I am being trained for what???

[zed255]

DAG, relax. There are many views out there and folks participate here from many areas in the world. Not everyone sees things in the same light.

I personally, in my area of the world, have to view a good many sales people as a little crooked though admittedly not all of them. They have a hard job to do and since many earn peanuts in salary they rely on sales to be made. This can make them somewhat desperate and prone to stretching the truth or omitting the truth about things. If they land a sale based on those techniques, then I say that money is somewhat dirty and they shouldn't sleep well at night. I will always answer my customers honestly, even if that means telling them that what is being offered isn't going to work for them. I sleep well at night.

[DAG COPIERS & COMPUTERS]

Thank u zed, I'm actually relaxed & really enjoying each & every bit of the posts. BUT let us get this point clear: If I work for a company XYZ as a tech, and our sales guy make say 5 sales of copiers a day, using the " underhand techniques" u described above and I happened to be around when the sales took place. Suppose also that 3 months or so later I was sent to to make a PM on these copiers or say repair, and did it successfully. Should I ,that night fail to sleep because I BECAME INVOLVED ( albeit indirectly) in that deal- (copier sales ) which was sold "dishonestly " to a customer? Should my conscious continue to disturb me about that deal? Most likely not! Otherwise, techs would have no jobs.

[mrwho]

I have failed to understand what both lagonda & mrwho mean ! I suppose u don't imply that money earned from sales of equipment/copiers is "dirty" money earned dishonestly?

Not at all. I was meaning to say that just because sales earns more money than tech support it doesn't mean that it is better.

Besides, more and more sales are disputed to the cent, and so the profitability margins are coming down when selling a machine, so that difference is not so great and it tends to narrow even more.

And what would stop a "sales & marketing person" from sleeping soundly in his bed at night after executing his normal duty?

To sell something, you must tell about the product's qualities and not say a thing about its shortcomings. Although that's not lying, to me it is enough to keep me unconfortable.

As for THEISM & ATHEISM, mrwho I advice that you start another thread on it!

Heck, you're the one who brought "God" into this thread, not me!

[Rob Sandberg]

A tech in sales training is that like mixing matter and anti-matter.

In thirty yrs in servicing printers and a few computers I have seen all types of sales man and women.
The good ones always asked the techs for their opinons. These guys had more repeat business.
The worst one was selling used cars last time I saw him.

Rob s

[Hemlock]

There is also more money in drug dealing than in pursuing an honest living - it doesn't mean it is better.

Selling drugs is dishonest?

All in all, I'm with DAG on this one. Take the opportunity and run with it. You may make bank without coming home looking like Pigpen every day and even more doors will be opened to better opportunities.

As for the lying salesmen angle - how many of us, because of workload or parts availability, have cruised in and reset a PM counter while doing minimal (if any) work? Knocked off a little early because the next call up was too far to drive at the end of the day? Not charged a billable part in order to get out the door easier?

We all fudge things, salesmen just make money at it.

[mrwho]

As for the lying salesmen angle - how many of us, because of workload or parts availability, have cruised in and reset a PM counter while doing minimal (if any) work? Knocked off a little early because the next call up was too far to drive at the end of the day? Not charged a billable part in order to get out the door easier?

Even if you add up all that it still doesn't compare to sell something worth 1000's of $/€ to someone while telling it never breaks and it can do anything the customer wants.

[Jimbo1]

My brother, count yourself among the luckiest people in the world! The ticket you were given to the sales training is nothing other than a ticket to RICHNESS & WEALTH, as well as your PATH TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM!

Uh....don't look now but I think we have been invaded.

[Lagonda]

... a ticket to RICHNESS & WEALTH, as well as your PATH TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM!

.

I think we have a bit of cultural difference here, what we are trying to say is that there is more to life then money.

[DAG COPIERS & COMPUTERS]

Thank you Hemlock for hitting the nail on the head! Need I say more? Surely 'two wrongs do not make a right'. The technician who merely quickly RESETS a counter during a PM and quickly dashes out leaving the real work undone because of work pressure, is as guilty as the dishonest salesman! His guilty conscience should also stop him from having a peaceful rest at night.
IT is also very true that there's more to life than money, but I highly doubt if one can live a successful and happy life without money, I need to be educated on this one. Cultural differences is a fact of life, an act of creation to 'spice' up life, a unity in diversity which we do appreciate, but the basic tenets of life remains the same everywhere.
As for having introduced " GOD " in the thread, some of us cannot live without HIM, I live on prayers, daily! But of course I do respect other people's belief or no belief, in conformity with he principle of peaceful coexistence in diversity.

[mrwho]

The technician who merely quickly RESETS a counter during a PM and quickly dashes out leaving the real work undone because of work pressure, is as guilty as the dishonest salesman! His guilty conscience should also stop him from having a peaceful rest at night.

