Old methods in a new industry

Anonymous

January 7,2021 at 10:42PM UTC

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Hello all! So, I work for a company that sells our product out of larger retail stores like Sam’s Club. We go through quite a bit of training, and it’s a constant learning experience because it’s technology based. It’s a pretty good job, considering I came from restaurant work. During the pandemic, this job is less risky for an immunocompromised individual such as myself to work work in.
I really enjoy the people I work with...my two bosses are great, very kind, and we all get along really well. The problem I have is how we are expected to actually sell our product. The company’s way of approaching people, I feel, is very outdated and annoying. They want us to literally walk around the store and try to bring people back to electronics to try and push them to buy our products. It’s VERY pushy. Had I known that, I probably wouldn’t have taken the job to begin with. They call it “prospecting for clients”, and it just feels wrong to me. Let me provide an example...
I used to work for a very high end makeup company, and the way they taught us to “sell” our product is to not sell it at all...the product sells itself. They don’t advertise. We weren’t pushy or aggressive. It was more laid back.
I am not an aggressive, pushy, or money-hungry person. I am having a really hard time sell our product because of the way they want us to approach people, and it’s really affecting me. I worry all the time at work. I get these little panic moments when someone comes to the department. It’s really frustrating because I feel so WRONG being that annoying sales person that keeps picking at someone to buy our product!
What the hell can I do to make this situation better?!?! I have yet to achieve one of the goals my boss wants me to hit, and he’s really starting to come down on me.
What can I do to gain that “hunter’s mentality” with this job? How can I be comfortable selling our product when I’m not comfortable selling like they want me to?! Any bits of advice would be GREATLY appreciated!

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AnonymousJanuary 7,2021 at 11:07PM UTC
I would try it much like you approached your prior product because that is an effective style for you. Be very personable and engaging and just talk to people.....engage them about the product, ask them if they'd heard about it, ask if you could answer any questions they might have...get them talking. If it sells great. If not you don't feel annoying or pressuring.
If your selling style is a certain way then stick with what feels natural. Otherwise you won't be successful.
If your style doesn't fit the product or the organization then I would look for a better fit somewhere else.
AnonymousJanuary 7,2021 at 11:58PM UTC
First off, I want to say congrats for doing something new. That can be tough. Are there any coworkers or leaders you work with who inspire you? If you’re looking for a way to get invested in this new company/product, finding someone to emulate and to coach you could go a long way. If you’ve tried your best to connect with the mission and to do your best and it’s still not working out, it might be worth it to look for something else.
AnonymousJanuary 9,2021 at 6:52PM UTC
No, there’s not really anyone here, that I’ve met, that inspires me to want to sell these phones. BOTH my direct boss and district manager just constantly push to be pushy, if that makes sense haha! I am currently looking for something else. Thank you SO much for your comment!
AnonymousJanuary 8,2021 at 1:40PM UTC
I am surprised that, in this environment where physical distancing is so important and people are trying to minimize the amount of time they spend in retail stores, your company is pushing this tactic. It is counter to the health and safety of you and your potential customers. I personally never am comfortable being approached in this way and would be unlikely to buy something from someone who did, but especially so now.
AnonymousJanuary 8,2021 at 3:10PM UTC
EXACTLY. It feels wrong, even without a pandemic! I am currently looking for something else, even though I’m still new. I am immunocompromised AND on prednisone, so to HAVE to seek out people just to sell a phone to them is ridiculous to me.
LuluLuliJanuary 8,2021 at 6:51PM UTC
Dont think about it as selling, approach people the way you do when you share information with friends about products and services that you really like. Approach customers with that same enthusiasm/delight/energy and begin with the most outstanding or surprising facts about the product and then go from there. Most people like educating themselves and learning about the latest new things. Approach it that way. Best of luck!
AnonymousJanuary 8,2021 at 7:14PM UTC
Yeah, that’s kind of how I approach people right now...they’re happy that I have no problem talking to random people haha! The problem comes in when they(boss) want me to push people more, to keep on them even after they have said “no thank you”, and made it clear that they don’t want me around them at the moment. They want us to keep asking questions, and probing our customers....I feel like it literally drives people away, does the opposite of what they think it does, and makes our customers NOT want to buy what we’re selling.
Lori ParkerJanuary 9,2021 at 5:44PM UTC
It would definitely do that for me.
AnonymousJanuary 9,2021 at 7:01PM UTC
Update to the original post:
I am now on the verge of being FIRED! Yes, fired! I had my weekly “coaching” just now(where they tell you everything you suck at, in a nice way haha), and my boss informs me that I will be let go of my position if I don’t get a postpaid sell. I was also told that I am not “transitioning” my conversations with customers very well...basically, they’re telling me that if a customer comes up to me looking for candles/tires/bread, I need to convince them to buy a 2 year contract with one of our phone carriers.
I am just not cut out for this type of aggressive sales job. I don’t WANT to put a single mother with 3 kids into a phone contract when she’s not even sure where her next paycheck is coming from. I don’t want to push an elderly couple into buying the new iPhone 12 when they are still using a flip phone! I don’t want to hustle just to make $7.50 commission from one postpaid phone.
I am EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED right now, and frankly just want to quit. Any advice on this situation would be GREATLY appreciated!! ???
Carolyn AJanuary 9,2021 at 10:41PM UTC
If you don't like the company's sales philosophy it's the wrong company for you. Big difference between makeup and your current sector.