Archive: Sales Stories
I was getting quite good at it too, but unfortunately, had no choice but to turn in my resignation today. Different circumstances have forced me to seek out two full-time jobs around my neighborhood instead.
Just a few quick stories and observations about my brief stint in door-to-door marketing:
- It’s a great job if you want to work around beautiful female co-workers all day. Whether they’re single or interested is another question. But they are beautiful.
- Filipino families are the nicest families in the world. Each one I met just invited me in, sat me down on the couch, and fed me candy.
- Rich people are the worst people to try and sell to. They’re smart, they’re well-guarded against salesmen, and they can always pull the “I already sponsor seven children and donate to fifteen charities” trump card.
- On another note, rich people should not have gigantic driveways.
- Is it just me, or is there something iffy about a company that asks it’s employees for gas money?
- Is it also just me, or is there something else iffy about a company that lets it’s employees talk openly (and with great detail) about their sex lives in the office? I can see that happening in a workshop or on a lease site, but when there’s a big poster on the wall that clearly outlines what counts as “workplace sexual harassment,” you’d think a boss would speak up and tell what’s-his-name to shut up before the timid new girl takes them to court.
- On another note of workplace sexual harassment, there’s mixed messages sent when one of the girls who works there invites everybody to a night club to root for her in a wet T-shirt contest.
- It’s also disappointing when she doesn’t participate in the contest.
- One of the worst icebreakers you can have when showing up at doors is “Hi, how are you doing? That’s a nice dog, what’s his — OH, CRAP! SORRY! I’ll get him back! Here, pup! Here, pup! Just stay there, I’ll bring him back! No, you stupid dog! Stay out of the street!” All that, followed by the owner running around the neighborhood chasing his dog in a bathrobe and slippers.
- You know that Spanish maid on “Family Guy?” She’s real. And she lives in many houses. Instead of answering the door, she stares out the window and hopes you’ll go away.
- While researching the job, I found this Human Development Report which color codes how well certain countries are doing. It’s worth a look, but it’s definitely skews our sales pitch about the horrors of Mexico and South America.
- Actually, I gotta tell you the Brick story – this was the best thing to happen during my week there. A bunch of us went to West Ed for lunch, and while there, our top two reps make a wager that they can go into The Brick and sell something to one of the sales people in there. So they’re running around making a commotion, trying to get the sales people’s attention, and when that failed, they started talking to the customers instead. And they were good too – they were halfway through selling a couch to an elderly couple before the Brick’s sales team showed up like a team of security guards and ushered them out of the store. But it got better because then they just kept going on with their sales pitch, trying to convince these bouncers to buy a bed, and even offering to take $50 off the sticker price. Ah, you would’ve had to have been there. They didn’t miss a beat. It was brilliant.
And that’s that for door-to-door marketing. If you can afford it, check the international exchange rates and help sponsor a kid somewhere. One of your dollars can probably buy them a toilet or Spanish maid. And always invite in salespeople when it’s cold. Even offer them a glass of water or use of your bathroom. They’ll appreciate it.
Back to job hunting!
February 07 2010 08:34 pm | Daily Life