The way sales is currently practiced is predatory for the most part. At its base, a salesperson is simply the bridge between the manufacturer to the buyer. A salesperson is meant to find what the buyer wants and guide them towards that. That’s what sales is fundamentally. Nothing wrong with that.
What is wrong is how sales is practiced beyond its foundation. Salespeople, especially commissioned based, use gimmicks and manipulation tactics to coerce a buyer to fall their prey.
Why do salespeople do this in first place? One reason is sociopathic behavior of certain individuals who love feeling powerful and greed. The second reason is that most salespeople are forced, pressured, and exploited to meet quotas for the firm, company or agency they represent.
I used to be a salesperson before. Whenever people came in, my approach was the be an honest salesperson. I didn’t use gimmicks nor manipulation tactics. I only guided them to what they needed, nothing more.If a customer was just looking, I let them look. If they didn’t want to buy, I let it go because that’s the respectful thing to do.
Then I got laid off. My boss didn’t think my initiative to zone the store, help other departments, and respect all people was good enough. I wasn’t making the company the money they wanted, not what they needed.
Then I was foolish take a job to sell cars (I needed a job fast because of no living wages from the last job). I was exploited to meet quotas in the manner I mentioned paragraph 2. If didn’t meet quotas, I would be out of a job.
Furthermore, commissioned based sales positions where the agency takes a percentage pressures its “independent contractors” to drive profits are unethical by nature. I eventually quit my job and stopped selling. I no longer believe in sales. I believe in respect and honesty instead.
What are your thoughts? Any experiences as a salesperson or as a buyer?