For the last fifty years the sales profession has given a negative impression. Pushy, annoying, and sleazy are just a few of the adjectives thrown out by the populace to define the ever present peddler of goods. There is one big hole in this perception: if the act of selling is defined as getting others to part with something they value for something of you think they should value then we all participate in sales every day of our lives.
Think about it, when was the last time you had to talk someone into doing something? Teachers are convincing their students to do their homework every day, just as mothers are convincing their children to make their beds every day and doctors are convincing their patients to take their medications every day. Convincing someone to do something is so quintessentially human that no one ever bats an eyelash at it when it happens away from monetary exchanges. So, why, if money is just a manifestation of perceived value, should we be so squeamish of the prospect of monetary selling?
BoweryJE22
I think this is a great point. As we talked about in class, we are constantly selling every day. Being able to transition those selling techniques that we are so comfortable with into using them for monetary selling is the key to being a great sales person. I think that is something we should constantly be thinking about as a salesperson.
Very true. I think that money is one of those issues that are addressed and things can get awkward not only for the salesperson but for the customer as well. A good sales person will take the proper approach to have the customer willingly part with their money rather than forcibly.
Very interesting point! I never thought of it this way. Money is such a sensitive topic for most people- being either too rich or too poor can be awkward. I suppose the sensitivity and the personal nature of money is what adds to the squeamishness of sales interactions.