Q and A with a Car Salesman

Arthur Kuznetsov is a DePaul student who in his short part-time career has managed to work for a number of reputable car dealerships, occupying positions that began in service and continued on to sales. Fortunately, he found time in his busy schedule, which is dominated by classes and work arrangements, to sit down with me and answer a few question that most directly affect the consumers in the auto industry – the interaction with the car dealerships.

How did you end up working at a car dealership? Was it your first experience working with cars?

It was definitely not my first time working with cars or at the dealership. I started out working valet for multiple restaurants and then went over to work at MB Autohaus on Edens where I detailed cars. After that I transferred over to Luxury Motors and shortly after to MB of C where I got the chance to sell cars.

Some say that car sales is a dog-eat-dog world, do you agree? Why?

Yes and no. Yes because you are all on commission and if you want to make some money you better pray to god you are the first guy to get the phone or greet the customer who walked in to the showroom. No, because the  management would throw you a bone in the end of the month or if you help another salesman close a deal you will get to split the sale.

What is the most interesting experience you have had while working as a salesman?

Interesting experience? I guess the fact that you  get to meet people and drive high end cars especially when you work for dealers like MB of C.

It is said that a car salesman will do anything to close a deal. What is the farthest you have ever gone?

Drove a car to a customer’s house so that they can test drive it. I actually haven’t seen those desperate sales attempts in the work place that you see in the movies.

In today’s market, the cars are divided into three camps – Europe, America and Asia. Cars from which region interest you the most?

Europe, I can narrow it down to Germany specifically. You really have to drive a lot of cars and take your time with them to appreciate the difference. Don’t get me wrong, there are a lot of nice Asian and American cars, but they just don’t drive or look like German cars do.

While on the subject, what is your take on the recent Toyota recall woes?

Personally, I think it was bound to happen because they just flooded the car market in the past decade. Such a high production usually ends up with a few flaws. I think it’s a good time for American cars to get some ground back in their [home] market.

Are there any inside tips you can spare for the future car buyers?

Use the internet before you go shopping. Everything is available from  MSRPs, leases, reviews, current promotions. You can even find the invoice on the cars.

Online or dealership, which is the best way to shop in your opinion?

You can get a lot of info online which will inform you, but you still have to drive the car and inspect it visually. Online pictures don’t show everything about the car and thats why you actually should go to the dealership and look at the car.

Are there any particularly good perks that come with working at a reputable car dealership?

The biggest perk is you get to drive some very nice cars. The second perk is you make a nice paycheck that at least looks big to a college student. The third is you get to meet some celebrities once in a while who are there just kicking tires. Finally, there is no manager to constantly bust your chops, but only if you screw up of course.

Finally, is being a car salesman a positive experience overall? Or does it succumb to the dogma of every job having its ups and downs?

Overall it was a positive experience. I didn’t like the long hours since I also attended school full time. For those who are car fanatics, they will enjoy it. Those who need to make money will probably not. Your work shows off  on your paycheck  and the best part is that no one tells you what to do as long as you do the monthly quota of 8 to 10 cars.

[Via http://goldcoastdk.wordpress.com]

Mahindra to set date for US launch

Mahindra & Mahindra, India’s largest utility vehicle and tractor maker, hopes to announce in 2-3 weeks a timeframe for the launch of its pick-up trucks in the US.

The US market is crucial for Mahindra to achieve its objective of becoming a global player but the launch, originally expected late last year or early 2010, has been delayed due to safety and emission certification.

The pick-up will be competing with Ford Motor’s 2010 Ford Ranger and Toyota’s Tacoma models in the United States, the world’s largest market for SUVs and pick-ups.Mint

[Via http://ivgpartners.wordpress.com]

Investor Needs

I’ll make this short and sweet.

I was asked this week on several occasions about building my buyers & sellers list, web-sites, autoresponders and direct mail so I’ll give you a few quick words on these topics.

Lists -  I’ve used many methods but squeeze pages work the best and I came across a guide that shows you how to do it, Squeeze Pages For Beginners.

Web-sites – I have learned to do a little HTML editing on my own but I host my sites at HostGator. They have the best service. I’ve never had an issue with my site being down.

Autoresponders – There are a few out there like Constant Contact, I Contact and Get Response. My personal favorite and the one I use is Aweber.  They have a GREAT track record of delivering your messages. Using this save you tons of time and it helps keep you and your contacts connected.

Direct Mail – I’m not a big fan of sending a lot of mail. I’ll do postcards for certain things but I’m VERY SPECIFIC when I’ll use them. One of the best ways to conduct mailings is to go to the United States Postal Services web-site and upload your mail piece onto their site. You can construct what you want to send, how many, to what neighborhoods or zips codes. When used right it can work well but many investors have failed to use it correctly.

Ok there you go. I hope this clears a few things up. Keep your eyes out for the next post it’s going to be gooooooood.

[Via http://wholsalerei.wordpress.com]

300 HP at 30 MPG...Ford may have hired a wizard.

2011 Ford Mustang V6

Ford Mustang is a staple of all-American engineering. The slightly redesigned 2010 models have carried over the previous generations’ engine choices, while the next years line up has two options that have the enthusiasts salivating. First and foremost is the return of the 5.0 V8 engine in the GT model of the venerable Mustang. As a matter of fact, the resurgence of the large displacement powerplant has almost overshadowed a much more interesting offering in the base pony model.

The previous generation basic Mustangs have been sporting a 4.0 liter V6 powerplant that was underwhelming, to say the least. I personally experienced the difference between the base and the GT models when I was on my summer vacation in Miami, FL. I cheaped out and rented a base hot red Mustang, while my cousin, having uncharacteristically deeper pockets than me, went for the black convertible GT model. Needless to say, his rental was infinitely superior to the one I had, minus the color of course – hot red was, well…hot.

