There Are All Kinds of Salespeople

Today, I want to talk about the sales staff at Porsche dealerships. Not long ago, a follower on Instagram contacted me saying, “I recently bought a Porsche, but I have some concerns about how my salesperson handled things. Could you introduce me to your dealer contact, Mina?”

Also, I received an email from a blog reader who wrote, “Reading your blog, Mina, I see that your dealer contact keeps you updated after purchase—letting you know when the production slot is confirmed or when the car is shipped from Germany to Japan. But my salesperson never gave me any such updates until delivery, and the explanations at purchase were quite lacking.”

Since I only know our dealer contact, Mr. H, I had thought, “Maybe all salespeople are like Mr. H.” But of course, salespeople are human too, and whether personalities click or not varies… it seems there’s quite a range.

Our Contact, Mr. H

The first time I met Mr. H was after my husband bought his 981 Boxster GTS. We decided to go for a test drive in a Panamera, so that was our first visit to the dealership. (I never went to the dealer when we bought the Boxster.) My first impression of Mr. H was that he was a calm and composed person.

Until then, I had only imagined car salespeople as aggressive, sports-club types, but Mr. H was the exact opposite. He even once said about my husband’s Boxster, “I really think you should never let go of that Boxster GTS!” which made me jokingly ask my husband, “Does Mr. H even want to sell cars? lol” (Sorry, Mr. H! Haha)

But my husband trusted Mr. H from the start, saying:

“Mr. H doesn’t push hard, but he loves cars, so that’s good. There are quite a few salespeople who don’t really like cars, but Mr. H really understands cars and we can talk on the same wavelength.”

What’s Expected from a Salesperson

Having been a rookie salesperson myself, I believe one of the most important things is whether the salesperson truly loves the product they’re selling.

Some people can sell to a certain extent just because it’s their job and they get paid, but that alone won’t win the customer’s heart.

It’s crucial to imagine what feelings the customer has when buying the product, what worries they might have, and how just one message can ease those worries and bring peace of mind. Being sincere even about seemingly minor details matters a lot.

For that, I think a salesperson needs a genuine passion for their product and a heartfelt desire to deliver it to the customer in the best possible condition.

Of course, dealership policies and management systems also play a big role, but ultimately, whether a salesperson loves cars and is passionate about their brand’s vehicles makes a huge difference.

Mr. H’s Thoughtful Care

In that regard, our contact Mr. H is very sincere in his approach. (Though it might also be because my husband is quite the car enthusiast.)

・“With Porsche cars, it’s not about features or fuel economy—it’s a car you have to experience by driving!” he says, letting us test drive freely before any explanations.
・During the wait from order to delivery, he keeps us updated at key points: “The production slot was confirmed for month X!”; “The car is now on the ship!”; “Delivery is expected around month Y!”; “The car has arrived at the dealer! Here’s a photo!”
・At delivery, he told us, “When adjusting tire pressure, always use the car’s gauge, not the air pump’s meter.”
・He also explained, “The test drive car had air suspension, but the actual car has coil springs, so the ride might feel different…”

I used to think such information was standard, but hearing stories from other owners, I realize how much we should appreciate this kind of care.

That said, Mr. H is still a salesperson, so sometimes he’ll suddenly call and say things like “How about trading your Golf for a Macan!?” or about three months after buying a new Panamera, “I know you just bought it, but how about upgrading your Panamera? (lol)”

But having been in sales myself, I understand why those calls happen, so it’s no big deal.

What really matters, as I’ve said many times, is sincerity and genuine care. Especially for car salespeople, loving cars and being passionate about their own brand’s vehicles is key.

So, if you live in the Keihanshin area and are considering buying a Porsche, feel free to message me—I’d be happy to introduce you to Mr. H, our dealer contact! (lol)