About 20 years ago, I was working for a company that sold Apple products primarily through a call center. I heard one of the other salespeople on the phone with a potential customer, the call went something like this:
Sales guy: Thanks for calling us today, Can I get your name and number? Ohhh, WAIT@!@!… My manager has just informed me that you are the 1,000,000th caller and that earns you an extra 15% off today. What can I help you with today?
Caller:….(I hope he hung up)
When I heard this, I immediately started chuckling out loud. I couldn’t believe this person really had the _________to say that with a straight face and expect a suitable response. I mean, seriously…. The manager actually was standing close by and came over and asked what I was laughing about. I told I couldn’t believe that he would support a company employee using that type of method to gain business. He then scolded me for not having the right attitude, and that I could learn a lot from “Capt. Cheesy”. I didn’t agree.
I said that to say this…
1) My experience in sales has allowed me to see that salespeople approach sales from many different angles, and more than one method works.
2) I am strong believer in attitude and it’s potential impact (both positive and negative) on sales.
HOWEVER, there is a line. Kitchy, cheesy, corny, lame, unethical, dishonest, or stupid sales gimmicks have got to go. In the same way, “honey, come here often?” is probably not going to get you anywhere anymore as a pickup line. Just talking about this, makes my skin crawl. I am embarrassed for sales people that are using these tactics. Today’s buyer is usually bright, intelligent, educated and mature. THEY should be ashamed if they are continuing a conversation after hearing something like that from a salesperson.
Do you know anyone like this? I would love to hear other versions of “Capt. Cheesy”.
Lanny
