Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: hblair on August 06, 2003, 08:42:03 AM
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We had some dude come in the front door yesterday. Just the secretary and me were in the office. He has on a suit and steps up the counter.
Carolyn asks "Can we help you?"
Guy says something like "I need to know who to talk to about an appointment"
Carolyn asks "To have your car repaired?"
Guy says "I need to see the owner to have an appointment made"
Carolyn asks "Do you have a car that needs repairing sir?"
Guy says "I really need to see the owner about this"
(At this point we're thinking he's a salesman, but not real sure yet)
Carolyn says "We can help you with whatever you need"
Guy says "I don't think you can" or something to that effect
Carolyn asks "Who are you with?"
Guy says "Only me"
At this point I'm getting a little pissed, I get up and walk over to the counter and say...
"We're not interested in what you're selling, but thanks for coming by"
Carolyn and I get back to work at our desks
Guy is still standing at the counter watching us.
After a minute or two I say "Sir, I told you we are NOT interested in what you're selling"
He keeps standing there like he doesn't know what to do.
I look at him and say "You can leave now"
Guy says "What is your title?"
Carolyn says "He's the manager"
Guy says "What is his name?" and acts like he's going to write it down.
I lose my cool and say something to the effect of..
"LEAVE NOW"
"But I will see the owner"
"GET OUT!"
He tries to say some thing with the door half open...
"GET OUT!!"
I don't have much respect for these people. Did the guy actually think he was gonna make a "sale"? These sweetheartbags are as bad as telemarketers. But when they come in person you actually get a chance to reject them and they have to physically leave. :)
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Uumm, Hblair, that was the IRS who was planning to do an audit on the business, you putz!
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Might have been, He is still a mystery man. Have no clue who he was with. ;):confused:
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Sounds like you are rather a poor manager, as well as an *******, to me.
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hblair, I fully agree these guy's are becoming a pain in the ass.. so much they can not read the fraggin NO SOLICITATION sign at the front of the office complex. No to mention the one on our office door.
I like to ask them if they can read. Hehehe you should hear some of the remarks I get. :D
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maybe he was debating robbing the place....but saw the spud gun in the corner of the shop and changed his mind?
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I had a similar experience several years ago, before I went with a corporate salary.
At the time, I was working as a paralegal/clerk in a small law office and the regular secretary and receptionist were out having lunch together, so I was sitting at the front desk reading the paper and eating a sandwich when this guy walks in. We exchange pleasantries and he asks to see the attorney. I ask him what its about but he's being evasive so I probe deeper to try and figure out if he's a potential client with a legal case in an area we handle.
So I lie and tell him I'm the office manager in charge of purchasing.
Well, say no more! He produces a card for some office supply company or other, so I fake interest and get him all lathered up about our "rapidly expanding business" and how we're "going to be moving from this location into a 9-office suite downtown" and how our current vendors are having trouble keeping pace with our high-volume office equipment needs.
Then I tell him that we're government service providers and all of our vendors have to pass security clearance exams, including drug tests for controlled substances and performance-enhancing steroids, and that I'll need his full name, address, spouse's name, number of children, and affidavits of membership to any politically-connected organizations to which he and every member of his office may belong, including the American Communist Party, Jim Birch Society, National Rifle Association, Kiwanis Club, AFL-CIO, Boy Scouts of America, and Little League Baseball.
He didn't blink, so I made up a few more requirements, such as fingerprinting and skin tissue samples, plus dental records for every employee of his company. And, oh, he'd have to sign a waiver to have microphones placed in and around his business.
He said something or other and thanked me for my time.
It was the most fun I had at that job.
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Originally posted by Gadfly
Sounds like you are rather a poor manager, as well as an *******, to me.
And it sounds like your'e a salesman to me.;)
What's a *******?
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I bet he just wanted to inform the owner of a great new free trial at WWIIOL.
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Ever heard the story about the man who cuts off and shoots the bird to another driver?