Enter the new engine choice for the base model – the 3.7L V6. Using linear logic one may ask “But it has a smaller displacement, how can it possibly have 100 more HP and get about 10 more MPGs?” My answer – magic. The magic of technology. It is a brand new redesigned all aluminum block that is not only 40 lbs ligher but also undeniably more efficient. Interestingly, it does not feature direct-injection, a feature that would increase performance and economy even further. I guess Ford and their wizard are playing it smart, leaving room for improvement for a reason – so that there would be more money to be made down the road.

[Via http://goldcoastdk.wordpress.com]

The Obama Legacy

i was just reading a piece over at Conservative Patriot’s blog about Obama’s successes and failures in this last year and i got to thinking once again of his accomplishments.

Skyrocketing unemployment, plummeting dollar, takeovers of the auto and banking industries… i won’t bore you to tears with the list.
Actually it’s becoming so overwhelming that to go through what this man and his cronies have done in this last year is almost beyond belief.

And, as Mr. Black points out: all of these failures and successes have cost both him and the left.

With a Presidential Approval Index rating of -14 and an overall disapproval rating of 53%, is it any wonder that candidates who espouse Conservatism are sweeping the elections?

This is just one of the coattails this man has: Toxicity!

I remember people openly blaming the Clintons for the Republican takeover of Congress in ‘94… there was talk of how the Clintons were the ruination of the Democrat party.

They were PIKERS compared this man and the damage he has done to the Democrat Party.

The problem is: He has not been alone. This is a party peopled by the far left without ANY room for any voices except those who would make this into a Socialist nation.

We could go through a long list of people who have either seen the Democrat Party move away from them or who have been ostracized and literally thrown out because it has been taken over by the radical extreme left.

Puh-Losie, Reed, Sebilius, and all the others have been there all along. They have just been biding their time to come forth and show their true colours.

They act as though the last election was not just the American people voting them in, but rather a mandate to ‘remake the fabric of American society’. The Constitution be damned! Who really knows what’s in it anyway? Who cares?

And now… they are willing, no, make that fully engaged in the destruction of the Democrat Party in order to revamp America and turn it into a Socialist society.

They know full and well that they will be disgraced in the endeavor, but they are willing to throw themselves on their swords for the furtherance of the Socialist agenda.

It’s always been acknowledged that converts make the most zealous followers, but the most dangerous of believers are those who would sacrifice themselves for their faith… we see this everyday around the world as people commit suicide in the name of their god.

Instead of sacrificing themselves for religious principles; these people are doing it in the name of destroying the very country that made it possible for them to stand up and speak in the first place.

[Via http://dubyavu.wordpress.com]

Used car buyers beware!

Clark Behind The Headlines

From HLN’s Money Expert Clark Howard

I want to thank listener Douglas who sent me a notice about a nasty criminal scheme and it illustrates the point so well about how careful you have to be when you buy a used car.

You’ve heard me talk about the importance of having a car inspected by a mechanic as a condition of purchase, and how dealers are allowed to sell you a car ”as is” without disclosing the vehicle’s history???  Well… we’re way past that now!!  Crooks are now going online and infesting some popular car-selling Websites with bogus car offers.

Criminals are re-posting legitimate vehicle offers from sites like Autotrader.com or eBay motors, complete with actual photos and VIN information.  If they can’t get the VIN from the original posting, they will contact the seller directly.  They will duplicate the exact vehicle and list it as being for sale!

In the case Douglas sent me, a criminal lifted an existing sale and said in the posting, “thank you for your interest in my car it’s a 7 passenger van. I have to sell it really quickly because I’m serving in the U.S. military in Great Britain. I need to sell it including shipping for $3900”. And that is a common trend in these phony ads.

When you are looking at a car listed online, you need to follow the advice Craigslist puts right on its Website: deal only with people who are local, that you can see face to face.  You want to actually see the car.  In the old days in fighting they used to say ”wait until you see the whites of their eyes.”   Well, when it comes to buying a car, you want to wait until you can see the headlights.  You’ve got to be so very careful when buying a car. The risk right now is off the charts.

[Via http://tips.blogs.cnn.com]

Day 21: Did you know your dirty engine oil is a TOXIC waste?!?

If you want to do your own oil changes, it can save you money and make you feel empowered, make sure you understand how to properly dispose of your dirty motor oil. Used motor oil is considered to be a TOXIC waste because one drop contaminates a million drops of water! Just think about that next time you drip oil onto the ground! Also, your oil containers and oil filters are considered TOXIC also because each container contains 9% of the original volume of oil and each filters contains approximately a 1/4 litre of oil!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

However, there is a solution to your newly found toxic problem and it’s FREE! There are over 500 return collection facilities that will happily accept your used oil, used oil containers, and oil filters. These return collection facilities range from Mr. Lube’s, to Canadian Tire, to your local automotive repair shop!

Find your closest return collection facility for used motor oil at:

http://www.usedoilrecycling.com/en/bc/returncollectionfacilities

Follow these steps to ensure that you’re responsibly recycling your used oil materials:

1. Call the return collection facility nearest you to confirm materials and amounts accepted, drop-off location and hours of operation.
2. Return used oil materials ONLY during operating hours as night drop offs often lead to spills and environmental contamination
3. Return used oil in a plastic oil container with a secure lid to minimize spillage
4. Ensure that the used oil has not been contaminated with any other waste, otherwise, it will not be accepted.

Be clean and keep our water clean too!

[Via http://carcareforher.wordpress.com]