Internet and work

Me

[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.

[Lazamataz]

I have the opposite dilemma. I want to be paid when I am on the clock, but I don’t want to work for it.

[saleman]

Good luck! It’s a lot of hours but it’s not hard work. I did my time working hard. Gotta be disciplined with your money.

[saleman]

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. We have an app/customer retention tool on our phones. It’ll ping you when you get a lead. I’m gonna try to get on board.

BTW. I made a mistake on the numbers. Went over them in a meeting this morning. Over last 6 mo’s 939 internet leads 41 sales for 4% rate. Also, that is not including sales calls where we are considerably more successful. Approximately 15% rate on calls. I would bet at least 20%-25% of customers in this area can’t qualify for financing....

Dealership set another record for new car sales in January. That’s 5 out of last 6 mo’s we’ve set records. Course now we gotta figure out how to better those numbers next year. It never ends. Which is kinda what this whole thing was about.

Anyway. Thanks again to everyone. I’ll be checking this thread and trying to implement some, not all probably, some of ya’lls great tips!

[No.6]

Cool (and sorry for replying to post #2). If you collect the inquirer’s email address and first/last name you can use the ‘net to find out lots of things about people (including a good guess at their age, lifestyle, income, and other demographics) which will help you in helping that person find the right vehicle for them.

Additionally, you can pretty quickly see who is likely to qualify for the car and who is just wasting your time, and allocate your own time accordingly.

That’s all a bit spooky but it’s reality on the net. Just use all that power for niceness and not evil (to paraphrase Maxwell Smart).

[Wyrd bið ful aræd]

There are people who are so entirely ignorant and uninformed that they crassly grind the beautiful pillar of capitalism into a whipping-post engraved, "the employer is always right."

You are apparently one of them.

[sparklite2]

The boss may not always be right,
but he’s always the boss.

[Vendome]

Discussed your issue with our Internet guys and your dealership isn’t fully developed in the process.

They should have the Round Robin scheduled.