For some context, I’m 22 and I’ve been in the car business since I was 19.
My first dealership was a small used car lot. I was there for a while and honestly loved selling cars. There was basically zero training, so I just figured shit out as I went. I learned how to talk to customers, make calls, negotiate, close deals, and generate my own business. I genuinely enjoyed coming to work and selling.
Eventually I left because I wanted somewhere with more opportunity and structure.
My second dealership was another used car store, but much bigger inventory and way more structure. I actually got real sales training there and learned a ton. The culture was good, I liked the people, and there was a lot more going on. The problem was the pay plan. It was genuinely one of the worst pay plans I’ve seen, and eventually I couldn’t justify staying.
Now I’m at dealership #3, another smaller independent store. I took the job because it seemed like a huge opportunity to learn the backend of the business. And to be fair, I HAVE learned a shit ton. I’m doing CUDL, submitting deals to lenders, selling warranties, structuring deals, desking, handling leads, inventory, advertising, etc. I’m basically getting experience with the entire dealership instead of only selling cars.
But I’m also pretty much helping run the lot. I’m dealing with vehicle check-ins, pictures/listings, social media, inventory, lot tech stuff, random errands and whatever else needs done. My responsibilities have also changed multiple times, and sometimes responsibilities get taken away without anyone really explaining what my new expectations are.
And honestly, I’m fucking miserable.
The store is extremely slow. I’m somebody who thrives when I’m constantly talking to customers, making calls, working deals and keeping that sales momentum going. There is no momentum here. More than half of the cars I’ve sold here have actually come from leads I personally generated through Facebook Marketplace.
The environment is probably the biggest thing though. It’s just negative. People talk about quitting, the owner talks about firing people, and the energy walking into work some days is fucking unbearable. I’ve literally had someone start yelling while I’m trying to desk a deal with a customer sitting there.
I’ve noticed myself changing too. I used to love talking to people at work and being involved in everything. Now I find myself sitting in my office, keeping to myself and sometimes almost dreading having to go talk about a deal. I’ve never had a job where I consistently woke up dreading going to work until this one.
The owner has also talked about potentially selling the dealership/doing something different with the place. If I’m trying to build repeat customers and build a career, it makes me wonder what exactly I’m sticking around to build.
I don't think these are bad people and I'm grateful for what I've learned here. I just don't think this is the place where I want to plant my feet.
The thing I'm struggling with is that this is already dealership #3 and I'm only 22. I don't want to become the guy who leaves every time a job gets difficult. At the same time, I know what it feels like to actually enjoy selling cars because I've had that before, and this feels completely different.
Part of me wants to try a high-volume franchise store and finally see what I can do with consistent traffic and leads. Another part of me thinks maybe I should step away from the car business for 6 months or a year, try selling something else or do something completely different, and see if I actually miss it.
I still love sales. I love negotiating, working deals, getting approvals and making shit happen. I just don't know if I love the car business anymore, or if I've just ended up at the wrong dealership.
For the people who have been in the business a long time: would you stick this out because of the backend experience I'm getting, try a franchise store, or get out for a while and experience something else at 22?