Know an Ethical, Great Auto Dealership? Need Your Input

Having been contracted to find the “top” auto dealerships in five markets, it makes me curious to hear others comment on “what makes a great auto dealership?” It would be interesting to learn who your favorite auto dealership is for any of these categories:

- top dealer from a revenue standpoint: who is the most successful dealership in your market?

- top dealer you prefer to work with: have you purchased multiple autos from them?

- top dealer from an ethical standpoint: community leader, low employee turnover, great dealer principal leadership

- one you’ve heard about for years

It’s funny you can’t find a list of these dealers (at least I haven’t found one) – even regional lists - the markets I’m most interested in are: New England (Boston, CT, Providence, Upstate NY); Las Vegas / Nevada; Bay Area, CA; Seattle / Pacific NW; and “other” – to be determined. Any dealer comments are of value though.

Personally, I’ve been fascinated with auto dealerships for years based on the low numbers of women sales professionals (still) that I read about – so for bonus points, I’d love to hear additionally about dealerships that have solved that issue and have a mix of sales professionals on staff – men and women. Not just one lone woman or “we used to have a woman” – where are the auto dealers that have more than one woman in sales on staff? [this could be a totally different answer than my first question - but somehow I suspect they might be connected.]

Your comments needed! Wherever you live, please report back on the best auto dealerships you know of – regardless of where they are. Send a link to their site and I’ll post a list once I’ve collected responses. You can reply here, or email me at lori (at) score more sales (dot) com. Thanks for your help on this one!!

http://twitter.com/BrianSmith_ Brian Smith

Carmax
Lori

Found an article that talks about women in the auto sales biz – love to hear from some as well.
http://www.cardealexpert.com/news-information/a…
Joe Wilder

One auto dealership that should be at the top is Homer Skelton Wolfchase Hyundai in Bartlett, TN. Homer Skelton, the owner, owns several dealerships in this area, so this is not a nationally owned chain of dealers, but is locally owned and operated. Not only will the general public, the long lines of repeat customers and even the competing delaers and salespeople tell you that this dealership is successful financially They will also vouch for Homer Skelton's equality in hiring as is evidenced by many women employees at ALL levels and positions within the company.

Joe Wilder
jwilder@homerskeltonwolfchase.com
http://www.flyingtzlp.com Reagan

Please check out First Texas Honda in Austin Texas. They believe in integrity and taking care of the customer. I worked there for a little over eleven years so I am very partial. However; do not take my word for it, you will find plenty of their customers to back up what I am saying. In regards to women sales professionals, it is not that dealerships do not want to hire women as salespersons. It is the fact that the general public already arrives with pre-concieved notions about a car dealership and are at times they are devastatingly rude to salespersons without cause. It takes a very special woman to be able to handle that type of environment. We would hire women and they would find that did not know how to handle those kinds of situations and would soon resign from the force. Our customers would be pleasantly surprised at the way that they were treated by us. One of the very best salespersons I have ever come across in my life is Mrs. Lois Jordan. She works for First Texas Honda. I lost count exactly how many years, but I believe to be over 20 years. The wall behind her desk is wallpapered with her sales achievement awards. Call and ask for her. Without any introduction you will be pleasantly surprised with her. Mr.Jim Olmstead is the General Manager. Go by and see him and he will proudly show you why First Texas Honda is the best. It has been over three years since I left there to start my own business and I miss all of them every day of the week. If you become one of their customers you will see why. http://www.firsttexashonda.com. I hope this helps you in your research.
http://www.flyingtzlp.com Reagan

Please check out First Texas Honda in Austin Texas. They believe in integrity and taking care of the customer. I worked there for a little over eleven years so I am very partial. However; do not take my word for it, you will find plenty of their customers to back up what I am saying. In regards to women sales professionals, it is not that dealerships do not want to hire women as salespersons. It is the fact that the general public already arrives with pre-concieved notions about a car dealership and are at times they are devastatingly rude to salespersons without cause. It takes a very special woman to be able to handle that type of environment. We would hire women and they would find that did not know how to handle those kinds of situations and would soon resign from the force. Our customers would be pleasantly surprised at the way that they were treated by us. One of the very best salespersons I have ever come across in my life is Mrs. Lois Jordan. She works for First Texas Honda. I lost count exactly how many years, but I believe to be over 20 years. The wall behind her desk is wallpapered with her sales achievement awards. Call and ask for her. Without any introduction you will be pleasantly surprised with her. Mr.Jim Olmstead is the General Manager. Go by and see him and he will proudly show you why First Texas Honda is the best. It has been over three years since I left there to start my own business and I miss all of them every day of the week. If you become one of their customers you will see why. http://www.firsttexashonda.com. I hope this helps you in your research.