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No and I don't care too. A poor manager is an idiot who'll let some evasive "hand cleaner salesman" or "internet advertisement expert" waste an hour of his time when he knows he's not interested in buying the product. Reputable people will tell you up front what they are trying to sale you. They are personable, they get to the point because they don't WANT to waste your time. We buy from people like that, not evasive fools who will not for whatever reason even tell the manager of the business what in the heck he is doing here!
Thanks for the pointers though, whoever you are.
What do you do for a living?
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He was Hand Cleaner Salesman of the Year....why do you ask HB?
:)
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If he was anyone reputable, he would have identified himself immediately. Good salepeople don't have to be sneaky to get a meeting.
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Oh, I'm a salesman, a good one too. I am also the part owner of a retail business, and talk to an average of a dozen salesmen a day. I see it from both sides, and I know that there are better ways to handle it(from both sides). If I were your boss, this is what I would tell you on how to deal with salesmen, since you obviously do not know how to work them.
In this instance, you could have simply said, "leave your card and info, I'll make sure he gets it". End of deal, he is gone, you can chitcan his info when he leaves, total elapsed time about 30 seconds and everyone is happy. That is how you manage. What you did is childish and non-productive to everyone involved.
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And, just to be fair, if I was HIS boss, I would tell him, first, to dress to the market. I do not know what your business is, but obviously, not many people wearing suits enter it, thus he was not dressed appropriately. Second, on a cold call, the best thing to do is simply drop off a card and info on the first call, and then check back in a week or so with another card. Again, 30 second visit, in and out.
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Agree with Gadfly on this
As for your experience hblair I will take some guesses on his behaviour
1. He probably just recently either went to a "Salesmenship" lecture, motivational engagement and the no. 1 thing taught is to get to the owner or decision maker of the company.
Where most salespeople make the mistake is that the real decision maker is usually the receptionist or secretary ie. if you don't get past her or him in a positive encounter you are screwed anyway.
2. His salesmanager has been on his rear to start producing and he is frustrated.
We all sell a product in business, service business such as yours sell something of worth, you don't (at least what I assume ) have an "outside" salesforce - you sell a service and your reputation and output is your "sell".
I have been in sales since jesus wore sandals (at least what it feels like :) )
I do know that I have saved companies many dollars with my service, and many companies have not taken advantage of my services also. I personally on "cold" calls, drop a card ask for a name to contact, send a letter with references, contact by phone, and hope that I can help and make some money, if not I find another. The guy was rude, inexperienced or just a jerk, not all salespeople are...
NwBie
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Originally posted by Gadfly
Oh, I'm a salesman, a good one too. I am also the part owner of a retail business, and talk to an average of a dozen salesmen a day. I see it from both sides, and I know that there are better ways to handle it(from both sides). If I were your boss, this is what I would tell you on how to deal with salesmen, since you obviously do not know how to work them.
In this instance, you could have simply said, "leave your card and info, I'll make sure he gets it". End of deal, he is gone, you can chitcan his info when he leaves, total elapsed time about 30 seconds and everyone is happy.
See, what you're basically saying is "Lie to the guy, act interested, get his card and maybe he'll leave". That's weakhanded BS. He'll be back next week wasting my time. I don't want that. I'm straight up with the guy and tell him...
"We're not interested, thanks for coming by."
That should be the end of story there. Guy says "Thanks anyway, have a nice day" and is gone. This is OUR business. My "boss" has enough faith in me to put me in charge. I determined we as a business ARE NOT INTERESTED. I cordially let this man know. I DO NOT OWE THIS GUY ANY TIME.
Originally posted by Gadfly
That is how you manage. What you did is childish and non-productive to everyone involved.
That might be how YOU manage, but it sounds weak and deceptive to me. Get some balls and tell the man face to face you are not interested in what he has to sell. He won't waste his own time coming back and he'll be more productive for it.
No charge for your lesson in bussiness by the way.
