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Sales Office Ambiance and Decor-Does it help make the sale?

16 messages,  Last post on Mar 28, 2010 at 8:08 AM

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#8 of 16 Re: Sales Office Ambiance and Decor-Does it help make the sale? [michaell] by jipster

Feb 16, 2010 (1:36 pm)

Replying to: michaell (Feb 12, 2010 12:07 pm)
Cubicle?
  
That's generous based on what I've seen lately ... just tables and chairs in the showroom, with no privacy at all.
 
I've had one negotiatiion session in a communal office, one in a cubicle and one with just tables and chairs in the showroom. The table and chairs(cheap plastic ones at that), in an open showroom, left a lot to be desired. I don't like other people eaves dropping on my business, which is what I usually did....very interesting to hear amatuers in action.
 
I would think a salesman is more likely to make a "borderline"sale in a neat cozy office, out of sight of the showroom door exit.

#9 of 16 lamp by audia8q

Feb 16, 2010 (5:45 pm)

Back when I was a salesperson in the early 90's my office was a little dated (picture the 70's look) but I always kept the overhead lights off and used a table lamp on my desk. The kind you would find in your living room. The other salespeople ribbed me about it but it made the office a little warmer and customers seemed to prefer it to the typical "closing booth Minimalist look"....I have no idea if it ever influenced any sales but customers did remember the guy in the office with the lamp.

#10 of 16 Re: What conveniences do customers want while buying a new car or truck? [6789] by joel0622

Feb 17, 2010 (12:19 pm)

Replying to: 6789 (Feb 14, 2010 3:55 pm)
I have never been one to have plaques, certificates, and awards on my walls. The reason being is I always thought that a person looked silly when they had all there awards and training hanging behind them and then a customer would say, whats my payment? And they reply I don't know. lol

#11 of 16 Re: What conveniences do customers want while buying a new car or truck? [joel0622] by fezo

Feb 17, 2010 (2:54 pm)

Replying to: joel0622 (Feb 17, 2010 12:19 pm)
Long time ago (1987) I had t o get a car in a hurry. I go to the then local Chevy dealer and they had an 85 Sentra that did exactly what I needed at the time. My salesman had this "gee, I have to check" thing going and while very nice gave one every reason to believe he was new at this.
 
By the time we actually got into his office the deal was mostly done. I look around - he's got sales awards, mementos from going to the Super Bowl more than once for winning sales contests.....
 
I still get cards from him. If he had what i wanted when I was looking I'd go to him again. Nice guy with a funny act.

#12 of 16 Re: What conveniences do customers want while buying a new car or truck? [fezo] by british_rover

Feb 17, 2010 (6:49 pm)

Replying to: fezo (Feb 17, 2010 2:54 pm)
I still get cards from him. If he had what i wanted when I was looking I'd go to him again. Nice guy with a funny act.
And that is why he has all those sales awards.
 
Following up after 20 plus years is amazing discipline and why he sells a ton of cars.

#13 of 16 Re: What conveniences do customers want while buying a new car or truck? [british_rover] by fezo

Feb 17, 2010 (7:35 pm)

Replying to: british_rover (Feb 17, 2010 6:49 pm)
Yes indeed. Last year he sold his 10,00th car. I got a nice little newsletter he put out at the time which included family news and such.
 
In all the time he's been doing this he's only ever had two employers. That Chevy dealership started slipping (they eventually folded) and when they cut his health insurance he walked next door to the Ford dealer where he's been ever since.
 
He sold me the Windstall but I don't hold that against him.

#14 of 16 Poster by bolivar

Feb 18, 2010 (1:16 am)

I requested, and got, a framed poster (ok, basic frame) right off my salesman's wall.
 
It showed a big ol' American flag, a few pickups, and right up front a yellow Corvette.
 
Only had to buy a yellow Corvette to get this.

#15 of 16 update on green pea and his sales office by 6789

Mar 19, 2010 (8:10 pm)

So! An update on the decor issue:
Put three pieces of paper/drawing art from the kids up on the wall, and that is it. No one else at the dealership (including sales managers) is comfortable putting _anything_ up on walls of their offices. The owner "just had it painted." I mean, nothing, nada, not a clock, not a poster, not a framed picture, _nothing_. And the walls are painted a pale green like you'd have seen in metro city hospitals 80 years ago.
I'm going to put on my desk (!) a small, flowering plant. Maybe 12 inches tall. What do you think?

#16 of 16 Re: What conveniences do customers want while buying a new car or truck? [british_rover] by 6789

Mar 28, 2010 (8:08 am)

Replying to: british_rover (Feb 17, 2010 6:49 pm)
Regarding "I still get cards from him,"
are those postcards, and if so, what does he have printed on the postcard? Does he have a photo of a tree or a car or his family? would an email system like Constant Contact be of any comparable to a customer who made a purchase?

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