Sales

[Nique]

So, without naming names, I'm interviewing for a sales position next week.

While I'd like to say with who, I don't want anything said here to affect my chances should I decide that I want to work here.

What I would like to know is your expierience in an outbound-only sales environment. Is there any way to suceed or be happy with these jobs without sucumbing to underhanded sales tactics or relying on your client's ingorance?

It's a lucrative sounding opportunity, but they are upfront about the burn-out rate, and what they expect (100-150 calls per day, 2 sales a day minimum)

I'm torn becuase right now all I've got in the world is a temporary job with no chance of advancment or pay increase whereas a simple change in tactics in a sales position can easily raise your income and position in a company focused on selling.

Also of note is the possibility of a lateral move into a more technical position as the company is fairly new and is expanding, if I seem otherwise competent but lack drive on the sales floor... Which to be honest I have no way of knowing becuase I have never done hard-outbound selling before.

Thoughts?

[Whomper]

The company is fairly new, and expanding? This job sounds like a typical fluke telemarketing job. <_< I wish you good luck, but it is a beast, and will either make you quit or drive out any humanity you have.

[Zilla]

The company is fairly new, and expanding? This job sounds like a typical fluke telemarketing job. <_< I wish you good luck, but it is a beast, and will either make you quit or drive out any humanity you have.

Ditto. I've worked in two call centers, one of them was bill-collecting, one was Relay Service for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. The former left a very bad taste in my mouth because it often required negotiating with uncompliant people and dealing with them at their worst. The second job was wonderful because the people I dealt with wanted the service, and took an active approach on their own.

If it's unsolicited sales, it will drain your soul. If you're taking calls from people who want the product, it might be rewarding. Unfortunately, when you say 100-150 calls and 2 sales, it sounds like a telemarketing job, and those are soul-draining.

[Marelo]

If you do take this job, the key of keys, the keyest key of all, is to never take anything personally. If you're easily angered or insulted, you do not want to take this job. If you can have a sense of humor about it, all the better.

I work at a call center which raises money for student scholarships by soliciting donations from alumni. There are lots of people who welcome the calls, and lots of people who are neutral about it, and just a few who are outright pissed off that we would dare call them. Even just those few require a tough shell.

[EVILNess]

I work in a sales heavy job, so here are some tips.

Be honest, up-front, and confident. Nobody likes to be lied to. Or to think they are being lied to.

Know what you are selling. Listen to your customers opinions. Ask a customer to come back and tell you how things are going. Use this to advise other customers on a fit to their needs.

Talk to the customer. try to poke and prod them into giving you information not just about the stuff they came for, but might also be looking for but isn't on their mind at the moment. Offer things that might enhance their main purchase. Example: If they are buying a game system, offer them a second controller or a game, If they are renting a movie offer them some popcorn or candy. Think about what goes with what you are selling and offer it to them.

Don't be pushy, but don't be a pushover! Straddling this line is hard, but if you can master it you will get sales and not piss of your customers. Know when to back off and save it for their next visit.

Let me let you on a secret... customers will say NO to most anything. I have been told no by people who would save $50 on a purchase by spending $10. They don't listen, sometimes you have to point out the obvious. Just because you see the benefits, don't expect them to. In fact, expect the opposite.

[Nique]

Yeah people have been conditioned to not listen to anything that sounds confusing. Which they think prevents them from being cheated but it actually makes it eaisier.

[Funka Genocide]

I distrust all salespersons by default. I despise pressure sales tactics and really don't see the necessity of sales personnel in my life.

In general, people know what they need and want, and how to acquire both. I'm all for good customer service, so long as I'm the one initiating the interaction, but if the minute I walk into a store someone is all over me trying to get me to buy something I become defensive and a little angry.

Luckily everyone isn't like me, and I suppose a fair amount of people must actually like this sort of marketing, as the profession exists after all.

I suppose the only advice I could give would be to be knowledgeable and positive, and don't be pushy. Oh, and when you have to say a predetermined set of lines every time you talk to someone it really makes you sound like a tool no matter your personality, I guess that's just part of the job though.

If you're being recorded I guess there's no way out of that, but if you can manage to have a natural conversation with your potential customer's I'd assume it'd go a long way to develop trust and achieve sales. I immediately get annoyed when a human being starts prattling off some scripted bullshit like a robot, it makes me feel like just another sap not worth the effort to treat like a person.

also:

Let me let you on a secret... customers will say NO to most anything. I have been told no by people who would save $50 on a purchase by spending $10. They don't listen, sometimes you have to point out the obvious. Just because you see the benefits, don't expect them to. In fact, expect the opposite.

This is absolutely true, and I have done this innumerable times in my life. This is because I have been conditioned to believe everything has a catch, and quite frankly I'll pay an extra 50 dollars to not have to deal with a bunch of spam email/useless magazine subscriptions/having to talk to a pushy salesman for one more minute. The more transparent and obvious the deal seems, the more suspicious I get.

[Nique]

I didn't take the job btw.

I had an inbound sales job for a while. That was a sweet deal. No pressure, just give the customer what they want if they want it.