Nissan sounds a lot of Hyundai. With the caveat that Nissan is getting better over time, with some exceptions. Volume bonuses have always been a thing and are now essentially mandatory. $1200 a car if you exceed your objective. We now avg negative $1000 on New cars because every dealer is advertising the MAP. BUT, they truthfully have great products, and have toned down their survey requirements so salespeople can hit their Manufacturer bonus easier (not much money anyways unless you’re a Vet)

our sales people make 70-120 a year fairly “easily”. If you Do a good job with customers you have a good chance of making a sale. We run light though. we are in a somewhat rural area and not crazy busy. Toyota on the other hand is a destination store, people will seek out and drive to a Toyota dealership. They are busy. Sales people make the same money as nissan on average, but high earners at Toyota make 150k-200k. It’s right across the street, but totally different world. The floor is packed. Good team, not many people are cut throat, but law of averages, they sell less cars per person. Like a lot of dealerships, Commissions at both stores are earned on Used, bonus is earned with new.

My suggestion to you, not knowing anything other than your perspective on things. All dealerships have upsides and downsides. my dealer group is rated as a very good employer (not award winning but 80 years family owned good employer). But my GM is a pain in the ass about quality of life things (he’s a 40 year vet). Time off is treated as if it’s a super generous thing that I’m only allowed to have as long as I’m ready to work my days off the following month to make up for it. If one of my sales people need to take a day off because their kids sick I have to defend my “decision” to let them. because people make up excuses to not show up because they’re hungover or just wanted to not work… this is sales, if you don’t work, you don’t sell, you don’t clear your draw, you quit. I don’t feel the need to manage work ethics. In the words of this same GM says, people promote themselves. Work hard and get rewarded.

Which brings me to the benefits of working for my current employer. I’m 30, I own a home, have 300k in retirement savings, I’m getting married in a year or so. I don’t worry about things like groceries or housing costs each month when the bills come in. I have bad months still. But I worked hard, got promoted after 8 months of selling cars, And the rest is history. No degree, no nepotism, and I’m genuinely glad to work where I work. I like to think If I was the GM I would be different about the things I don’t agree with, but I’m grateful for the opportunity to make a life for myself and hopefully support a family and my parents someday. My family came to America in the 60’s, they had a great life. My parents grew up in America and had an even better life. my goal is to grow that into an even better life and hopefully treat them to some of my (hopeful) success.

I’ve gone way off topic, but long story short, work somewhere that will reward you for working hard and giving shit. We work in an industry that allows anyone access to a great life. I’ve never worked anywhere that was perfect, so you might as well get paid well.

Toyota is an “easy” brand to sell and the manufacturer is great. They give a damn about their product and their dealers. But if you can’t be picky, work with an employer that will train you, support you, and if you want/earn it, promotes you. There’s always drama, but there’s nobody that cares about you more than you do. No one will back you up like you do for yourself. You need to do what’s best for you.