% paid for.
I have been working at this dealership for the past 7 years. Make a good living. Don't want to quit. Or get fired. But I don't think I should have to work for no money, on my own time.
I’d respond while at work and just not say anything
I am sorry. It sounds like a bad dilemma.
It sounds like sales might not be the right type of job for you. A good salesman should always be prospecting for new business. Most people who buy cars don't do so during regular business hours as they have jobs of their own to attend to.
Does your dealership pay for your home Internet access?
I bought my current car from a Chrysler dealership in Texas, and I live in Florida. But that’s just an anecdote.
As I technical supervisor with workers on various shifts, I had to carry a pager, which I hated. But I was on salary, so sort of on the clock all the time. Hourly employees should not be on call for free. Being on commission, are you on the clock? That may make a difference.
It would depend on whether you are salary or commission based. If you could drive up your commission 25% by taking leads then it would be worth your time. If you are salary and it doesn’t matter-it doesn’t pay, it only benefits the company and no proceeds to you.
Constantly responding can lead to burnout. I am convinced this is not healthy if not managed properly. Just my .02
I should have also said that the son was accused by Jackson’s campaign.
JQA campaign stated that Jackson and his wife were never legally married, which actually might have been true.
I agree.
Possibly set up some rules on the email that recognize some really important sells terms or critical information and have it notify you, then the rest, just answer at work.
I don’t want to be callous and say say find a different job. I have been on call off and on for 20 years, but I am IT.
I do hope a good solution is found. The business might should have a rotating schedule or pay one person extra to be on call.
I meant to say I bought my car over the internet, which I sorta did. They told me what they had that interested me, and while I was in Texas, I bought it.
“It sounds like sales might not be the right type of job for you.”
After 25 years, now you tell him? LOL
I’ve been in the business 30 years and it has changed dramatically. We have had to let go a lot of people who could not change with the times (or they left on their own). It happens. When I started in the mid 1980s, nobody had cell phones, much less home computers, and when you left the office, you were pretty much unreachable until you returned, unless you answered the phone at home. It was a totally, totally different world. Not all were able to make the adjustment.
When I started working we didn’t have copiers.
I adapted when they were introduced. :-)
.
I don’t punch a time clock. I don’t get paid for my 11 hrs at work, 5 or 6 days a week, unless I sell something.
I’ve been doing this 25 years and I’ve paid my bills and made a good living. Maybe it’s not right for me? That’s what I’m thinking right now.
What do you do? Do you get paid for being at work? Do you “work” when you are off?
No. Or cell service. I don’t think it would matter. I don’t think I should be on call 24 hrs a day for nothing.
Do what you want but I found out the more I worked on “my time”, the more I got paid when working on “their time”.
Copiers? I remember using carbon paper! White copy went to the admin department for processing the order, pink copy went to the customer and the canary copy went to my file.
In your situation I would split the difference, if possible, and make a set time outside of work when you attend to work matters, and neither think about nor respond to work matters outside of that block(s) of time.
Again, you'll probably get some replies telling you that you should be slavishly thankful to your employer for condescending to permit you to work for their glorious advantage, but I'm convinced some people around here would say the same thing to the starving peasants licking crumbs off the boots of textile mill oligarchs.
Yea. Really?
Thank you.
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