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I think it's funny that most of you guys, with no real authority to speak for the owner, make the decision FOR the owner that you don't need what the guy had when you don't even know what it is.
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Guess that is why I hire managers, and you are one, eh?
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Originally posted by Gadfly
Guess that is why I hire managers, and you are one, eh?
No, I'm a business owner.
We had a sales guy offering advertising space in a non competitive publication. Meaning 1 per industry. I would have jumped on it. Unfortunately, an employee told him to get lost, and my competition jumped at it instead.
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Not you Martlet, Hblair.
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Originally posted by Gadfly
Not you Martlet, Hblair.
Oh, I agree with you btw. Take the information, then give it to me.
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it is also quite possible that the salesman was jaded from having to deal with people all day that are rude jerks. Not passing judgment on your ability to manage whatever you manage, but people skills are obviously not on your resume. For all you know the guy had something you wanted, and you just cost your owner some $. Granted...he wasn't a very GOOD salesman, but that's no reason to be uncouth. (BTW nwbie, good approach. you sound like you know what you are doing)
Even when my clients/customers are yelling at me like raving idiots I maintain my cool because it is BUSINESS. You work for a BUSINESS. Guess what sales guy will never use your BUSINESS and probably tell at least three other people what a huge jerk the Manager is and not go there. So let's see... those three each tell three other people, and so on, and so on, and viola!!! Your donut waving just cost your company THOUSANDS of dollars, and they have you to thank!
Way To Go!
Bet your owner would be proud!
-Lute
III/JG26th 9ST WidowMakers
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It costs the same amount of money(none!) to make someone happy as it does to make them mad.
I said you CAN watermelon can it, not that you should, and why would I ever rule out a product or service without knowing what it is? My method saves the salesman time, allows him to do his job, and let's me peruse his product at my leisure, with the option to call him back if interested, or, call his boss back if I have a problem with the salesman's actions.
Your method does what?
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Respond to what I said gadfly. The philosophy of "be cordial then throw his material away when he leaves" is basically a lie. Why would you do that to one of your colleagues? Why not be straight up with him?
This is an honest question.
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we posted same time, see above
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Let me give you a little more mangerial advice while I am on it, Hblair. This is for telephone solicitors(may they burn in Hell!). I get dozens per day, and do not allow my employees or managers to screen them, even though it is annoying and time consuming. I do this because it is often very difficult to tell whether the caller is a salesman or a customer. They often open the call the same way, and if not handled gently it can get ugly fast.
I simply tell them to mail or send a salesman by(after determining that it is indeed a sales call). 30 second call duration and they can take the next step without any more effort on my part.
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Gadfly, in case you missed the obvious, no means no...even to salesmen ;)
Heck I remember when the local Jevoah's Witness's were selling something, I dont recall what....I was in my driveway, just back from target shooting. I'm arms deep in the trunk, grabbing my gear and I hear "excuse me sir, excuse me...do you have a minute to talk about the life of Jesus Christ?". I turn around, with AR-15 in hand plus and hand full of empty clips and say "Umm, no"...but even before I uttered the words, all I saw was a buch of propoganda flying in the air and two Holy Rollers running for their life. I *really* expected a patrol car after that but one never came...lol
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To a good salesman, no means no, to a beginner or certain types it means maybe.
I like the mind picture Lepaul, good for a grin.
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Well, I run a Supply Chain Organization, and I'm pretty good at that also.
Since I'm in that position, I DO have the authority to speak for the ownership...that's why they hired me.
I wouldn't have given the guy the bum's rush, but I would not have toleranted the non-disclosure of his intent as well. It would have been handled professionally, but handled appropriately as well, with it being explained to him that this is not how we start business relationships here, while being shown the door.
Nwbie's approach is want generally works best with me.
Interesting story about vendor/customer relationships (kind of a hijack, sry).
