Biggest sales problem.

[D2D]

Sorry for getting a bit off topic there, Graham, Frank started it!

[TGD]

off topic? shouldnt this be under business development lol

[screenman]

TGD, I suppose if the moderators thought so they would have moved it there, personally I feel as long as it is being seen it does not matter where it goes.

[Frank EU]

Okay, problems.
I have hardly any problems with sales. After all this is a numbers game, you just have to go out and do the work -which includes sales.
I take the ''no'' or ''not this time'' or even the stupid ''we don't have any damages here'' with great eas (with the folks in the last group just being clowns of course).

What I find frustrating (but not a sales problem) are the ''people'' (''managers'') who believe that they are sooooo important (you know them too right). It are the ones who make things very complicated. Your straight forward proposal needs a further meeting with other ''managers'' in the ''team''. Not right now, somewhere next week or next month. It are the ''we will let you know'' monkeys. Without any say whatsoever in the process, yet they make you believe they do, and before you realize it is not even their job to decide about WSR. These time and energy wasting folks don't understand the principles of doing business, nor the basic principles of saving time and money. Instead of jumping on a good thing, they want to talk and meet other talkers. Many are just a waste of space, not delivering the quality and quantity their employer needs in able to be profitable. I know how to handle, trust me, but by then you already wasted time.

I also dislike situations where I am meeting ''professional'' people while it is bloody obvious that they don't know what they are talking about.
Believe me: it happens.

The above situations typically happen at a corporate level, but unfortunately this nasty disease is spreading to smaller companies.
So there you go: I don't like people who do not step up the plate and take ownership, I also strongly dislike any form of needless bureaucracy.

[screenman]

I ask them outright why they cannot make a decision now, it sometimes prompts them into making one. After all we are there to save them money, time and of course we offer outstanding convenience.

[sunshine wr]

Unbelievable. Allow me to vent my thoughts.
It started out being a good topic, but now people are already asking the author to come up with a list of the benefits/features. Think about it. Do you newbies want us, experienced guys, to compose a manual how to start, expand and manage your own local business? How to do sales? All for free of course.
I have those manuals, but there's no way that I will be publishing all the know how here, for free. Come on folks.

Some people don't want to know and hear, but many people in this trade FAIL because this is NOT just about performing superb repairs, it is ALL about sales.
Marketing is extremely important. But THAT is not what you we're told when you purchased the kit right?

If you cannot close the sale, it is pretty useless to start or stay in this business, leave and find something else. If you already started, and you need basic help because you cannot sell, don't feel silly or stupid, let's just hope you've learned something. Not everything is all that easy as it appears.

Many, many people don't want to, for several reasons, or just never thought about it, but they would do so much better if they joined a franchise network,
especially if you need all that simple sort of basic help. I mean, if people not even are able to come up with a list of benefits .....
Join a franchise and PAY for the various types of support, be succesfull and make money. Life is good. If you can close the deals.

Sorry to cause y'alls blood pressure to go so high. I know reasons for repair, just thought I would pick someone else's brain

[scrubs147]

I am a self-taught individual for the most part, but when it came to the windshield repair I knew I had to get some really good hands-on training to build confidence which is why I went to the DeltaKits training. Obviously it is a continuous learning curve which is why these forums have been established, certainly not to with-hold information so when us new-bees hit the field we make for a bad reputation in the windshield repair industry.

So, by having the "I don't want to share" attitude is only going to harm those trying to make an honest and intelligent decision. I look at it this way, I have been in the martial arts for most of my life. When you start to climb with experience, you share that experience with others by training those under you. The philosophy is, by teaching you learn, by sharing you receive, and be lending you earn.

[scrubs147]

I forgot one other part to this which is, by being selfish you are being selfless.

[shepardh1]

I often discuss with potential clients the demographics of my clients... I honestly do more repairs at homes that are valued at $5 million+ than I do at rental apartments. I discuss with clients that those that are financially successful are successful because they see the wisdom in spending $60 today rather than $300 in a few months when the windshield cracks.

Many folks think this over, realize it is true and spring for the repair cost. The sad part is that the poor people are the ones that need repair service the most! I guess financial savvy is generationally cyclical...

Your Voluntaryist friend,
Shepard

[shepardh1]

I kinda get what Frank EU is saying about some folks not having the skilz to pay the billz... but I am more in line with Milton Friedman's thoughts on intellectual property. There IS a lot of info here on this page, all free for the taking... I would gladly take a newbie from another state out for a day of repairs and share a bit of what I know...so would many others. I actually encourage newbies to ask away, even if the question was answered previously in the archives... let's take a new look at it!

I AM frustrated though that "there are millions of people complaining they can't get jobs, but only 4 of them REALLY want to work, and they don't apply with me."