The Great “Top Sales Techniques” Hunt: What tricks are used to sell to us?

steve_in_lincs

I was a bit taken abck reading the title to this board. As a Sales proffesional I am employed to make "SALES" no real suprise there but we are not to be feared.

I agree that there are numerous individuals and companies who give us a bad name and even worse provide the consumer with bad services and products:mad: that leave us unsattisfied.

My advice to all MSE users is that as a customer it is up to you to make the sales person you are dealing with work for the right to look after you. After all it is you who wishes to purchase and we need to sell, Do not get drawn in by the clever techniques that are being shown!! You know what you need and what you would like/ can afford to pay...Tell them what yopu want and if they can not do it find some one who can.

But most of all please do not think of us all as being an Arthur Daley dodgey dealer.

Discounts are they to be had....JUST ASK.

mikeabbotts

boltonangel wrote: »

as a mtge advisor i echo all the points raised - yes, recomendations are made for commission/targets , but we have to justify why what we are recommending is right for you, so you won't be sold something purely for profit. different companies offer different benefits and pay out rates

Beware! Mortgage advisors earn more commision by selling income protection insurance/life insurance/critical illness insurance than from arranging your mortgage, and while their industry may be better regulated than most, they are no more or less honest than any other salesman. Critical illness and income protection policies in particular are full of small print and the insurers are expert in using it to avoid payouts - ask any Citizens Advice Bureau. Be sure you really need any of these policies - get advice from someone who is not getting rich on selling them to you. Sometimes they are appropriate sometimes not.

darlofc

Call me cynical but if a sales person is paid commision (as they all are) to sell products then they are going to "guide" you to the product that they will gain the most commision from. I don't believe a word from anyone on here that says they only have the customers interests at heart. Fortunately for sales people there are lots and lots of people out there who are not strong enough to ask questions about products or just say no and walk away.

moinerio

Well having been self-employed and currently employed in sales over 30yrs, this included training manager...I am not going to let "cat" out of the bag.
I have sold everything and written training modules on almost of all aspects of sales.
TIPS..
IF ANYONE NEEDS TO VISIT YOU AT HOME , THEN ITS OVERPRICED, COMMISSION AND COST OF COMPANY CAR ETC..
NEVER EVER GET SUCKED IN THE LAST FEW, LAST ONE, LIMITED TIME, ANY TIME SENSATIVE OFFERS. IN THE MAIN WE ARE LAZY AND WONT BOTHER TO LOOK AROUND
IN THIS DAY AND AGE OF THE INTERNET WE CAN SHOP AROUND FOR THE BEST DEAL..HENCE THIS SITE.
IVE HAD GREAT HOLIDAYS :cool: AND OWN A GREAT HOUSE:j :j ALL THANKS TO SALES!!
PLEASE NOTE....THE PRESSURE IS INTENSE:eek: :eek:
IF I CAN HELP ANYONE 1-2-1 PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT;)

Ninetails

Worst story I'd heard was a friend's sister died and the salesman was showing all the incredibly expensive coffins first, with the price descending as you get further back in the showroom. This just reeks of playing on people's grief. My friend was very level headed and declined the Rolls Royce and bought a cheaper one.

geekgirl

Nine_Tails wrote: »

Worst story I'd heard was a friend's sister died and the salesman was showing all the incredibly expensive coffins first, with the price descending as you get further back in the showroom. This just reeks of playing on people's grief. My friend was very level headed and declined the Rolls Royce and bought a cheaper one.

Yes I had the a similar thing when my Dad died. They were trying to sell us the coffin with three handles on each side and the real silk lining when we went for 2 handles and the 'sateen' lining. Truth of the matter is we really couldn't afford more, to be honest they went on for ages tutting and looking at each other and repeating how "nobody would choose that for their loved ones as it doesn't look as classy".
I had to get a bit nasty in the end and tell them to do as we asked or !!!!!! off! My poor brother was in a bit of a state about it. When it came to the day of the funeral I didn't give a hoot about how many handles there were and neither did my Dad!

FredFace

Actually, it's quite a well known technique. If you show someone the most expensive top of the range product (whatever it is), in contrast, all of the other less expensive products look cheaper. Generally the average value of the sale made will go up.

If you have ever visited a clothes store, they will quite often attempt to sell you a cheaper item after you have bought a more expensive one. For example, if you buy a £300 pound suit (I wish) a £30 tie looks relatively cheap.

ilovelillbj

Womaniser wrote: »

One thing to ALWAYS remember is that the salesperson ALWAYS only has his/her interests at heart, ie the sale/commission. They may appear friendly towards you, but they really couldn't care less if you died after doing the deal. A good salesperson will always be honest and have your interests at heart, but when their income is based on a sale, honesty and decency is often put to one side.

Treat them with the contempt they deserve and don't let them take control.

I think that is completely unfair to generalise like that. I work for a bank's call centre mainly in customer service but yes I am targeted on sales and part (though not the majority) of my small bonuses are made up of these sales. HOWEVER I do not employ 'tactics', not to sell things the customer doesn't need. We have hints on our screens, however these are individual to the customer e.g. we only offer appropriate products. Some people with your attitude lose out for themselves- I have offered higher interest savings accounts for example, which are completely free and only benefit the customer, and because they have a 'just say no' attitude they miss out. And I have had customers on the line asking about options which would suit my targets better but if I dont think it's best for them I advise them accordingly.

tab

Hi,

A double glazing salesman gave me a quote and after he'd spent about an hour going through it he asked if he could use the toilet. Didn't think anything of it at the time but it was the first opportuinity me and the missus had a chance to talk without him being there. Naturally we started to discuss the price saying things like "£6k is too much, I thought it would be about £3k but I suppose £4k would be within our budget".

Next thing you know the salesman rings head office to see if he can do something for us and magically, if signed-up today he can do it for £4,300 due to end of month sales target. We never went with the quote for one reason or another.

When we had another double glazing salesman around he asked us if the guy had used the toilet. Oddly enough we said yes and asked why - his told us it was the standard 'khazi close'.

Appartently this involves keeping you busy for a long period without giving you a break and then once you've had the quote the salesman puts the paperwork in his briefcase, switches on a listening device and uses the toilet. As this is the first time you've had a chance to discuss the quote with your partner you naturally discuss budget/expectations etc and the salesman is listening to everything you say. When he comes out of the toilet he mysteriously can do you the deal if signed-up today almost within your budget. He then gauges if you're interested and when he lets you haggle off the last hundred pounds or so you feel like you've had a fantastic deal and sign on the spot to make it within the end of month sales target and get the huge discount.

We didn't realise this was how the quote was mysteriously slashed in price until we had two other double glazing salesmen around who both quoted us about £3k. It shows you how close we came to signing up at £4,100 under pressure because we thought there was a £1,900 discount being offerred for that day only.

terrierlady

with repect the word ASSUME taught on any sales training course actually means you make an A!! out of U and ME! Never assume anything.:rotfl: