How much do you chase people up?
Discussion
Does anyone think that this is ridiculous a business practice... chasing people up, possibly relentlessly in some cases.
There have been times I have been doing some research and gathering information months or even upto a year before I may actually need them.
After getting a quotation there is then the relentless follow up by phone, email etc.
Is it me or is this pestering just bad business practice? surely if you have given someone a quote and they like it they will accept or need any other information get back to you?
There have been times I have been doing some research and gathering information months or even upto a year before I may actually need them.
After getting a quotation there is then the relentless follow up by phone, email etc.
Is it me or is this pestering just bad business practice? surely if you have given someone a quote and they like it they will accept or need any other information get back to you?
robemcdonald said:
I work in sales and follow up leads and quotations. If you asked for a quote there is a good chance I would give you a call to make sure everything is OK etc..
If you then told me you wouldn't be doing anything with it for a year I probably wouldn't call you back.
Basically someone is just doing their job. Be honest about when you need things and you'll probably be left alone.
One question though; what's the point in getting a quote a year before you need it?
You can allocate funds, organise other projects to align with that particular one, that kind of thing.If you then told me you wouldn't be doing anything with it for a year I probably wouldn't call you back.
Basically someone is just doing their job. Be honest about when you need things and you'll probably be left alone.
One question though; what's the point in getting a quote a year before you need it?
Also if you're busy doing other things they may be prioritised.
technodup said:
It's called selling.
Sounds like you haven't been entirely straight when asking for your 'information', because if you were you'd either a) not get it at all or b) not get call backs.
Don't get me wrong we all do it/have done it, but you can hardly complain about a sales guy trying to sell to a supposed prospect.
Read any sales book and they'll say the guys that make the 'touches' longest make the most money. By some margin. The theory goes most sales are made after 7 or so contacts. Anyone giving up before then is losing out. (Unless of course the 'prospect' is a competitor fishing for a price to beat).
Well calling me 7 times is going to drive me away rather than have me interested.Sounds like you haven't been entirely straight when asking for your 'information', because if you were you'd either a) not get it at all or b) not get call backs.
Don't get me wrong we all do it/have done it, but you can hardly complain about a sales guy trying to sell to a supposed prospect.
Read any sales book and they'll say the guys that make the 'touches' longest make the most money. By some margin. The theory goes most sales are made after 7 or so contacts. Anyone giving up before then is losing out. (Unless of course the 'prospect' is a competitor fishing for a price to beat).
In my mind the question arises, why are they being so pushy? Are they on the verge of bankruptcy? Are they trying to sell me this now to stop be finding other quotations that are likely to be better value?
To me it just gets irritating, you've sent your information and price. I need the goods/services that's why I am using my time! and yours to get a quotation or information. I will get back to you when the time comes.
jonah35 said:
I find people nowadays make their own decisions.
If i went to view a car and the salesman took my number then if he called me in a few weeks and asked 'do you want to buy the car' i wouldnt suddenly think oh yes thanks for reminding me.
If i view a house i know if ill make an offer or not. Regardless of whether i get a phone call or not. Having the estate agent chase me up wouldnt suddenly make me offer.
I, personally, think that in the main chasing people up is not worthwhile. They will come back if they want you.
Clearly, however, if youre not busy enough as a salesman then you may as well do it.
This is my thinking, its not like my requirement for a widget has suddenly vanished.If i went to view a car and the salesman took my number then if he called me in a few weeks and asked 'do you want to buy the car' i wouldnt suddenly think oh yes thanks for reminding me.
If i view a house i know if ill make an offer or not. Regardless of whether i get a phone call or not. Having the estate agent chase me up wouldnt suddenly make me offer.
I, personally, think that in the main chasing people up is not worthwhile. They will come back if they want you.
Clearly, however, if youre not busy enough as a salesman then you may as well do it.
technodup said:
ou'll find if you're clear the calls will stop. All a sales guy wants to hear is yes or no, or a definite timescale. Any variation of I'll think about it, I'm not ready just yet, I'll call you, phone me in a few months or whatever is going to result in the situation you have.
If you'd said to me you'll not be buying for 12 months you'd be a dead lead, no more calls, not worth the hassle. If you're buying a fleet from Boeing it might be different but either way I'm guessing you haven't been very clear at all.
And you're forgetting sales people are there to sell, not to wait for you to come back to them. People who say that rarely do in my experience, which takes us neatly back to "do you want it or not?"
Yeah I see what you mean, I guess I don't like dealing with salespeople.If you'd said to me you'll not be buying for 12 months you'd be a dead lead, no more calls, not worth the hassle. If you're buying a fleet from Boeing it might be different but either way I'm guessing you haven't been very clear at all.
And you're forgetting sales people are there to sell, not to wait for you to come back to them. People who say that rarely do in my experience, which takes us neatly back to "do you want it or not?"
I have a supplier that doesn't have salespeople, instead just support staff if you need any information. They will call round a couplea year with information on new products and a price list and it ends there. Don't really ask if you need anything, which imo is the way it should be.
Sometimes I've had a salesperson call me back and offer a discount on their quotation if I go for it, this is pretty silly imo as
1) Why didnt you offer the lowest price initially
2) If I hang on will you call back again in a weeks time with another x% off again?
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