Boy, I am not. Going back in my mind to junior high, the dreaded magazine sale. But I soooo wanted to earn enough points to get a fill-in-the-blank (probably a stuffed animal). It didn’t take too many times like that to make me realize it makes me feel so uncomfortable to try to convince someone to buy something from me! And all the fundraisers my kids did, yikes. Hated it.
Nope. Not Girl Scout cookies, Boy Scout popcorn, school wrapping paper, etc etc. Part of my problem is that I am opposed on principle to soliciting funds from family or coworkers. I did accompany the kids around the block, which has led to some great family stories about " the healthy lady who lectured us on why cookies are not good for you" and "that neighbor who claimed she “was cleaning and had moved the refrigerator in front of the door” Every Single Time we rang the bell. (I guess I did “sell” the kids on the idea that they should at least try to support the fundraiser…)
I was reasonable back when i was an elementary school child going door to door selling fundraiser chocolate bars for my Catholic elementary school.
Man…now I really wished kids were selling those chocolate bars in my current neighborhood. Those chocolate bars were very good…especially after being chilled in the fridge.
No, absolutely not. But I have inadvertently talked people into doing certain things because of personal enthusiasm. I would have to completely believe in something and not be profiting on it to sell a product or service. When our kids had to do fundraisers, we just donated so they didn’t have to hit people up. But they could have learned a valuable skill, so maybe we didn’t do them any favors.
Yes. Got it from my dad. I sold more than most other sales people combined at the photography place I used to work.
Hated it. I knew these people were paying for over priced crap. I never ever want to work in sales again.
I never did the door to door crap. Parents didn’t let me because generally they had to pay up front and then we had to make back that money. Parents couldn’t afford it.
My husband is. He gets the numbers game factor of sales, isn’t bothered by “no”, and realized that not everyone is a potential customer. My baby girl is an ace Girl Scout cookie salesperson at the cookie booths. She up sells and knows her product. I don’t like sales. I’m more a personal shopper mind set.
No! And I was the ad manager then the business manager for my HS newspaper. Hated going around drumming up ads. Chose chemistry over the economics that HS teacher suggested. My father had an EE degree and sold stuff to electric utilities for a company. He was honest and knew when his competitor’s products were a better choice. Niche area, not like retail.
Yes. My husband and I were both marketing majors. When you find something you like, and really know well, it is much easier to sell. Believe me, I have had sales jobs I hated.
Were any of you tour guides at your college? I was and that was a form of selling.
I believe most people can learn how to become good salespeople. My experience taught me to keep it simple stupid (KISS), never lie to or cheat my customers, always be well prepared, and try to offer the best product to the client. The awards that I won were mainly due to hard work and caring for my customers. And knowing my products inside and out. I’m not a natural born salesperson.
My boss told me once that he was surprised at how well I did because I was a quiet person. I guess being a good listener has to be another important trait of a good salesperson. I ran into several gift of gabbers over the years who charmed and wooed their customers. Some were outstanding salespeople, but others spent too much time gabbing and not enough time listening.
My nickname when I worked for Nestle was “The Candyman.” I’d walk into schools and non-profits with a little cooler filled with assorted candy bars. I’d pass my samples around like I was Santa Claus. The best part of that sales job was I helped make groups money, not cost them money. I’ve also sold door-to-door and sold intangible products.
Another measure of a good salesperson is how many customers buy from them over and over again, and how loyal they are to them. School door to door fundraisers are a good test of a child’s aptitude for sales.
I have been pricing out a lot of home remodel stuff this summer, and I realized why we did not go ahead with some companies. It really turns me off when a sales person comes in and starts going on and on about how terrible their competitors’ products are (they are not). A good salesperson does not badmouth the competitors. Point out the differences and let your customers decide for themselves, they are not stupid.
I hate sales. It’s what my husband does for a living. Well, he’s the sales guy for our company. We went to some trade shows this summer…by the end I was ready to hide under my covers, he was in his element. But it’s not just the gift of gab, it’s about listening, solving problems, being enthusiastic and not smarmy, and ultimately it’s delivering what you promised and being persistent with your follow up. I prefer to hide in the back and crunch numbers.
My Girl Scout troop got permission from the local Safeway to set up a table near their front door. (I loved my GS Troop!) I loathe door to door selling and don’t think it’s appropriate for kids to be doing.
I don’t mind offices where the catalog for wrapping paper is hanging around, but I think even then many people feel obligated. I once brought in the wrapping paper catalog because there was a paper that year that looked like something my boss would love. She bought some and then the bookkeeper bought some too. (Which I really hadn’t intended and felt guilty about - it’s the only year I brought the catalog in the next year they went with a less classy vendor.) I far preferred to just donate money directly to the PTA - it’s a lot more efficient. We did that once with our learning Garden. We sent home an envelope with the kids and said anyone who sent one dollar would be listed in the program for the opening. At that price nearly everyone in the school donated, and many, many people gave a lot more than a dollar. I don’t think we even listed them differently in the program since our aim was never to make people feel badly about being more or less wealthy and it was a small(ish) tight-knit school.
Even as an architect I’m terrible. I spent an hour yesterday persuading a client to sit in her house for at least six months before she made any major decisions and that she could probably get what she wanted at a lot less cost without an architect!