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Smart Shopper Stories from the Sales Frontlines
47902 messages, Last post on Nov 25, 2009 at 8:04 PM
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Replying to: dino001 (Dec 12, 2008 6:22 pm) I don't believe in this paradigm. If you are good at what you do and content with the revenue/customer base, who is anybody to tell that you have to die?? Of course, for each customer lost, you need efforts to capture a new one. That is all.
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Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the dealer Not a car was stirring, not even a stealer. The vehicles were lined up by the door with care, In hopes that an up soon would be there. The salesmen were nestled all snug in their sheds While visions of customers danced in their heads. And dealer in his plaid jacket and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's chat. When out on the lot there arose such a clatter, I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter. Away to the glass doors I flew like a flash, Peered outside and hoped for some cash. The moon on the breast of the new- fallen snow Gave the luster of mid-day to the cars in a row. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a good used car and a customer so dear. With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be an easy pick. More rapid than eagles his courses he came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name! "Now Joel! now, Isell, now, Moo and Houdini, On, Greenpea! On, Driver, on Mack and Boomy. To the top of the lot! to the top of the wall! Now sell away! Sell away! Sell away all!" And then, in a twinkling, I saw the salesmen look. They were prancing and pawing each little foot. As I drew in my head, and was turning around, Into the showroom the up came with a bound. He was dressed all in rags from his head to his feet, And his clothes were all tarnished with booze and something to eat. But a bundle of cash he had flung on his back, And he looked liked a baby seal, just opening his pack. His eyes- how they twinkled! His mood how merry! He wanted to trade; he wanted a Chevy. His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, As he offered MSRP plus the "Mop and Glo". He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old up, And I laughed when i saw him, and put coffee in his cup. A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know the deal was not dead. He spoke few words, but went straight to his work, And filled out all of the papers, then turned with a jerk. And giving the cash for the car that he chose, Up from his chair he suddenly rose! He jumped in his new car and gave us a whistle, And away he sped like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all salesmen, and to all customers a good-night!" MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF MY EDMUNDS FRIENDS! Richard
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Replying to: richard64 (Dec 12, 2008 8:20 pm) Clement Moore would be proud!  tidester, host SUVs and Smart Shopper |
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Replying to: richard64 (Dec 12, 2008 8:20 pm) Well done Richard! I actually have a tear in my eye 
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Replying to: chikoo (Dec 12, 2008 7:48 pm) That's a good point chikoo, every year my own business lost about 10% of my customers, and I had to find new ones to replace those.....and it was fine and I was content. But, I think, I have this theory that most competitive companies probably need a goal to shoot for or they will just wander around aimlessly and competitors will just drown them. On the other hand, companies like Honda don't have the number of models to catapult them into number one and they do seem to be content to be #4 or 5 - which is smart. Accords tend to be more expensive than say Impalas or even Camry's, but my impression is there is a little more engineering going on (not to take anything away from Camry - most people just want good reliable transportation), so Honda would rather spend more, and charge more, be content not selling as much, but be the best they can be in their niche market - and it works for them. I guess my theory has become: most successful companies (and people and sports teams) have the goal of being #1 or they won't achieve success. But, a really clever plan is just to be the best you can be in your niche market, make as much profit as you can without watering down your product, and be content and proud to make a really good product. And that leads me to believe that a smaller GM would probably be better off in Chapter 11, given a chance to reorganize, and just build the vehicles that people really want.
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Replying to: richard64 (Dec 12, 2008 8:20 pm) That is awesome Richard |
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Replying to: richard64 (Dec 12, 2008 8:20 pm) Good stuff, Richard! That was awesome. Have a great day everyone. |
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Had to do a lot of catch up reading this AM as we have been without power or heat since Thursday night due to what the media has dubbed "ICE '08". What a mess, trees down everywhere (they sound like guns going off as they break). Of course the power lines get taken down as the trees fall. I didn't fare too bad, a few pine limbs laying on the roof or in the yard, several trees pulled over and uprooted by the weight of the ice, nothing we can't handle. I had to use my new car during the storm to get around because my old Chrysler had gone into the shop the night before and the mechanic who was assigned to do the work was trapped at home and couldn't get to work. I was impressed with the Mitsu, the FWD was great and since it was low to the ground I was going under the low hanging tree limbs that were whacking all the other cars. I even had time to take it to an empty mall parking lot and do some donuts with it. On the down side I cried every time I heard the road salt clattering against the undercarriage. I had vowed that my baby would never taste salt so I'll have to get to the car wash as soon as things get back to normal. I was woken up this morning by all the media helicopters buzzing around taking pictures of the "devastation" before flying out of the area to their warm hotel rooms. It is pretty though.  I doubt that many cars are being sold today in upstate NY and western MA. 
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Replying to: richard64 (Dec 12, 2008 8:20 pm) An A+ for your efforts! |
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Replying to: richard64 (Dec 12, 2008 8:20 pm) APPLAUSE! |
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