Where are the Women?

[Linda Rendleman]

Where are the Women?

There’s something about walking into a car dealership. There’s something about the air in there. I’ve noticed it for years. I have this kind of “out of place” feeling when I step inside one of these halls that smell of rubber and after shave and ooze testosterone.

It’s a car dealership. I drive a car. I have driven a car since I was sixteen. Why do I feel so out of place here? Is it because I don’t understand cars at all? I know what color I like. I know cars need gas, oil, regular maintenance and tires. I know tires need to be replaced and occasionally my car will need to be serviced and fixed when things go wrong.

But where’s the women? I was at one of our local dealerships recently and, although I haven’t had the need to buy a car in a few years, that same feeling of being out of place jumped right back out at me. And I was struck by the fact that I still see no women salespeople. I even asked the sales manager the question: “Do you have any women salespeople?” He said, “Sadly, no.”

I am struggling to understand why there are so few women selling and servicing cars when so many of us drive them? I asked Senator Pat Miller one time why we don’t have more women in politics. Her answer to me was that women simply don’t run. Is this true with careers in car sales, as well? Do we simply have no interest? Honestly, according to my unscientific analysis of the situation I think we are seeing more women getting into politics than are getting into car sales and dealer ownership. Could this be true?

I’m not saying that I don’t want to purchase a car from a man. And I‘m not saying that I can’t get into the conversation of car purchase and maintenance. There have been times when I have gone into a car dealership ready to buy, yet no one took me seriously because I was alone. Was it because I was without a man? Actually, I had that happen to me a lot the last time I bought a car. Not every time, but often enough to notice.

Tell me what you think. Why are we women staying clear of the car dealerships for a career? After all, we’re great at sales. Women have innate strengths that make us top notch when it comes to understanding needs and creating relationships. Am I wrong about this?

So I’m asking. Where are the women?

[Sarah Reimmuth]

Though it is not directly related to your question, I just have to say that during my last car buying experience, I had a dealer approach me and ask if I had my husband's permission to be shopping for a car. Seriously. I've never felt comfortable at car dealerships, and that really put the icing on the cake.

[Michael W. Gant]

Post away.

[Chris Theisen]

Post away Linda.

[Elaine Whitesides]

I have no problem with the comment being posted on your website. I did check it out and I am curious.

[Linda Rendleman]

Great perspective, Elaine. Question: may I post your comment on my Business Women Connect site? This blog also appears there, and we have some interesting comments there, as well. Check it out at Business Women Connect I would like to post the previous guy comments, as well, if anyone cares. Just let me know.

[Elaine Whitesides]

I actually had a friend who was a car salesperson in MI. She out-sold most of the male salespeople and that created quite a bit of hostility toward her in-house. Her customers were most often repeat customers and referrals. She left the industry because sales were down and she needed a steadier income. She was not the first to leave by any means. The hours she worked would have been an issue if she had children at home, which she did not. She was a middle-aged woman so there is not that "cute little salesgirl" issue although she was attractive, which helps in all sales fields and with both genders.

It is still a challenge for women in the mainstream of the corporate world and in male-dominated industries it probably borders on a daily struggle. Unless a woman has a tremendous interest in one of those industries, is there really a reason to swim upstream? I am not saying women should or do take the "easy road" in the work arena, but I think many females weigh the pros and cons and opt for other paths - just like men who choose paths other than those in female-dominated industries.

Forty years ago a woman would hardly even consider walking into a showroom to purchase a car alone. We do it now but we also recognize and understand the barriers we may encounter. I know I am prepared to visit many before settling on one that will make me feel I am being considered a serious buyer. What a loss to those who don't. I wonder, are there studies with hard data to prove out what we, as women, feel in these situations that would alter the marketplace? Until it comes down to dollars and cents (sense) I am not sure there will be much significant change.

[Michael W. Gant]

I believe many women, and men for that matter, would be less than interested in purchasing cars from a woman. I, myself, could care less about the gender. If the deal is right, that is not a factor. Besides, prior to arrival at the dealership, my research would be done. It would then be a matter of who did my, for lack of a better descriptor, gut have me connect with once I hit the lot.

In relative terms, women have not been in the male-dominated work force that long. In retail sales of autos, Financial Services, Politics, Banking, women are still fighting to play in the "old boys" club. Though some have been accepted and thrived even, all remain difficult arenas that sometimes take a very strong will. You know what a strong-willed woman typically is sometimes labled as.

Lastly, I think women would be found, more often than not, selling in the higher-end arena, as opposed to anywhere else. From Cadillac, to Benz, BMW, Lexus, Audi, and the like, I think you would find women much more represented.

[Linda Rendleman]

Thanks for your comments and perspectives, Scott and Chris. I'm glad to know that there ARE women out there and to get a perspective on some reasons why it may be difficult in sales.

[Scott Emmett]

Well, I am in the car business some 13+ years now. All of my time has been at two stores. Let me see if I can remember how many women sales staff I worked with. At Skillmans' stores, I remember four. At Hubler stores (where I have spent the vast majority of my career in this business - also where I am now) I recall maybe seven. At this moment, our Chevrolet store has one in used cars and the General Manager is a woman.

The typical hours of a retail car sales "person" ( I am in fleet)are not favorable and it is, like it or not, a male dominated place. Yes, Linda, I too have seen women customers talked down to or told to come back when they have their husband with them. I don't know why there aren't more women in this line of work. Were I a female, I would not be.

My two cents.

[Chris Theisen]

Hare Chevrolet in Noblesville is owned by sisters. They may not be the sales women selling you your car but they both have a daily hand in how the dealership is run. That says more to me than women wanting to sell cars. It could be the fact that women who are in the sales field have alot better opportunities with regard to income and hours worked than are offered at a car dealership. I'm sure there is a big stigma with me in regards to purchasing a car from a female. So while women obviously by and drive cars dealerships may be reluctant to put a woman out there if they feel their male customers wont respond to them. Plus you will get backlash from some wives yelling at their husband for only buying the car because of the cute sales girl.