We had purchased a company and were in the process of closing the plant and moving to one of our own operations (yours truly got that wonderful pleasure), and in doing so, I also had to re-organize the existing vendor relationships.
Since our plant was vertical in many of the operations that the buy-out plant was not, I had to clean up alot of sub-contract agreements, etc.
Well I had one vendor were the contract had expired and notified them that I would be pulling the tooling to our vertically integrated plant. They refused to give up the tooling, even though we had clear documentation that not only did we pay for it, but we owned the intellectual design rights as well. I knew the motivation behind it....it would have a devestating affect on his revenue level.
So, they hold the tools hostage, basically. OK...I check out who are local legal representation is, get the gears warmed up to get a judge to write up the papers and the sheriff to serve them.
Then, with this plan lined up, call the company and invite the Owner up to work this out.
2 days later he shows up...I go to the lobby to meet with him (I've never met him face to face) and there are literally 4 guys there with him. He brought his VP of Sales, VP of Ops, His Attorney, and his Sales Rep for our account.
I ask who the decision maker is in the crowd, the Owner says he is, and I say, good, then just you come with me. He protests, and I tell him, either we work it out without the others there, or they can all get back on the plane and go home.
We met and worked it out. All he had to do from the get-go was deal straight with me, and I would have worked it out so that we didn't leave him a huge revenue hole to cover immediately (which is what we eventually did, although I accelerated it a little because of the earlier tactics).
Point is, I deal with each level of business accordingly. Some of those sub-contract injection molding shops, I've had to deal with very "straight-forward" manner.
My father-in-law owned an auto-body shop, and I also witnessed how he "had" to handle salesman at that level sometimes.
I think the response can certainly match the level initiated.
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I agree, but the first step is to make sure that you are dealing with a salesman.
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I probably shouldn't admit this, but all this time I thought Hblair WAS the owner lol.
My management philosophy when it comes to salesmen is to listen to whatever they have to offer, mentally grade their salespitch, then thank them for their time, and send them on their way. But that's mostly because listening to sales pitches is infinately more interesting than most of my other managerial tasks (especially this time of the year, when the number crunchers descend from on high for budget numbers lol).
Of course, we all must be real business dynamos, that's why we can spend all morning on a wednesday posting on the AH vBB lol
-Sik
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Originally posted by Gadfly
It costs the same amount of money(none!) to make someone happy as it does to make them mad.
I said you CAN watermelon can it, not that you should, and why would I ever rule out a product or service without knowing what it is?
Because of the deceptive and vague attitude of the person representing the company. And the fact that he would never even really confirm that he was even a salesman, give the name of the company, etc. That's why.
Originally posted by Gadfly
My method saves the salesman time, allows him to do his job,
Saves him time when he comes back to bother you again? Sometimes you don't have to know what they're selling to know you don't want a part of them or their company. It's called reading people.
Originally posted by Gadfly
and let's me peruse his product at my leisure, with the option to call him back if interested,
That's why we have trade publications. We stay on top of new products there. We also attend trade shows. We actually buy products from 3-4 vendors who sell off their truck. You can tell by the demeanor and attitude of a person if he's a waste of time or not. I trust my instsincts on this.
Originally posted by Gadfly
Your method does what?
My method lets the guy know that we are not interested in even hearing what a deceptive decietful "salesperson" has to say. He won't waste his time coming back.
By the way, we had a record profit month last month, with my hillbilly arse running the show. what an idiot I am.
What do you do when you're not knocking doors?
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How do you know he was a salesman? How can you call his boss to inform him what a crap salesman he was? Congrats on your month, too.
Ah the salesman's life. You ever wonder why good salesmen make so much money?
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What do you sell, Gadfly? Fuller Brush? Amway? ;)
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Commodities. That means that I do not have the advantage of product differentation, advantageous pricing or a monopolistic market. What does that leave me with?
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Originally posted by Gadfly
Commodities. That means that I do not have the advantage of product differentation, advantageous pricing or a monopolistic market. What does that leave me with?
