Shropshire’s Linda Carrington knows a thing or two about selling cars. The 60-year-old grandmother does it for a living and loves it.
More than 18 years ago Linda, a mother of two, worked as a publican, but after divorce from her husband decided that her pint-pulling days were over; she wanted to launch herself into a new career and something completely different.
She explains: “After my divorce I had to buy my first car by myself. I was treated so appallingly, simply because I am a woman. I vowed then, if I ever got the chance, I would try and give other women the opportunity to deal with a salesperson who has a similar perspective.”
Linda - now a grandmother of four - explains how changing her career and hitting the forecourt has given her a new lease of life, with more confidence and determination, and provides her with the opportunity to meet different types of people on a daily basis.
“I love working on the forecourt and I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty, stand out in the freezing cold and manoeuvre several cars around a tight showroom. I never thought I would be doing this job 18 years ago.”
Linda, from Eaton Constantine, near Wellington, maintains that women do now get a good deal when it comes to buying a car because they know what they are doing. She also claims that a woman can be much better at selling them.
She explains: “When I started selling used cars a customer would expect to see more of an Arthur Daley character rather than a woman who could talk confidently about finance packages, clutches, brakes and gearbox warranties, as well as differences in horsepower.
“When it comes to women’s intuition I feel that women are maybe more perceptive than men and that other women and families find us more comforting and reassuring as they feel we are on a common ground.”
Linda is the only female salesperson at Walton Motors in Stafford, a Network Q dealership, and laughs that after 18 years people still find it surprising to see a women selling used cars.
“I still get people coming into the showroom and asking me if they can speak to a salesman.
“The guys I work with are great. We all have our roles to play and I’m very much a part of the team. It’s not about your sex; it’s more about playing to your strengths.”
Linda continues: “I hope to continue selling used cars for as long as I can and I would advise any women to try their hand at it, as long as they don’t mind being one of the boys.
“I love what I do, and get a lot of satisfaction from helping some one get their first wheels to freedom, or their dream car.”
One Comment
Hi Linda…
It is great to hear that there are women out there doing the same thing I am. I am selling new cars at Nanaimo Toyota in British Columbia and I love it. I first started selling cars at Mitsubishi, where I worked with a great team but have moved my way up.