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Post by Augustus on Sept 8, 2006 17:11:49 GMT 1
'....car boot sales....' . don't give them ideas Mike !  P. |
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Post by RED on Sept 8, 2006 17:18:07 GMT 1
. Another email arrived today from FSM asking us to ring him at customers house if its a quote so he can give you a lower price to offer them.This is how Kirby hoovers and some double glazing salesman work. "I will just ring my boss to see if i can get you a better price". They will have us cold calling next. If word gets out we do this even just for a few weeks people arent going to accept our first/normal prices, offers or not. Oh, dear....just when we were beginning to see some refreshing ideas coming from the newer FSM's ! So my prophecy a few days ago is coming true - they are no longer customers, they are simply punters. My FSM has not suggested anything of this sort and I hope he doesn't, because my reaction would end what is starting out as a good working relationship. This is simply a form of pressure selling, which may win the ocassional sale but makes the salesman look an idiot, undermines our credibility, and does not win long term customers. If this is the new game in town, I'm not playing. What's next ? Should I book a pitch down the local market to sell blinds off a barrow ? Or boot sales....now there's an idea ! ......Oh dear..............Mike I can think of a few stronger words than Oh dear. Go on, be a devil....... ;D. How about Norfolk and Chance for a start. Red |
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Post by grumperbear on Sept 8, 2006 18:48:39 GMT 1
lf l had to phone my fsm from a customers house l would go through to his voicemail, having then left a message for him to call me asap.
Then l would wait and wait.....................and if l was really lucky, he would phone me back 2 weeks later. And that would stuff his forced availability.
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Post by hereticus on Sept 8, 2006 19:48:11 GMT 1
Looking tonight at my diary for next week I have a total of four leads !
The following week (the week we are all supposed to be going sales crazy) I have two booked ! And why are they booked for then anyway, when I have infinite earlier availability ? Could be customers on holiday but guess whose lead-to-diary average will be distorted by making appointments so far in advance.
So next week I will be able to get lots of fits done early, bringing them forward from the following week which we have been asked to clear because we are going to get bucket loads of leads - I'm not holding my breath on that one (and how am I going to knock Hampshire off their pedestal at this rate) ?
Come on, Hillarys - I'm playing the game so come up with the goods. If my diary is clear of fits I have availabilty for 15 appointments per day, five days per week - any bets on what I end up with during 'super sales' week ?
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Post by JoY on Sept 8, 2006 20:25:06 GMT 1
Looking tonight at my diary for next week I have a total of four leads ! The following week (the week we are all supposed to be going sales crazy) I have two booked ! And why are they booked for then anyway, when I have infinite earlier availability ? Could be customers on holiday but guess whose lead-to-diary average will be distorted by making appointments so far in advance. So next week I will be able to get lots of fits done early, bringing them forward from the following week which we have been asked to clear because we are going to get bucket loads of leads - I'm not holding my breath on that one (and how am I going to knock Hampshire off their pedestal at this rate) ? Come on, Hillarys - I'm playing the game so come up with the goods. If my diary is clear of fits I have availabilty for 15 appointments per day, five days per week - any bets on what I end up with during 'super sales' week ? Lucky you! I have 2 in the whole of my diary, one of them is a re-book for a customer who couldn't be bothered to wait in for me today! What is going on?  |
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Post by Blind Scout on Sept 8, 2006 21:06:01 GMT 1
"Lucky you! I have 2 in the whole of my diary, one of them is a re-book for a customer who couldn't be bothered to wait in for me today! What is going on? "
Well, so far I don't even have 1.
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Post by desmorse on Sept 8, 2006 23:04:07 GMT 1
...and how am I going to knock Hampshire off their pedestal at this rate ...... Thanks for the acknowledgment of our relative positions, Mike ;D And how's the IOW now you've declared independence, Mark? What's you're discount level for this week? Mines been very good All joking apart, has it ever been explained to you why Hampshire, Berkshire & Oxfordshire have been combined under a single FSM? I was surprised the reason, having assumed it was just geographical. |
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Post by desmorse on Sept 8, 2006 23:16:14 GMT 1
Having got over the initial knee-jerk reaction of a "sales only week", is it really that big an issue? I've been booking 3-4 weeks for fits for ages without a problem. Yes, commission will be delayed a week, but are any of us really going to suffer that much?
Is the real problem ......
1) a sales only week
2) the usual, last minute panic way it was dropped on us
3) it's from Hillarys, therefore it must be a load of rubbish, attitude
4) I work my way and I'm not going to change
I suspect it's a combination of 2, 3+4. If I'd been asked soon enough, I would have tried it. Unfortunately, we weren't and I already have fits booked which I won't change because, as the email from Advisor Feedback stated, "......what really matters to the customer is being given a fit date that's met."
A sales only week is far less of an issue to me than extra leads being forced in where time really isn't available.
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blindsfitter
Junior Member
"I do this because its a service to mankind-not because I like doing it"--Al. Pierpoint , hangman.
Posts: 75
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Post by blindsfitter on Sept 9, 2006 10:06:32 GMT 1
This Sales week lark!!!..Let me see now
I have 2 leads in for next week one Tuesday am " be punctual 09.15am, and one Friday early pm"come between 1 and 2pm..fair enough, but skinny...
