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Hey - I'm a customer, give me a chance to talk!

Guest post by: Jim Meisenheimer

Article Overview: If you're in sales you might enjoy reading this article on what not to do when you're talking to your customers and prospects.

Hey - I'm a customer, give me a chance to talk!

Sure the real estate market is down all across the United States. And it's
especially soft in Florida, where my home is.

Bernadette, my wife, and I are debating whether to build a new home or do
some extensive remodeling in the one we are living in.

If I had to place a bet I'd say we're going to do the remodeling. But that
doesn't mean we don't look at new home models. And we did this last
week-end.

Remember - it's a soft market down here. But please, it doesn't excuse
stupidity and patheticism - I just invented that word!

First things first - appearance still counts! The sales woman's wig made
Leslie Stahl's hairstyle look fabulous.

The linen skirt the sales person was wearing looked like she had slept in it -
for two weeks.

She greeted us with a warm "Hello" and it went downhill from there.

She didn't ask us our names.

She didn't ask us to sign the sales register. How in the world would there
ever be a way to follow-up?

She didn't ask a single question.

Here's what she told us:

There were many different plans we could choose from in the builders
design book.

She told us we can build a new home from these floor plans and save "Lots
of thousands of dollars."

She added, "you can take the house and shrink it, expand it, make certain
rooms bigger or smaller, change the pool, add wiring or speakers or a
waterfall, use a top-of-the-line range, or have my brother-in-law build it for
you."

Look - I can't make this stuff up.

She wanted us to look at the one-story version of the house she was
showing us. Never mind that I need a second story for my office.

She said we could save $100,000, because this was a "Soft opening," and
the price would be going up next week. "Gee" I've never heard that one
before.

As we were leaving she said to us, "Be sure to send all of your friends over
to see our new model."

I seldom get headaches. But as I left this model my head ached.

I couldn't believe what we just experienced.

It was a lesson on everything, and I mean everything, you should never do.

Because she didn't stop talking she didn't start selling.

There is no cure for what this woman has. It goes beyond sales babble!

If she were being paid by the word - she'd be a multi-millionaire.

Well to be sure I can't help her - but there's a chance I can help you.

One simple step to make the second half of 2007 even better for you, than
the first half.

There is nothing more important to you than investing in your personal
growth and development and doing what's necessary to sharpen your
selling skills.

Whether your goal is to just make your sales plan, exceed your sales plan,
or become the superstar of your company and your market place - these
learning tools will help you achieve your goals.

Your personality alone, doesn't qualify you as sales professional. But your
sales results and sharpened selling skills will.

There's still time for you to become the best you can be!

Visit my website for some extraordinary sales tips and learning tools. It's a
small step that can yield big results for you.

And always remember - hey I'm a customer, give me a chance to talk!

Related Articles
  Where Did The Trust Go?
  In front of the customer - selling face-to-face
  Overcoming Sales Objections
  Entrepreneur's Coaching Center - Knock their Socks Off (customer service that counts)
  Satisfactory Customer Service is No Longer Acceptable

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