If there was no such thing as business for profit, we would all still be hunter gatherers.
I think RayAndré that you have already found your way out of this dilemma. You seem to know what is right and what is wrong. In my opinion it all boils down to personal ethics.
In my early life as an employee I worked as the accountant for a new car dealership that sold 4 different marques. The salesmen were the typical con men who gave that profession a bad name. They knew almost nothing about the cars they were selling, and when they discovered that in my spare time I had learned every detail about each make and model, they called for me to answer prospects questions.
The upshot was that the boss gave me permission to attend to prospects when the professionals were not there or were busy. I outsold the con men without using their tactics. On one notable occasion a prospect came in, and I was the only one available to attend to him.
He drooled over one model in the showroom, and was disappointed that there was not a late model used one for him to buy. I sent him to a competitor just a few miles away. The boss was horrified. He said "They don' t have one either - now you have lost him." He scoffed at my reply that the prospect had said that if he decided to buy a new one he would come back to me.
Sure enough he was back in less than an hour and came straight to me to make the purchase. No cons, just genuine help to ensure that he knew what he was getting, and to reinforce his desire for that vehicle.
My sales career, both as an employee and in my own businesses (excuse the boasting, but I think that compound doubling of my employer's sales for 3 consecutive years should excuse a little boast) has been stellar.
My self-imposed rules:
1. Don't waste a prospect's time.
2. Don't sell. Instead, help them to understand the benefits of a)the product and b) buying from me.
3. Don't even try if the product is not going to be of real benefit to the buyer.
P.S. Because I was only the accountant and not a pro salesman I only received the equivalent of a spotters fee - not a full commission.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I can't resist adding a Bible quote written about 3000 years ago, because it shows that devious behavior can work both ways:
Proverbs 20:14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer— then goes off and boasts about the purchase.
Walter
I think RayAndré that you have already found your way out of this dilemma. You seem to know what is right and what is wrong. In my opinion it all boils down to personal ethics.
In my early life as an employee I worked as the accountant for a new car dealership that sold 4 different marques. The salesmen were the typical con men who gave that profession a bad name. They knew almost nothing about the cars they were selling, and when they discovered that in my spare time I had learned every detail about each make and model, they called for me to answer prospects questions.
The upshot was that the boss gave me permission to attend to prospects when the professionals were not there or were busy. I outsold the con men without using their tactics. On one notable occasion a prospect came in, and I was the only one available to attend to him.
He drooled over one model in the showroom, and was disappointed that there was not a late model used one for him to buy. I sent him to a competitor just a few miles away. The boss was horrified. He said "They don' t have one either - now you have lost him." He scoffed at my reply that the prospect had said that if he decided to buy a new one he would come back to me.
Sure enough he was back in less than an hour and came straight to me to make the purchase. No cons, just genuine help to ensure that he knew what he was getting, and to reinforce his desire for that vehicle.
My sales career, both as an employee and in my own businesses (excuse the boasting, but I think that compound doubling of my employer's sales for 3 consecutive years should excuse a little boast) has been stellar.
My self-imposed rules:
1. Don't waste a prospect's time.
2. Don't sell. Instead, help them to understand the benefits of a)the product and b) buying from me.
3. Don't even try if the product is not going to be of real benefit to the buyer.
P.S. Because I was only the accountant and not a pro salesman I only received the equivalent of a spotters fee - not a full commission.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I can't resist adding a Bible quote written about 3000 years ago, because it shows that devious behavior can work both ways:
Proverbs 20:14 “It’s no good, it’s no good!” says the buyer— then goes off and boasts about the purchase.
Walter