The following week let me see, 3 leads on Monday evening, one is an awning...come after 7.30pm---it will be nearly dark you fools!! and one on the Saturday am ( this day fortnight!!) for venetians in early slot.
As Hereticus stated, what about my lead time to diary???14 days for that one alone.......what to do...
Better take on another agent in the area then that will cure that one...
I have out lasted the last 6 "new"agents on this patch and lost money and clients because of them---
My next weeks delivery is larger than expected, having blinds on it booked for fitting in the big push sales week!!..strange....
I will try to get them in, and I await with glee the huge 60 plus leads the following week
Watch this space....not!!
Blindsfitter
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Post by thelloydgang on Sept 9, 2006 10:27:35 GMT 1
BVM posted
"All joking apart, has it ever been explained to you why Hampshire, Berkshire & Oxfordshire have been combined under a single FSM? I was surprised the reason, having assumed it was just geographical"
Come on then Des........tell us the reason then.........don't keep us in suspense!
Karen ;D
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Post by hereticus on Sept 9, 2006 11:27:30 GMT 1
BVM posted "All joking apart, has it ever been explained to you why Hampshire, Berkshire & Oxfordshire have been combined under a single FSM? I was surprised the reason, having assumed it was just geographical" Come on then Des........tell us the reason then.........don't keep us in suspense! Karen ;D Karen...I've PM'd Des with the same question but guess he hasn't got out of bed and logged on yet ! I predict he will reply to say its so that two failing counties can learn from Hampshire's best practice ! |
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Post by russell on Sept 9, 2006 15:01:39 GMT 1
...and how am I going to knock Hampshire off their pedestal at this rate ...... Thanks for the acknowledgment of our relative positions, Mike ;D And how's the IOW now you've declared independence, Mark? What's you're discount level for this week? Mines been very good All joking apart, has it ever been explained to you why Hampshire, Berkshire & Oxfordshire have been combined under a single FSM? I was surprised the reason, having assumed it was just geographical. The independent state of the IOW in rays words has the best av order value on the company 520plus and I'm the best converter 92.7%(first time)quote BUT my discounts are a tad high ;)i need to make a living as I'm getting very few leads so each ones precious to me but I'm looking at my discounts!. So since Independence was declared great PS HOWS YOUR AV ORDER VALUE DES  To repeat myself do you all really think you're going to get loads of leads WC 18th or do you not realize its almost Hillary's year end and theres a great scrabble for turnover !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Its no big deal bring fits forward if you can drivers wont get laid off we wont all go broke its just business BUT......................................................What happened to no spin from Hillary's if theyed have told us the real reason instead of telling us we will be awash with leads (as if) I'm sure most of us with business heads would be keen to help |
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Post by desmorse on Sept 9, 2006 17:16:27 GMT 1
Yes, I'm highly sceptical that Hillarys could fill a week with leads by intention, but I'd have given it a try had I been given enough notice.
I had a week off a couple of months ago and managed to clear most of my fits, so came back to almost a "sales only week" and took over £10k of orders in a week.
AS for your AOVs Mark, are you including VAT? If so, mine for the last 5 months have been £542/£575/£551/£480/£471. Unfortunately a downward trend but averaging £524, so not dissimilar then ;D
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Post by desmorse on Sept 9, 2006 17:27:09 GMT 1
BVM posted "All joking apart, has it ever been explained to you why Hampshire, Berkshire & Oxfordshire have been combined under a single FSM? I was surprised the reason, having assumed it was just geographical" Come on then Des........tell us the reason then.........don't keep us in suspense! Karen ;D Mike was pretty much right - he obviously knows the limitations of his area ;D Apparently Hampshire is unlike any other county as far as Hillarys are concerned. Now that's not me boasting (much), just ask any FSM. Tony Boyd, who'd been with the company a very long time, found it very difficult to come to terms with Hampshire. He nearly went apoplectic when he found we regularly up-price some fabrics. When we had Avensis on 3/£219, most of us sold it at £300-£350. Hampshire (incl IOW) is known in Hillarys as a well run, self-motivated profitable area, so any FSM getting it, especially one wanting to prove himself, has to have a couple of struggling areas as well as a challenge. |
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Post by RED on Sept 9, 2006 18:11:10 GMT 1
BVM posted "All joking apart, has it ever been explained to you why Hampshire, Berkshire & Oxfordshire have been combined under a single FSM? I was surprised the reason, having assumed it was just geographical" Come on then Des........tell us the reason then.........don't keep us in suspense! Karen ;D Mike was pretty much right - he obviously knows the limitations of his area ;D Apparently Hampshire is unlike any other county as far as Hillarys are concerned. Now that's not me boasting (much), just ask any FSM. Tony Boyd, who'd been with the company a very long time, found it very difficult to come to terms with Hampshire. He nearly went apoplectic when he found we regularly up-price some fabrics. When we had Avensis on 3/£219, most of us sold it at £300-£350. Hampshire (incl IOW) is known in Hillarys as a well run, self-motivated profitable area, so any FSM getting it, especially one wanting to prove himself, has to have a couple of struggling areas as well as a challenge. BVM How do you price up now with SAM. I used to do the same especially on 35 and 50 mm Venetians and the multi offers but since SAM you can not do this. I know the obvious way is by paper but that seems to be against the whole reason for having SAM, so how do you do it. Also share your secrets with the rest of us as to how you get such a good conversion rate. Red |
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