Salesman's Thread!

Author
Discussion

AB

Original Poster:

16,988 posts

196 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Er, well if the car people can have one, so can we!

Hands up if you work in sales.

This may die a death or it may end up an interesting tale of wins, losses and closes.


Pappa Lurve

3,827 posts

283 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Sort of! Worked in sales for ages and still do a fair but although as I am contracting right now I have had to learn not to get as involved as I would end up so frustrated at the lack of understanding of how to sell anything in this place...

Right, rant over. Need tea...

burriana

16,556 posts

255 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
The car salesman's thread is very specific to that forum though.

What sort of input are you expecting from this thread?

People need to know what sort of things to post. For example, I presume you are not looking for "yes, I sell office stationery. It's a bit slow right now".

Ilikebeaver

2,972 posts

182 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
I work in sales.
Have always sold items to the construction industry.
For the last 4 years I have been selling high end bespoke internal timber doors.
Work on some very prestigious projects, and have a number of famous clients.

Pommygranite

14,264 posts

217 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
I worked for LV who used to sell (way before me) penny funeral policies. The salesman would sell the policy then go round and collect the weekly premium. Over time they diminished but some still existed and an older guy who I worked with said he was a door to door premium collector in the 70's.

One day he got a call from one of his policy holders relatives saying that the policy holder, their grandma, had died and tey needed to discuss the claim. So he goes round and was in the kitchen for 30 minutes talking/condolences etc and he stated they needed proof of death, specifically the death certificate, to start the claim. 'oh we can give you proof' they said and tell him to go with them, him thinking to get the cert. so he walks into the lounge, they go to the sofa and lift the blanket and there laying dead was the grandma. Been dead 2 days and they didn't know what to do....

Pommygranite

14,264 posts

217 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Oh, got another one when I worked for a Vauxhall dealer and the tale of the salesman banging some ugly 18st saleswoman in a Tigra at the launch. How he managed it in a Tigra is still not understood.

burriana

16,556 posts

255 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Ah Ha! Now if we're talking "Salesmens' funny stories", that's more like it biggrin

AB

Original Poster:

16,988 posts

196 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
OK let's start with the funny stories!

Grenoble

50,601 posts

156 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
OK, so many many years ago I worked selling various things, including washing machines.

Chap buys one, takes it away with him in his van. We point out how to remove the transit bolts before he starts up the machine and remind him to check the instructions for exact details.

Two days later he rings up saying the machine is bouncing all over his utility room and WTF are we going to do about it? We walk through a few things and ask if he has taken out all of the transit bolts?

"'course I ave. And I took the top off to check inside. It's taken me half a day to chip that bloody concrete block off the drum"

"Sorry sir, we'll have an engineer come out tomorrow morning to take a look at it"

Sure enough, he had taken the transit bolts out. And removed all of the concrete block that helps dampen the drum whilst the machine is going. Machine trashed. Engineer refused to fix it. So did we...


AB

Original Poster:

16,988 posts

196 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
swerni said:
I've been in sales for 23 years now.
Spent the first 10 years on commission only.
No basic no sick pay and no holiday pay, it certainly focuses the mind.

wink
I can imagine!

Work or get nothing.

Fair play to you, judging from some of your posts you worked your ass off and now you're reaping the rewards.

Last few years I've got used to doing what I need to do in order to cover my salary, I love the fact that those 40 hours working straight will see me rewarded for it, rather than doing it because that's what I need to do to cover what my manager has promised.

steveT350C

6,728 posts

162 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Hi again.

I have been in medical sales for 15 years. Had a break a few years ago and worked in the property business until the financial crash then got back into the medical game again with a new Californian based start up. Been here four years, 70ish% growth year on year, best job I have ever had!

Grenoble

50,601 posts

156 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
swerni said:
I've been in Barcelona all week with clients.
The ITrelated conference at Fira?

Grenoble

50,601 posts

156 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Yup- Sunday to today, got back this afternoon...

Nice weather :-)

DSLiverpool

14,763 posts

203 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Injection moulding and cable sales 25 to 36
Alarm bits and high end electrical 36 - 38
HVaC and gas controls 38 - 40

I started own biz at 36 and went to work or myself at 40 ish after the Euro sales director called a sales meeting in Archamps on the same day lfc played the first Champions league - I left 4 weeks later.

AB

Original Poster:

16,988 posts

196 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
DSLiverpool said:
Injection moulding and cable sales 25 to 36
Alarm bits and high end electrical 36 - 38
HVaC and gas controls 38 - 40

I started own biz at 36 and went to work or myself at 40 ish after the Euro sales director called a sales meeting in Archamps on the same day lfc played the first Champions league - I left 4 weeks later.
You seem to be doing OK to me! Given the cars I've seen you turn up in and own.

I'll be selling 'Renewable Technologies'.

Need any?

DSLiverpool

14,763 posts

203 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Tough being a junior captain of industry at the moment, sometimes I wish I was employed again mainly after a really crappy customer experience but overall I'm happy with my lot. Until working for myself I had never dealt with the public before and I'm still surprised nearly every week.

AB when you start give me a shout in case I can offer any help at all

Edited by DSLiverpool on Thursday 11th October 21:52

Chicken Chaser

7,815 posts

225 months

Thursday 11th October 2012
quotequote all
Good to see how people move around in the different areas, and at what ages. Bookmarked.

AB

Original Poster:

16,988 posts

196 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
DSLiverpool said:
Tough being a junior captain of industry at the moment, sometimes I wish I was employed again mainly after a really crappy customer experience but overall I'm happy with my lot. Until working for myself I had never dealt with the public before and I'm still surprised nearly every week.

AB when you start give me a shout in case I can offer any help at all

Edited by DSLiverpool on Thursday 11th October 21:52
I have done a bit of telecom sales, so I know what you mean.

Cheers for the offer, I will most probably take you up on that!

okgo

38,079 posts

199 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
18-20 - house lettings
20-22 - car sales
23- present advertising sales

Enjoy it at the minute, get to work with some great people (mostly in the non commercial side of our business), plenty of lunches jolly days etc, pay is alright, hours are good, and there is lots of progression (I'm in an emerging platform which helps!)

Puggit

48,476 posts

249 months

Friday 12th October 2012
quotequote all
Grenoble said:
Yup- Sunday to today, got back this afternoon...

Nice weather :-)
I was there too - in fact I met up with Swerni

wavey