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Smart Shopper Stories from the Sales Frontlines
48101 messages, Last post on Dec 06, 2009 at 8:43 PM
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Replying to: madmanmoo (May 27, 2009 9:05 am) I don't know of any business that expects that every time the phone rings they are sure to make a sale. If that was the case, any dummy off the street could handle that job. Sometimes the decision to buy a car is long and tedious and any prospect or suspect will have many questions. Any really good salesperson will welcome those questions and see an opportunity to turn that suspect into a prospect. Your whole premise about not wasting a salesperson's time is counterproductive and ridiculous. Having a polite and helpful attitude today will translate into sales tomorrow. I'll bet Old Farmer knows that you have to plant the seed and tend the crops before you can harvest.
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Replying to: houdini1 (May 27, 2009 12:16 pm)
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Replying to: houdini1 (May 27, 2009 11:44 am) That is so not true, but if it makes you feel better to vent against the oil companies more power to you  Somebody mentioned that gas is going up, but the economy hasn't recovered yet. If you want a conspiracy theory, the price of gas has to stay high in order for people to switch to smaller, more fuel efficient cars. If gas were $1.5, who would buy a Prius? It'd be SUV's for everybody again! 
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Replying to: driver100 (May 27, 2009 11:48 am) The difference is that the next time the phone rings, it will still be your turn to answer. In a dealership, the salesperson who talked to you, might have to sit out the next 20 calls until his turn comes up again.
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Replying to: lrguy44 (May 27, 2009 12:22 pm) |
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Replying to: verdugo (May 27, 2009 12:41 pm) If that is how a dealership operates they aren't being smart about it. I guess a receptionist will answer. If she puts through a call and it is a dumb question it shouldn't count against the salesperson. That doesn't make sense for a dealership to treat their salespeople that way. The salesperson should be able to say, I just answered a silly question and I should be next in line again.......anything else is counterproductive to the dealership and the sales staff. When JM called to ask about doc fees the salesman should have said, some moron called and asked a stupid question, put me back in first place for calls. (just joking about JM Heh heh) 
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Replying to: houdini1 (May 27, 2009 12:47 pm) You are right, one of the hardest and one of the most important. Without sales companies won't survive. I agree totally that you should be as kind and helpful as possible, you can turn a question into a sale. And when you answer questions and are helpful, you build trust, and trust leads to sales....today or possibly in the future. |
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Replying to: houdini1 (May 27, 2009 12:47 pm)
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Replying to: houdini1 (May 27, 2009 12:16 pm) Your whole premise about not wasting a salesperson's time is counterproductive and ridiculous. Not sure what you mean here. I was speaking directly to a poster here regarding his behavior towards a salesperson. It wasn't a sweeping generalization about how all customers should act. It was a comment directed at one person. My main issue was his attitude. I don't really have a problem with someone calling up and asking questions, but to become irate over a non-issue ($50?) and threaten to take his business somewhere else is ridiculous. Another salesperson brought up the fact that he might be taking up a salesman's up, which is a valid point, but secondary for me. So, we're in agreement regarding how to treat customers. My point was in regards to how our friend treats other people. |
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Replying to: lrguy44 (May 27, 2009 1:12 pm) Recently someone emailed me asking when a 2011 model will be available, what it'll cost, and what engines it will come with. Maybe he's looking waaaay ahead and his buying cycle takes 2 years, but for me the chances of ever closing this guy on a car would be about the same as winning the lottery. I answered his questions politely and so he kept throwing more at me (I think because all other dealers blew him off). I asked him that if he wanted a diesel so much, why doesn't he buy one now, before they're discontinued, and especially since it's unknown whether the engine will come in 2011. He responded with saying that he's not buying till 2011. Then he starts asking me about another car coming with that engine or this engine...basically daydreaming about cars that don't exist yet. If we salespeople have the time, then I'm sure most of us don't mind answering silly stuff. But if it does take away our turn at getting at an up then I can see why the majority of us can get upset over silly stuff. As for the receptionist screening calls, there isn't really time to do that, or a way to ask callers whether they're serious or not. It's up to the salespeople to make the best of it.
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