A 30 foot fall from an office building?
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Service, baby, along with PK.
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You did nothing wrong Hblair...the guy was an bellybutton and his actions set the tone for the situation. Why he was there is irrelevant.
SOB
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What if he was a timid, but unhappy customer, SOB?
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And don't get me wrong-I am not taking up for the salesman; Cod knows there are enough crappy ones out there. My issue is with how you handle them on a day to day basis, especially when you are working for someone else.
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When I managed an autmotive repair shop the owner allowed me to screen all solicitors so he wouldn't be bothered (he was also a mechanic and thought time on customer's cars were more important that how much money we could save on printer supplies). I had all kinds of experiences as well but I think maybe this guy wanted an appointment to have his car repaired, I dunno, maybe not.
We had a number of customers who only wanted to talk to the owner about appointments and all of that and eventually he would tell them to talk to me, it was my job. Sometimes its a very thin line to tread knowing what and what not to do. I was there so long that the owner and I could read each others minds and know what each other would do without saying anything. In the end the he gave me cart blanche on all daily operation decisions and I had a lot of fun with it. Especially those pesky cheap-ass 190 (W201 chassis) owners. Can afford to buy the Mercedes but can't afford to keep it. Oh, the stories I could tell...
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Aw shut up gadfly and spit out what business you own.
How many employees, how many hours do you work a day? Gimme some background. :)
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The dude had one of those gay leather folders in hand. He wasn't a potentional customer. :)
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Originally posted by Gadfly
What if he was a timid, but unhappy customer, SOB?
You mean a timid customer who is standing his ground with the receptionist and demanding to see the owner and refusing to tell her what business he intends to discuss?
SOB
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Originally posted by Gadfly
In this instance, you could have simply said, "leave your card and info, I'll make sure he gets it". End of deal, he is gone, you can chitcan his info when he leaves, total elapsed time about 30 seconds and everyone is happy. That is how you manage. What you did is childish and non-productive to everyone involved.
Good point. Fight BS with BS.
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An ACE hardware store, 15,000 sq ft inside 15,000 sqft garden and rental center. Here is my little website, still crude, but getting better all the time:
Scar-Bros Ace Home and Garden (http://www.scar-bros.com)
We bought it a year ago, and have increased sales 30% for the year. Not bad for a down market in a depressed part of the state, eh. Especially considering that we had to remerchandise the whole thing and build the garden center. edit- 20 empolyees, 12 hours a day, or none, like today.
Before that I worked for Concrete block manufaturers in the Central Texas area, SCP, ECP and MPI, as outside sales and occaisonal branch manager.
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Sounds like a great business gadfly. Nice looking store. Looks like you guys are running it right. You prolly have a much different work atmosphere there, with customers in the store at all times. Being a retail store and all. I can see where sales people would be knocking the doors off of a hardware store, wanting you to carry their product. And the dealings with salesman would need to be handled cordially with customers present. The business I'm in is a whole different atmosphere. We don't buy stuff from walk up salesmen in business suits. or at least its a very rare thing. Two completely different atmospheres. You are as unfamiliar with mine as I am with yours, that's why I naturally took offense when you called me a poor manager and an *******(whatever that is :)).
So be nicer you *******.
:p
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Sales can be tough - ever see the movie Glen Garry, Glen Ross?
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Originally posted by _Schadenfreude_
Sales can be tough - ever see the movie Glen Garry, Glen Ross?
Coffee's for closer's shaden.
The IMDB has an amusing tidbit about that film: the stars refered to it as "Death of a ****ing salesman" lol.
-Sik
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I didn't call you a hillbilly, stoopid or a poor manager, I just said it sounded like you were apoor manager and an a-hole. But I apoligize, regardless.
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But, Hblair is a hillbilly!
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I don't know about unfamiliar, though. Selling concrete block and cement, a lot of my sales took place on jobsites and in 4 wheeled officies(i.e. pickup trucks) whilst wearing jeans and cowboy boots. Sales is sales, and you are selling in your business, too.
