I don’t know about you, but I am tired of constantly being sold. It doesn’t matter what the cause is, good or bad, we are tired. We don’t want to hear about it. My grandfather died of prostate cancer just one year ago, yet it drives me batty when they ask me for $1.00 at Safeway to battle prostate cancer. I give enough on my own. I HATE being asked if I want a store credit card at every place I shop– Macy’s, the Gap, Target, you name it, they have a card and they want you to use it (don’t they care about my credit score?). Sell, sell, sell.
NO, NO, NO.
Today I went shopping for a new mattress, which I did eventually purchase. My criteria for the purchase? Best mattress? Best price? Again, NO, NO, NO. I purchased my mattress from the least sleezy salesperson.
True story.
Super slick salesperson #2 and super slick salesperson #3- Adios! Au Revoir! Good-bye! So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodnight ! I can’t even stand to be in the same store with you.
Why did I buy my mattress from salesperson #1?
- he listened to my needs
- he asked for my budget
- he questioned my long term motivations
- he didn’t try to sell me the most expensive mattress
- he explained his recommendations and how they fit MY needs
- he made me feel special and remembered that I had purchased a mattress from him before
- he showed me multiple options and the pluses and minuses of each
- he wasn’t pushy
He informed me, he advised me, he directed me to a decision, and at the end, he closed the deal by gently asking me what day I would like them delivered.
Inform. Advise. Direct.
Be the resource for your potential clients. I visited salesperson #1 first, and ended up returning to him because of how he treated me.
We don’t want to be sold. They don’t want to be sold.
