Is it possible for one inexperienced sales manager to run a 200 car store by himself with 15 salespeople; work open to close 6 days a week for 3 months because the GM is trying to cut labor?
"Is it possible for one inexperienced sales manager to run a 200 car store by himself?" The Answer Should Be "NO"
I am sure the financials’ looked great during those 3 months, but the store was an absolute train wreck. Two of the three sales managers left for different reasons, leaving an inexperienced sales manager to run the store by himself. He was absolutely amazing, working open to close everyday for those three dark months. I saw a finance manager unload on him when he made a mistake, I thought "This is when most people quit", but not him. He hung in there and said “Give me a break I have been working open to close for the past 45 days". The sales staff were extremely frustrated and out of control.
"The financials’ looked great during those 3 months, but the store was an absolute train wreck."
The GM said he was trying to replace the other two sales managers, but never did, for 3 months. The strange part was there were 4 other managers at the dealership that knew how to desk deals but never helped him during that dark time. Then after 3 months - 2 of these 4 were promoted to sales manager even though they did not help him during the crisis, because they were upset that the inexperienced manager was promoted instead of them.
"There was just one sales manager and 15 salespeople. What could possibly go wrong?"
There were also several sales staff that had experience and could have helped the sales manager if they had been given access to the desking tools, but for some reason only “Sales Managers” can desk a deal. Why do they not have a program to take the best sales staff and help them to learn the work of the Sales Manager?
"Four lower-level managers who could have helped, basically said it was “Not My Job.” - Later two of them were promoted.
Have you ever seen or heard of anything like this before? There was just one sales manager and 15 salespeople. What could possibly go wrong?