If that were the case, all criminals would get the electric chair, murderers and pickpocketers, rapists and the people who park their cars illegally.

But the fact is not everyone is tailored to be a salesperson and not everyone is tailored to be a tech - and the two mix as well as oil and water! A sincere tech is a lousy salesman.

With that said, I'm lucky that in the company where I work now, all salespeople are - so far - not guilty of anything I mentioned before (except for the "you said what?" post of mine). But the company where I worked before more than once I got to situations like "but the salesman told me the machine would do that" and others like that.

IT is also very true that there's more to life than money, but I highly doubt if one can live a successful and happy life without money, I need to be educated on this one.

Hell, I love money! And I surely wish I could earn more than I do. But if by earning more money I must kill my head and do stuff I dislike a lot, let me be. And being a salesperson isn't really my style.

As for having introduced " GOD " in the thread, some of us cannot live without HIM, I live on prayers, daily! But of course I do respect other people's belief or no belief, in conformity with he principle of peaceful coexistence in diversity.

In that I agree with you. When I mentioned atheism I was stating my beliefs like you did when you talked about God - I wasn't attacking you or anyone, just making a statement.

Cheers!

[DAG COPIERS & COMPUTERS]

Thanks mrwho, you always have a sentence or two in your posts to make me laugh my 'silly' head off! Like this one " Hell, I love money....".
Having said that, let us agree to disagree on this one: "....and the two mix as well as oil and water. A sincere tech is a lousy salesman". This I believe is totally untrue and unfortunate statement. Many techs are actually Multi-talented, possessing both technical and superior sales skills, although many prefer to remain in their tech work or are not given the opportunity to exercise their sales skills.
IT is very much easier for an experienced tech, who is also 'blessed' with both written and verbal communications skills, to sell machines than an 'ordinary' sales person. The reason is simple. An experienced tech knows the machine " in & out" as opposed to the 'mere' salesman.
I worked for a CANON dealership in my country for 15 years ( They, having "poached" me from NASHUATEC-Gestetner/mita), and I remember how, during the" peak sales" seasons, my boss would recall from the field for days to come and be part of the sales team. My experience is that most customers prefer to buy machines through a tech than ordinary sales peolple, they ussually have a feeling & assurance that since the techs know more about the functions & technical operations of the machines, they are more truthful than the ordinary salesman. I accumulated so much experience in sales that when I eventually decided to move out on my own, I had all the bravery & confidence.
It is this RARE COMBINATION OF TALENTS that " fixthecopier's" employer has identified in him and wants to put it into practical use for the benefits of all involved.

[kingarthur]

[QUOTE. Thank your GOD for that luck.[/QUOTE]

This reminds me of the Late Dave Allen, who always finished his shows with the words " may YOUR god go with you "

[fixthecopier]

mrwho, I would disagree that a good tech is a bad salesman. I would have to say that my most loyal customers are loyal and started buying from me because they thought I was a good tech. I have had a few break rules so they could buy from me. I was not joking when I said that I tell the customer that as a tech I will not sell them junk. I sold a $600 fax one time and a month later they called me. It was making a popping noise and jamming. I did not try to fix it, I just looked at the customer and said "How do you want your refund, cash or trade." I did not call the shop to ask if I could, I just did it and kept a customer for the business. I drum up more paid service calls than any other tech, by not being shy. If I walk by a room and see people struggling with a printer, I will walk in and hand them my card and, tell them estimates are free and call me on my cell any time.
This past summer I bought a new heat pump for my home. { a heating and air conditioner system }. I got a lot of estimates. I bought from the tech who was starting his own business, the other guys were their companies salespeople. The tech could tell me why his system was just as good as the other guys but cheaper. Also, if it breaks, he will be the one to show up to fix it!

[prntrfxr]

Your journey into sales, ftc, could be the best thing. After all, the sales people in your office would have to watch you sell the correct equipment for what the customer needs, there would be no lies, and that would lead to repeat sales due to customer loyalty. You would "show 'em how it's done". I have seen many successful companies hire techs only to sell and repair their product. Who knows more about the product than we do?

[DAG COPIERS & COMPUTERS]

Thank you prntrfxr, you couldn't be anymore than right. While the tech is the one doing the sales of the equipment in the shop, the sales people merely stand speechless while admiring the smooth flow of 'sales' words flowing out of the tech's mouth. What a prestige!
As for kingaurthur, I confess my ignorance of knowledge about the late Dave Allen. He has already answered the inevitable call to 'the life in eternity' ahead of us, when our time comes we shall follow suit & meet him there, no living thing can resist that call. That doesn't erase the truthfulness of the existence of the SUPREME SPIRIT. May his soul rest in peace.