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Ummm SOB, Gadly is a hillbilly too. Shush up or they'll start a'feudin'.
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Aww hell, this could get ugly...uglier than Hblair and Gadfly even!
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I beg to differ-I am a Redneck.
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I consider all states southeast of Colorado to be "Greater Kentucky". :D
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And I consider everyone born north of I-10 a Yankee, I-20 a Damn Yankee, and everyone above that a Canadian.
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One time a smoking hot sales girl almost talked me into buying a $10,000 phone system that we didn't need.
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Originally posted by Montezuma
One time a smoking hot sales girl almost talked me into buying a $10,000 phone system that we didn't need.
were you spending private sector money, or my hard earned tax dollars? lol
-Sik
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Originally posted by Sikboy
were you spending private sector money, or my hard earned tax dollars? lol
-Sik
Tax money, it was for this grant :)
Chula Vista BECA (http://www.calepa.ca.gov/PressRoom/Releases/1995/chulavista.htm)
Apparently they were impressed with our proactive synergy and strategic realingment of the paradigm.
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HBLAIR i bet he was a LAWYER! did he have fangs for blodd suckin?:D
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Since I am bored, and enjoyed my job as a salesman, considering myself a Professional, I wrote down a brief synopsis of what a salesman does. This will not apply to every sales job, but it is typical of construction sales, at least.
60% to 70% of my sales were via Bid work. Generally, I would have 5-15 jobs bidding per week, and the cycle below could take 6 months to 2 years.
A typical sales cycle for Bid work (contact point in parentheses):
Product specification(Owner, Architect)
At this point, product/manufacturer placement in the specification documents is the goal.
Estimate(Architect, Subcontractor)
Pricing and product information is supplied to the Architect to develop budget and scheduling documents.
Bid(General Contractor, Subcontractor)
Prior to Bid date, material estimates are done from final bid documents. Quotations are given to all interested parties.
Contract(Subcontractor)
For custom or large jobs, pricing, delivery and terms are documented; for small jobs, a handshake or signed quotation. These were our direct customers; they purchased and used our materials.
Schedule production and delivery(Subcontractor, Plant)
When, where and how bad do you need it. Basically work as Liason between Customer and Company to balance what would be ideal with what can be done.
Problem solving onsite(Owner, Architect, General Contractor, Subcontractor, Plant)
Product knowledge, mediation, mostly this involves listening and observing.
Collections(Subcontractor, Owner)
Liens, documents and the best part of a Salesmans job-picking up the AR checks
In addition, 30-40% of monthly sales went to wholesale accounts. Lumberyards, Garden Centers, mobile home transporters and Fence companies being the bulk. These accounts I serviced on planned routes, 4 or 5 days a month, 10 or 12 stops per day, home for dinner, with problems solved as needed via telephone.
Another 10-20% of sales were direct cold call. I never passed a jobsite without finding out what it was going to be, and often the General Contractor would be doing jobsite buy-out of material. An example of this type job would be an Auto-zone store, or a carwash, usually a negoitated build, and thus off the radar. I usually did these calls before 7:00AM(with Breakfast Tacos) and after 3:30 on Thursdays and Fridays(with Beverages).
40,000 miles of Austin Traffic a year , 5000 minutes a month on the cell and Pepcid AC. Oh yes, I've been cured all right.
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damnit now i'm confused...i thought hblair was the redneck? or was he the salesman? ;)
(just jabbin at ya Hb)
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Heh Montezuma, didn't you run any ideas up the flagpole to see who saluted 'em?
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I think Hbliar handled it well.
I would have spun him around and kicked him in the butt on his way out the door:D
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Originally posted by Martlet
No, I'm a business owner.
We had a sales guy offering advertising space in a non competitive publication. Meaning 1 per industry. I would have jumped on it. Unfortunately, an employee told him to get lost, and my competition jumped at it instead.
