Anyone that comes to us who answers the question - why would you make a good salesman? With "cos I like cars" usually lasts a matter of weeks. I imagine it could be a similar thing in bike sales. The answer should be " cos I'm hungry to earn as much as possible"
And means as soon as a better offer comes they piss off, and while they are there they stitch up every customer they can to grease their pockets. Nice salesman stereotype
Not at all. I've been in same place 10 years , another guy 15 and the third 22 years. We look after people as they come back. Repeat business is 80% of our custom. None of us like cars. The guys who come for 1 month as they think it's easy cos they like cars. They the ones who do a smash and grab and leave. Usually with a whirlwind of unhappy customers.
Which in my experience is what you get when someone declares a desire only to make money Been in sales all my life. Simple principle. If I do a good job, people buy, I earn. No need to chase the buck, chase the success and the buck follows.
Originally Posted by d8mok - "Two ears - one mouth. It's all about the listening". Or, alternatively, from a potential customer's point of view - one mouth and two feet, so you can shut up and f*ck off !
Can I ask what kind of sales? I go go to work to earn a living. I treat people how I expect to be treated and they buy usually.. However it's the only industry where profit is a dirty word. If I wasn't motivated by money I'd be in the wrong job. U do realise that most car /bike sales jobs have low basics (10k is mine)? edited to add - I never said I just to want to earn money. But it is the main reason why we all work. If you read back I said I like making others happy and other stuff. However I still don't like cars. This is unlikely to change. It kills your passion working with them 6 days a week.
Not digging at you fella, just the 'its all about money' stuff. Have sold loads of stuff, low and high basics, now its softy commercial for me. But principle same and what is missing in OPs Ducati experience. -know your product -engage and listen to know your customer -match needs and wants -make a friend in closing the sale -keeps coming back and recommends to everyone else If you know you have to clear 30 something to make a living, and your success rate is one in five, its a numbers game. Funny I found when I stopped looking for the addons without telling them, the high commission stiff etc it became one in three and they bought the added stuff anyway. bloke who sold (loosely used, we bought it) My wife and I our Toyota rolled in a superguard protection as std, without telling me and only when we got the the paperwork I asked and took 3, the last one very direct, before he admitted it cost money. Went from decent bloke to sheister in a few seconds and even tho he must have said 'tick 10 out of 10' in the customer survey he got a 6
No no worries mate. I'm not taking it personally and it's hard via internet to explain some stuff. Like I said I genuinely like my job. I like the people , the colleagues , and the ups and downs. There's no better feeling than when that customer from 2 years ago turns up with a cake for you and to swap their car as you've helped them before. I had that today. The stereotype is quite hard to overcome , and we at our dealer aren't your usual salesman so I think that helps us be more successful. Id love to work for Ducati, but if I'm honest it wouldn't pay enough, and it would kill my passion for biking. If you ever need a car I've got friends in trade in nearly every make who are great to deal with. Give me a shout and ill put you onto them the customer surveys are very important. Over 95% must be 10/10 for us which is hard.
What interests me is who would Ducati employ as a salesman. Picture Mr Macanabee ( excuse the spelling Tim ) interviewing for a new sales person in their flagship store. 49 year old, owns 3 Ducati's - 916 track tool, 1098 and a nice Darmah. Does loads of track days, follows BSB, member of various clubs and could re-build an air cooled engine in his sleep. Current job: Tree surgeon. Applicant number 2: 39 year old, 20 years in the car trade, currently works for Stratstone Car Group young family and never ridden a bike in his life. Who would he employ ?
Do you work for a charity then? In my business profit pays me, my staff and provides us with capital to invest. Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity
Number 2 for his experience although the lack of bike licence would probably be a problem. No.1 Might not know how to sell & might have to many distractions
I'm not saying its bad, I get paid on profit Saying its not only a bad world in motor sales...and whats a charity doing making profit?!
I disagree, No.2 has 20 years selling experience he should be able to learn about the product. In a previous role I've struggled to turn some lovely people into sales people, that my bosses have thought perfect for the company, the majority lasting less than 12 months. The guy that I picked? Considered unfriendly, he'd been a mechanic & service receptionist but wanted to sell, left the dealership after 2 years (& after me), different group but same brand, is now a brand manager in charge of 3 dealerships! I thought he was good but...
This, I've been approached before but it's too bigger gap between cars & bikes. A mate who was a general sales manager at a Welsh Ford dealership, having been a very very successful salesman/sales manager, with a love for American vee twins rather than Italian, applied for & got offered the job of Dealer principle at a Harley dealership that didn't open in the end. Thought he'd have been considerably worse off if he'd have gone ahead with it
X2, Another car Salesman here (Sorry all ) and I am the same, I genuinely enjoy my job - It is a combination of the team (We have all been with the brand a long time and get along extremely well) the customers and the product. There is a lot of passion for the brand in our place, and I do think it helps - When we ring one of our repeat customers excited about news for a new launch they usually come in waving money at us, no need for a close! People buy people though, and that's fact. Anyone can learn the brochure and be into cars, but it is the relationship you have with your customer that really makes the difference - We are one of the top Lexus Centres in the UK (We find out whether 1st or 2nd in the next few days!) and it is the personality, passion and hunger of the sales team that sets us apart! That and knowing the person you are dealing with well enough to know what buttons to press and when :wink: I have only been into one Ducati dealer in the past so I can't really judge (Although I wasn't overly impressed) but it seems that these are the things that are lacking? To answer the OP's original question though, Yes I do believe that I could sell Ducati's (If the money worked out - I have bikes I need to fund :biggrin
