10 Things Your Salesperson Won’t Say To Your Face

Sales can be a really tough job (unless of course you are using Spiro to help you close more deals). The reasons why it’s so tough can vary from encountering the person who wants a product but can’t stand dealing with salespeople, to terrible employer/employee support, to many other reasons that we won’t get into here. One thing totally undeniable is that everyone probably knows someone who works, or has worked, in sales.

But, it’s typically only other salespeople who can truly understand what it’s like to work in the industry. So while your salesperson wants to communicate with you as much as possible, there are some things they just can’t say. Here are ten:

1) Don’t say you’re coming back if you’re not – One of the biggest learning experiences that green salespeople have to endure is dealing with customers who swear they’re going to come back, or call back and then never do. When you first start out in sales, you tend to believe your customer’s word and get excited about a sure thing. But eventually, you learn that until the paperwork is signed, sealed and delivered, nothing is for sure. For some strange reason though, customers think that leading salespeople on is the correct way to go about doing business. We would prefer to have someone say that they’re not interested, and move on, than be left in limbo.

2) It’s unlikely you know more about the product than I do – In sales, you are trained to let the customer speak – it is our job to listen. But often, customers do some online research and start to think they are experts on the product you are selling before even coming in to buy it.  Who do you think knows more; the person who deals with the product every single day and explains it every single day, or the person who read an article for a half hour before coming in? Precisely!

3) I can’t control everything – Contrary to what the general public thinks, a salesperson is rarely in control of the most important decisions that happen before, during, and after a sales transaction. Very seldom do salespeople dictate the price (although they may have some wiggle room), they don’t design or fulfill the products, nor do they set the terms of the transaction. Customarily, the only things a salesperson has actual control over are the presentation of the product and a bit of negotiating room to close the deal. Although, in the majority of cases they still have to go to their manager for approval.

4) Don’t waste my time – If a salesperson could say one thing to a customer immediately after introducing themselves, it would be this.  A big portion of a salesperson’s time is spent connecting with prospects, answering questions, qualifying deals and negotiating terms. We absolutely do not have time to deal with people who have zero intention of buying and are just looking for someone to chat with or killing time with senseless inquiries. Please respect salespeople’s time the same way you would respect any other professional’s time. The only difference is, we don’t get to charge you for it.

5) If you’re nicer to me, you’ll get a better deal – For some crazy reason, people believe that being rude, abrupt, or combative with a salesperson is going to get them a better deal. Yes, there is the rare instance when a complaining customer will get some sort of break, but it’s the nice person who treats salespeople with respect and dignity who will get the better deal 9 times out of 10. There’s truth to the saying that you can catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar.

6) Your expectations are completely unrealistic – Every salesperson has dealt with the customer that is so detached from reality in what it is that they really want, that you can’t even talk through the facts with them. People call or come in looking for deals that literally don’t exist anywhere on this planet and then get upset when you can’t satisfy them, or they start telling you about their friend’s cousin’s brother who paid a specific price that just is totally outrageously low. If you want to negotiate on a deal, you must start from a realistic point, not some made-up deal you dreamt up in your own head.

7) I get lied to constantly – While everyone points a finger at salespeople for being dishonest, ask any salesperson how often they get lied to, and you’ll be shocked by their reply. Salespeople are lied to almost every single day. Customers have this idea that to get the best deal they need to play games that involve anything from fabricating information, to misrepresenting themselves, to making promises that they’ll never keep. Sadly, this muddles most buying and selling transactions as when one person is being shady, whether it’s the salesperson or the buyer, the deal is no longer honest and neither one is on equal footing.

8) I want you to be happy – Although one of the top reasons most people go into sales is for the money, salespeople aren’t just looking to make a buck off you. Every salesperson loves it when a customer walks away happy. Not only does it make them feel good about themselves, but it also gives them a feeling like they’ve positively contributed to the world. I don’t care how cynical or beaten down you are, but there is nothing that feels better than making a sale, and having the customer walk away from the table with a smile on their face and singing your praises.

9) Your deal could mean the difference between getting paid and not getting paid – It’s the harsh reality of sales. Not all companies pays their employees on every deal. Perhaps the company offers a commission-only pay plan, or maybe there is a minimum in order to get paid. Meeting your monthly or quarterly quotas that can mean the difference between minimum wage and a living wage (and using Spiro can help increase your commission checks). A salesperson may be trying really hard to get your business because it could mean the difference between them being able to buy their children the Christmas presents they asked for this year.

10) I’m not a scumbag – This one comes with a caveat; yes, some salespeople are scumbags. But guess what? Some doctors are scumbags, some lawyers are scumbags, and some priests are scumbags. Every profession has its objectionable people, because some people are just bad people, whether they work in sales or not. The typical salesperson is just looking to make a decent living and provide for their families the best way they know how. Some salespeople are the most honest people I know, and take great pride in never stretching the truth, even one little bit. So the next time you’re dealing with a salesperson, please don’t assume the worst.