Are car salesmen immoral?

[Blackbog]

A friend of mine (not Catholic) has taken up the job of car salesmen recently, and he’s very excited and proud when he manages to sell a customer a vehicle for way more than it’s worth or than they could have gotten it for elsewhere.

I want to say something, but I’m not sure where to start. Is he serving some benefit to the consumer? Is his profit somehow earned? Is he most likely lying to the consumer? I’m afraid I just don’t know that much about car sales.

 

[byHisGrace]

A friend of mine (not Catholic) has taken up the job of car salesmen recently, and he’s very excited and proud when he manages to sell a customer a vehicle for way more than it’s worth or than they could have gotten it for elsewhere.

I want to say something, but I’m not sure where to start. Is he serving some benefit to the consumer? Is his profit somehow earned? Is he most likely lying to the consumer? I’m afraid I just don’t know that much about car sales.

Are car salesmen immoral? I’m sure many are and some aren’t, as in any profession. More specifically the question to be asked is whether your friend is doing something immoral regarding his transactions. If he is selling cars for a legitimate profit, then of course its moral. Businesses employ people because they make a profit. If he is misrepresenting or intentionally gouging someone vulnerable to make an ill-gotten profit, then it is immoral. If he charges more than his competition for a higher margin, it could still be moral if the dealership has higher overhead, or provides additional service, etc. Just because he may charge more for the same comparable vehicle on another lot does not necessarily make him immoral.

If he is gloating about ripping people off, you should ask him if HE thinks that is the right thing to do. People in business who trade fairly will retain customers and grow their business. People who cheat customers are eventually found out and end up reaping what they sow.

God Bless you!

 

[Scottgun]

No, there is nothing intrinsicly immoral about selling automobiles. The auto sales business does indeed have a bad reputation, but that does not mean they are all hucksters.

Scott

 

[dulcissima]

Does he sell new cars or used cars? I don’t think that there is much chance of it being immoral if he is selling new cars because he wouldn’t be selling them for more than they are worth, he just wouldn’t be discounting them as heavily as others. People who can’t be bothered to negotiate or shop around pay a premium for an easy transaction.

I do know a few people who sold used cars who were very immoral and would brag about burying people in car payments. I think there is more room for monkey business in the used car business.

 

[Teakafrog]

My husband’s uncle and his kids own a car lot. They are fine, upstanding Catholics, and treat people fairly. They do a HUGE business, because people trust them. It doesn’t pay to cheat. :tsktsk:

 

[bellesjoy]

My Irish Catholic father, now 90, raised a family of seven on selling new and used cars for a living after selling furniture and working in a lumber mill before that. He gave money to the parish and our Catholic school as well.

My Dad is still known in his community as an honest and fair man who would do anything for anyone. He was very hard working and got to know many of the people in the county that way. His employer was Catholic, also and very honest.

There was a huge turn out at the parish hall for my Dad’s 90th birthday recently, many who bought cars from him.

It is very hard work and there is nothing about it that makes it unsavory except that there are some people in the field who are not honest. My Dad treated everyone with respect and that is what he has always received in return.

Be careful of sterotypical statements that are cruel and harmful to good people. I know physicians, attorneys, teachers, accountants, engineers and stay at home moms who are not honest…do we need a thread for each profession or just for the dishonest in general?

 

[estesbob]

A friend of mine (not Catholic) has taken up the job of car salesmen recently, and he’s very excited and proud when he manages to sell a customer a vehicle for way more than it’s worth or than they could have gotten it for elsewhere.

I want to say something, but I’m not sure where to start. Is he serving some benefit to the consumer? Is his profit somehow earned? Is he most likely lying to the consumer? I’m afraid I just don’t know that much about car sales.

How would one determine if somehting was sold way more than its worth? Any item is worth what a willing buyer will pay a willing seller. there is absolutely nothing wrong with what your friend is doing.

 

[mary_bobo]

No, there is nothing intrinsicly immoral about selling automobiles. The auto sales business does indeed have a bad reputation, but that does not mean they are all hucksters.

Scott

So true. And it behoves a buyer to educate him/herself before setting out to buy a car.

 

[JimG]

Well, mortgage brokers also have a number of ways to build a little extra profit into a transaction without necessarily pointing out all of this to the buyer. You just have to watch what you buy and shop around, whether it’s cars or mortgages.

 

[Blackbog]

How would one determine if somehting was sold way more than its worth? Any item is worth what a willing buyer will pay a willing seller. there is absolutely nothing wrong with what your friend is doing.

Is he doing anything bad when he boasts about selling a car for “way more than it’s worth”? (His words, not mine.) He recently says to me about the guy he sold this car to, “This guy came in and said he was willing to pay no more than 300-something a month and he left with a 615-dollar-a-month payment that he will probably regret two months later.”