‘I would like car dealerships if they were all like this.’
A dealership employee reveals that he is a non-commissioned salesperson. Here’s what that means and how you can find one.
TikTok creator Bradley Wilson (@bradley.wilson606) works for Long-Lewis Auto Group in Hoover, Alabama. He posted a video explaining what he means.
“So what’s a non-commission salesperson?” he says to start the video. “Well, let’s talk about it.”
Wilson explains what that term means. “A non-commission salesperson is someone that doesn’t get paid a percentage of the gross profit that the dealership makes,” he says.
Did that go over anyone’s head? “That was a mouthful,” he states. “Let me simplify. It doesn’t matter to me what you buy as long as you’re happy with it. I don’t have a vested interest in the profit on the vehicle.”
In case there’s still confusion, Wilson uses an example scenario. “So if I sell you a $130,000 Navigator or a $2,000 car, … the dealership pays me the same flat fee,” he explains. “My incentive comes in volume. It also puts the customer’s best interest right up front for me.”
And Wilson also anticipates counter-arguments. “Now, before all you car guys start saying, ‘Yeah, and he doesn’t make any money,’ my income is about double the national average for an average car salesman in the United States,” he says. “And I do it without ever having to manipulate or try to deceive a customer. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Wilson has been with Long-Lewis for approximately 30 years. “They’ve always been a one-price dealer since I’ve been here, and I’ve always been non-commissioned,” he says.
To conclude the video, he asks, “Would you rather deal with a salesperson who has your best interest up front or somebody that’s trying to get you to pay more so they can make more?”
In the video’s comments section, viewers weighed in on the concept of a non-commissioned salesperson.
“If you’re at a big dealership that does volume, that’s a good idea,” wrote one person. “But when you’re in South Alabama like me at a dealership that doesn’t do big volume? It’s stupid to take that pay plan.”
Wilson didn’t deny this factor. “Yeah, the store needs to sell 100+ units a month for flats to work,” he replied.
A second viewer wrote, “That’s how it should be.”
A third person said, “No car salesmen put customers before profit. Their best interest is profit at the cost of the customer.”
Wilson is correct that non-commissioned sales associates don’t earn commission from their sales. Some dealerships prefer this model because they believe the salesperson can focus on the customer experience rather than resorting to pressure tactics to close deals.
According to Edmunds, auto shops are increasingly abandoning the commission model and moving toward salary, fixed payments, or bonus structures instead.
Dealerships with this model generally advertise non-commissioned salespeople and a single price or no-haggle experience.
Motor1 contacted Wilson via email for comment. We will update this story if he responds.
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