What do you look for in a salesperson

[CN-MINI]

Hi all... Starting this month I am selling for MINI at BMW Motorwerks out of Bloomington, MN. I wanted to introduce myself to the community and find out as much knowledge as I can. Furthermore, I am curious to know what you all look for in a MINI Sales rep. What makes a good salesman and representative of the MINI brand? What are things you like? and things you don't like? in your past experiences when buying MINI brand vehicles.

Cheers,

CN-MINI

[Bmont82]

Don't be pushy and know all the features of the car as well as how to use them

Cheers

[BlueBeastie]

Knowing their products. I have walked into so many different Manufacturers dealerships and the so called sales person knows nothing about the product. I agree with Bmont82, not being pushy helps.

My general rule is, if I'm not helped within 5 minutes, I walk out.

Having a pretty young lady as a saleperson helps too haha.

[minicore]

As above, on both points - someone who knows the brand and is knowledgeable about MINI, and who isn't pushy or aggressive.

On a related note, I'd also look for feedback on the dealership service department if you plan to use it... a great salesperson is all well and good, but only if they're backed up by an equally good team.

[Stuart89]

Dont talk ****, if you dont know then say you dont know and then try and find out off a colleague, Ive had so many salesmen just talk rubbish to me, its funny when you know more than the salesmen and know what hes saying is wrong, you lose instant faith in him and anything he says after it.

Approach people, like said above, people leave if you dont approach them.

And from me personally, offer test drives, I dont know if its cos im in my low 20's and male, but I struggled greatly to get a test drive even when I was actually looking to buy the car!

[spiney]

(Some people (like me and most everyone else here) will be coming there to buy a MINI no matter what. If they don't buy it from you, they will go up the road to the other dealer and get it there, so these hints apply to them too...)

Don't push to close the deal. Work with people, answer their questions, point out things that will surprise or delight them about the car (it can be simple things, one of my wife's favourite things about the car is the "secret compartment" behind the dash trim above the glove box), and most of all give them time.

A MINI is an expensive car compared with a Hyundai or a Kia, people expect better treatment and will take longer to make their decision. It will probably take them two or three visits to decide. Let it happen. Don't push the decision. Let them take test drives, on their own if your employer's policies allow it. Many people will come to your dealership from far and wide. Have a couple of really good test drive routes handy, with printed directions maybe, that really show off the car. Turning right on the four lane road outside the dealership at a light, making a U-turn at another light a couple of miles away and then turning left at a light back into the dealership just shows how good the blinkers are. Get a good route with some twisty back roads and when they come back with an ear-to-ear grin the check will already be as good as written!

If you want a repeat customer then bide your time and wait. Pushing someone into a decision they later regret might help your sales numbers on that particular day, but it will harm you, your employer and the brand in the long run.

[CN-MINI]

I very much appreciate everyone's response. Thank You.

[tasteskindasalty]

As someone who has dealt with a lot of car salesmen recently, nothing turns me off more than when I feel the salesman is trying to push the car on me. I don't like feeling pressured.

Oh yeah, dress accordingly. Guy's in nice sport jackets sell BMW's, not MINI's. You can tell a lot about a salesman by how he carries himself. If he looks like he hasn't made a sale in a while, or wouldn't drive a MINI even if it was given as a gift, I don't want to deal with him/her.

[Macguyvic]

I look for a salesman that knows more about the product than I do. Haven't found that salesman yet!

[Liam mini 35]

Be open, honest and show that you care about what the customers wants/needs are without just pushing for the sale. We have bought 2 cars off the same sales person at our local dealers because she was as described above. Good look in your career by the way.

[iain cooper]

my advice would be to know your product inside out, and be enthusiastic about it to the customer.

you don't really need to sell it as it will sell itself, as the customer is in the showroom to buy a car, and enthusiasm from yourself about the car will clinch the deal.

Iain