Sounds like you need to offer re-training to your employee's....no one speaks for me when it comes to money...my employee's understand this concept clearly:)
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Door to Door is a pretty good movie about a salesman.
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Originally posted by hblair
Door to Door is a pretty good movie about a salesman.
Oh man, Repo man is the best! :)
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Originally posted by Rude
Sounds like you need to offer re-training to your employee's....no one speaks for me when it comes to money...my employee's understand this concept clearly:)
I agree. Unfortunately, the employee hadn't been around long, and the last place he worked at it was common practice to toss out the sales guys.
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Originally posted by hblair
Door to Door is a pretty good movie about a salesman.
An excellent movie. I have a few books about him.
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"Tin Men" is good too, as is "the Big Kahuna"
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Tommy Boy
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Originally posted by LePaul
Gadfly, in case you missed the obvious, no means no...even to salesmen ;)
Depends on the Salesman :)
Actually when I hear no, I hear opportunity.....
I assume that you say no to everyone, so, if I can find a way to at least let me talk to you or the "decision maker" and at least let you know what my services are, who and what my references are, then you will "need" me to provide you with my products... I am happy for you that you have found the answer to your needs, and that I was able to help you and your company, it is always possible that there may come a time when you will wish to find a new vendor for the product or service that I am able to provide to you, but if you keep saying no before you hear him or her out, then i really don't lose much sleep over it :)
Most of my clients said no many, many, many times to me, have had an average of 10 to 15 year business relationships with them since the first no :)
NwBie
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I used to do some door to door selling when I was in college, as a Summer job. Sold books in Grundy, Virginia...real hillbilly territory. My products were the Volume Library (a 5000 page, 5 inch thick compilation of encyclopedic information), and the 2 volume Children's Dictionary.
My first two weeks turned out to be a failure. Was assigned to Gallipolis, Ohio and had no mentor. Did things the way the sales school taught, and didn't sell one book. Started hanging out in the town bar drinking Strohs.
Then, I was transfered to Grundy, Virginia under the tutelege of "Mad Dog" Smith. He didn't like that title, and got pissed off when the Boss refered to him that way. But let me tell you, that guy was the most personable sales stylist I've ever seen, and was a very good salesman. He would joke with people and get them to laugh, and he was in like Flint. I started making sales after rookie-ing for a week with him. Eventually "Mad Dog" quit, due to personality conflicts with the Boss.
It was extremely tough work...hitching rides to my territory, walking miles to get to houses in remote areas. Hehe, even had an experience with some guys operating a still back of their trailer. When I walked up to deliver the books, one of the drunkest ones pointed a gun at me.
Some of the folks living there were waiting on the book salesmen, and would buy the books because they had no book stores nearby. My customer at the "still" trailer was a truck driver, 34 years old, who never learned how to read, and had previously ordered and paid up front for the Children's Dictionary. His buddies started razzing him about it, and he put them in their place fast. I woulda been killed if I had no business there. They invited me to dinner at their mother's house down the holler.
I tell this story, so maybe some of you might put yourself in the salesman's position, and have a little compassion and respect, but for the grace of God go I.
I don't become belligerent with any form of sales people, even though they may annoy at times. I think if I was in HB's situation, I would have asked for his card, and said we'd think about it. Then if I wasn't interested when he called back, I'd say so, after giving it consideration and being polite about it...even if it meant saying "We thought about it and we're not in the market for the (product) right now, but we'll let you know if we decide we could use your product." That's all there is to it.
The way HB handled it, no offense to HB, but he still doesn't know what the man's business was there, insulted him, and God knows what could be the result, from the Boss being in the dark, to more serious consequences, a la Ripsnort's reply that it was an IRS agent, or possible the Police. It's always a good idea to be friendly with strangers, especially if you are doing BUSINESS.
Les
:)
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The worst kind of salesmen are the antivirus software salesmen...