How much do car salesmen pay for their cars?

I have a buddy who was in the Navy did his enlistment and is now out. He is now going to school and is a car salesman at a Kia dealership. At the time he got hired he was driving a Honda Civic. But when he got hired on, he had to be driving a Kia to work (he works for a Kia dealership.) They let him do an even trade for a Kia Rio and he drove that for about a year. Then he traded that in for a brand new Kia Optima. He has that but has added a Kia Sportage. (About a year after getting the Optima).

He told me that he makes about $200 for every car he sells, and if he sells 10 cars a month that's a little better than average. $200 a car times 10 cars a month times 12 months is $24,000. That's less than I make in the Navy, and I get free food, housing, utilities, and health care. (But he is also a full time student, and he's not paying a dime for that, plus getting a little extra as a stipend.)

I also told him if he was going to sell the Optima, I'd be interested in purchasing it. He said he can't privately sell it, he has to trade it in or keep it or junk it.

So I'm wondering how much do they pay for their cars? I can't believe he's working just to get a car. I also don't want to think that he's going in deeper and deeper in debt just to have a car.

So in general, how much do car salesmen pay for their cars?

I have a buddy who was in the Navy did his enlistment and is now out. He is now going to school and is a car salesman at a Kia dealership. At the time he got hired he was driving a Honda Civic. But when he got hired on, he had to be driving a Kia to work (he works for a Kia dealership.) They let him do an even trade for a Kia Rio and he drove that for about a year. Then he traded that in for a brand new Kia Optima. He has that but has added a Kia Sportage. (About a year after getting the Optima).

He told me that he makes about $200 for every car he sells, and if he sells 10 cars a month that's a little better than average. $200 a car times 10 cars a month times 12 months is $24,000. That's less than I make in the Navy, and I get free food, housing, utilities, and health care. (But he is also a full time student, and he's not paying a dime for that, plus getting a little extra as a stipend.)

I also told him if he was going to sell the Optima, I'd be interested in purchasing it. He said he can't privately sell it, he has to trade it in or keep it or junk it.

So I'm wondering how much do they pay for their cars? I can't believe he's working just to get a car. I also don't want to think that he's going in deeper and deeper in debt just to have a car.

So in general, how much do car salesmen pay for their cars? Most car sales people are way underpaid, which is why there's such a high turnover. They don't get cars at big discounts, and it certainly shouldn't be a reason for the job. Most don't drive new cars. They pay like everyone else. A number of them buy trade in clunkers because their used car managers feel sorry for them.

They don't get great deals at all. Managers get a car to drive but that's it. Often they get a demonstrator to use. If he's any good at his job he will be on "retainer + commission".

That means he get paid a low wage, then a bonus of maybe $200 for each car he sells. Possibly even gets extra commission from the finance co, for each deal he signs up, as well the the sales bonus.

So he's probably making more than just the commission.

He is also in a position to grab an "ex demo" and arrange the best possible finance on it. But that's just contacts.

He will get a best possible deal on the vehicle too, but the dealers on make a few thousand in a new vehicle, so it won't be more than that. It is probably a dealer owned vehicle that he pays a monthly fee to use.

Most don't drive new cars. They pay like everyone else. A number of them buy trade in clunkers because their used car managers feel sorry for them.

They don't get great deals at all. Managers get a car to drive but that's it.

Often they get a demonstrator to use.

If he's any good at his job he will be on "retainer + commission".

That means he get paid a low wage, then a bonus of maybe $200 for each car he sells. Possibly even gets extra commission from the finance co, for each deal he signs up, as well the the sales bonus.

So he's probably making more than just the commission.

He is also in a position to grab an "ex demo" and arrange the best possible finance on it. But that's just contacts.

He will get a best possible deal on the vehicle too, but the dealers on make a few thousand in a new vehicle, so it won't be more than that.

It is probably a dealer owned vehicle that he pays a monthly fee to use.