Why is "knowledgeable Salesperson" an oxymoron at most box stores?
07-24-2006, 04:57 PM
#1
Why is "knowledgeable Salesperson" an oxymoron at most box stores?
Man, why is it that the term knowledgeable and salesperson becomes an oxymoron at a box store?
Maybe it is the heat this week but I have heard the worst explainations about both home and car audio and video from customers this week that "the other guy" from box stores and mini chains this week.
For example, I'll show someone a quality product, the person shops around and is told something opposite and wrong by a salesperson -- usually a guy who has been thrown on the sales floor and called an expert because he did an online course for 30 minutes.
I used to think these guys were lying to get the sale, now I've come to the sad truth that they just don't know anything.
I feel sorry for the installers who work in these shops that actually know their *&*$ but have to work with idiots.
Its funny, installers have to buy tools to do their work and perform their craft, but salesmen don't even have to invest time in their mental tools before they are sent out onto the salesfloor to create absolute chaos in the marketplace. How sad.
Maybe it is the heat this week but I have heard the worst explainations about both home and car audio and video from customers this week that "the other guy" from box stores and mini chains this week.
For example, I'll show someone a quality product, the person shops around and is told something opposite and wrong by a salesperson -- usually a guy who has been thrown on the sales floor and called an expert because he did an online course for 30 minutes.
I used to think these guys were lying to get the sale, now I've come to the sad truth that they just don't know anything.
I feel sorry for the installers who work in these shops that actually know their *&*$ but have to work with idiots.
Its funny, installers have to buy tools to do their work and perform their craft, but salesmen don't even have to invest time in their mental tools before they are sent out onto the salesfloor to create absolute chaos in the marketplace. How sad.
07-25-2006, 02:56 PM
#2
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 16,855
Originally Posted by mike bisson
Man, why is it that the term knowledgeable and salesperson becomes an oxymoron at a box store?
Maybe it is the heat this week but I have heard the worst explainations about both home and car audio and video from customers this week that "the other guy" from box stores and mini chains this week.
For example, I'll show someone a quality product, the person shops around and is told something opposite and wrong by a salesperson -- usually a guy who has been thrown on the sales floor and called an expert because he did an online course for 30 minutes.
I used to think these guys were lying to get the sale, now I've come to the sad truth that they just don't know anything.
I feel sorry for the installers who work in these shops that actually know their *&*$ but have to work with idiots.
Its funny, installers have to buy tools to do their work and perform their craft, but salesmen don't even have to invest time in their mental tools before they are sent out onto the salesfloor to create absolute chaos in the marketplace. How sad.
Maybe it is the heat this week but I have heard the worst explainations about both home and car audio and video from customers this week that "the other guy" from box stores and mini chains this week.
For example, I'll show someone a quality product, the person shops around and is told something opposite and wrong by a salesperson -- usually a guy who has been thrown on the sales floor and called an expert because he did an online course for 30 minutes.
I used to think these guys were lying to get the sale, now I've come to the sad truth that they just don't know anything.
I feel sorry for the installers who work in these shops that actually know their *&*$ but have to work with idiots.
Its funny, installers have to buy tools to do their work and perform their craft, but salesmen don't even have to invest time in their mental tools before they are sent out onto the salesfloor to create absolute chaos in the marketplace. How sad.
My first impression would be because independents usually won't give anyhopeful salesmonkey who does not know their the time of day where a box will generally hire anyone that can at least keep their drool under control. If they don't wise up then they essentially become $8/hr security guards until they're gone. An indy with just a couple of guys on the floor can't afford that kind of coverage. Thus most indys wind up with at least semi-experienced/knowledgeable staff.
My second thought is that there are 2 kinds of salespeople: those that represent the product and help the customer make a choice, and those that can push a box out the door. An indy has to maximize every customer that comes in the door so they need the first kind. Salesguy #2 can sometimes do as well or better in a box store than Salesguy #1 simply due to traffic. If #1 closes 2 out of the 5 people he sees in an hour and #2 closes 4 out of the 20 he talks to in an hour, who "does better" both in the paycheque and the corporate eye.
I was a #1 and saw too many #2 guys advance through the system. I disagreed with that BS and got off the sales floor.
And my final thought: How could any other salesman stack up to you Mike?
07-25-2006, 03:22 PM
#3
Originally Posted by Dukk
My first impression would be because independents usually won't give anyhopeful salesmonkey who does not know their the time of day where a box will generally hire anyone that can at least keep their drool under control. If they don't wise up then they essentially become $8/hr security guards until they're gone. An indy with just a couple of guys on the floor can't afford that kind of coverage. Thus most indys wind up with at least semi-experienced/knowledgeable staff.
My second thought is that there are 2 kinds of salespeople: those that represent the product and help the customer make a choice, and those that can push a box out the door. An indy has to maximize every customer that comes in the door so they need the first kind. Salesguy #2 can sometimes do as well or better in a box store than Salesguy #1 simply due to traffic. If #1 closes 2 out of the 5 people he sees in an hour and #2 closes 4 out of the 20 he talks to in an hour, who "does better" both in the paycheque and the corporate eye.
I was a #1 and saw too many #2 guys advance through the system. I disagreed with that BS and got off the sales floor.
And my final thought: How could any other salesman stack up to you Mike?
My second thought is that there are 2 kinds of salespeople: those that represent the product and help the customer make a choice, and those that can push a box out the door. An indy has to maximize every customer that comes in the door so they need the first kind. Salesguy #2 can sometimes do as well or better in a box store than Salesguy #1 simply due to traffic. If #1 closes 2 out of the 5 people he sees in an hour and #2 closes 4 out of the 20 he talks to in an hour, who "does better" both in the paycheque and the corporate eye.
I was a #1 and saw too many #2 guys advance through the system. I disagreed with that BS and got off the sales floor.
And my final thought: How could any other salesman stack up to you Mike?
LOL true on ALL accounts.... watching sales in a box store and around the Province I have come up with the thought "the less you know, the more you sell...." this philosophy is supported by my other finding which is "the fat man is always right..."
I think FS should give their installers custom "eye-pokers" for you guys to use on idiot salesmen that screw up estimates/quotes...
07-25-2006, 09:35 PM
#4
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 134
Whoa!!! I thought this just happened to me! And then there is turnover! They start working with little to no knowledge on the sales floor, when you finally develop their brain, they leave! Back to square one!
07-26-2006, 01:09 AM
#5
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 359
leave it to Mike, always causing trouble.
07-26-2006, 02:30 AM
#6
500 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 923
Originally Posted by mike bisson
"the fat man is always right..."
07-26-2006, 02:51 PM
#7
Administrator
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 16,855
Originally Posted by mike bisson
"the less you know, the more you sell...."
These days I am extremely fortunate that of the three car audio salespeople that feed me installs, two really know their stuff, and the third I get almost no biz from so I don't care
07-26-2006, 09:42 PM
#9
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 359
Originally Posted by Sassmaster
what does it mean when a future shop employee drools out of both sides of his mouth?
the floor is level.
the floor is level.
09-14-2006, 12:44 AM
#10
50 Watt CAFz'r
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 115
I work at future shop and i can tell you all that their mobile associates have undertaken a grueling, mentally tasking, training course making them cold blooded, car audio experts. lol at most of them
lol at most of them
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