Salespeople chasing quotes - countertproductive
Discussion
What is it with some salespeople.
I ask for a quote for materials and I think a call checking if I've got the quote and asking if it meets my needs is fine. For a lot of our jobs, it can take months for the final spec to be arrived at and I explain this to them when they ring.
Why then do they insist on ringing and checking in, sometimes a couple of times a week even, to see how their offer looks.
There's even been occasions when I've asked - is there anything they can do on price when their price has been fine and they come back with a lower offer which I wouldn't have bothered asking for had they not contacted me.
I'm finding I'm more reluctant to even enquire from those firms who I know are going to be following up more than once or twice.
Sometimes, it seems it would be easier to buy stuff without salespeople involved at all.
I ask for a quote for materials and I think a call checking if I've got the quote and asking if it meets my needs is fine. For a lot of our jobs, it can take months for the final spec to be arrived at and I explain this to them when they ring.
Why then do they insist on ringing and checking in, sometimes a couple of times a week even, to see how their offer looks.
There's even been occasions when I've asked - is there anything they can do on price when their price has been fine and they come back with a lower offer which I wouldn't have bothered asking for had they not contacted me.
I'm finding I'm more reluctant to even enquire from those firms who I know are going to be following up more than once or twice.
Sometimes, it seems it would be easier to buy stuff without salespeople involved at all.
Pistom said:
What is it with some salespeople.
I ask for a quote for materials and I think a call checking if I've got the quote and asking if it meets my needs is fine. For a lot of our jobs, it can take months for the final spec to be arrived at and I explain this to them when they ring.
Why then do they insist on ringing and checking in, sometimes a couple of times a week even, to see how their offer looks.
There's even been occasions when I've asked - is there anything they can do on price when their price has been fine and they come back with a lower offer which I wouldn't have bothered asking for had they not contacted me.
I'm finding I'm more reluctant to even enquire from those firms who I know are going to be following up more than once or twice.
Sometimes, it seems it would be easier to buy stuff without salespeople involved at all.
It may be part of their KPI or rules in their CRM system. Spreadsheet based manager looks to see (or gets automated report) as to when a quote was last chased by the salesperson.I ask for a quote for materials and I think a call checking if I've got the quote and asking if it meets my needs is fine. For a lot of our jobs, it can take months for the final spec to be arrived at and I explain this to them when they ring.
Why then do they insist on ringing and checking in, sometimes a couple of times a week even, to see how their offer looks.
There's even been occasions when I've asked - is there anything they can do on price when their price has been fine and they come back with a lower offer which I wouldn't have bothered asking for had they not contacted me.
I'm finding I'm more reluctant to even enquire from those firms who I know are going to be following up more than once or twice.
Sometimes, it seems it would be easier to buy stuff without salespeople involved at all.
Sales people don't make the rules, it'll be the business directing them to call, they'll have targets to hit in terms of number of calls, number of DMCs spoken to and call time, they work on a conversion rate so many calls = so many sales etc,,,,
Most of the time they'll be thinking I know what this guy will say but I've got to make the call as it's on my screen.
Sales people seem to be a strange behind the times anachronism with regards to telephone use. I guess their scripts and pressure tactics don’t work over email.
I joined a company that supplies trade materials around Christmas. I specifically told them not to call as the phone will not be answered, but to email if they must. I also told them I was still running down supplies from my previous supplier and would be in touch to put in an order once sufficiently low.
Needless to say they have been calling twice a week ever since and leaving messages on my voicemail that I have to spend time retrieving like it’s the 1990’s...
It annoyed me so much I decided not to use them and found a local service with a trade counter.
I joined a company that supplies trade materials around Christmas. I specifically told them not to call as the phone will not be answered, but to email if they must. I also told them I was still running down supplies from my previous supplier and would be in touch to put in an order once sufficiently low.
Needless to say they have been calling twice a week ever since and leaving messages on my voicemail that I have to spend time retrieving like it’s the 1990’s...
It annoyed me so much I decided not to use them and found a local service with a trade counter.
I don't see the problem. I've done the sales thing myself and the practice can sometime yield at least a confirmed commitment to buy, even if the actual purchase may be some weeks or months away. Knowing it's going to happen can help with planning and reporting. Sometimes a quick call is all it takes.
I often have to amass quotes as part of a tender submission, a decision on which can be as long as six months from the point of submission. I'll always explain the timeline at the point at which the quote is requested.
I often have to amass quotes as part of a tender submission, a decision on which can be as long as six months from the point of submission. I'll always explain the timeline at the point at which the quote is requested.
StevieBee said:
I don't see the problem. .....
The problem is the unnecessary communication and the feeling that I'm not being listened to. I find salespeople can be a valuable conduit but not if they're forced to follow a script of CRM instruction.Some good points here and I think I'm probably just a bit grumpy this morning with my phone ringing with pointless follow up calls.
There's a happy medium between doing nothing which means you never get any business, and being a pest.
Just blasting off quotes is unlikely to get much work. They have to be followed up.
I am surprised - having been self-employed for most of my career and my income dependent upon finding business - that many companies these days just send in a quote and leave it. I got a quote from an air-conditioning company last September - it was rushed, parts missing, and my e-mails to obtain enlightenment have gone unanswered. One wonders how they stay in business.
If I'm a buyer I like a quote to be followed up - it shows they're interested in the work and gives me a chance to say 'Can I just just swap the green bit for a blue bit' etc.
Just blasting off quotes is unlikely to get much work. They have to be followed up.
I am surprised - having been self-employed for most of my career and my income dependent upon finding business - that many companies these days just send in a quote and leave it. I got a quote from an air-conditioning company last September - it was rushed, parts missing, and my e-mails to obtain enlightenment have gone unanswered. One wonders how they stay in business.
If I'm a buyer I like a quote to be followed up - it shows they're interested in the work and gives me a chance to say 'Can I just just swap the green bit for a blue bit' etc.
I agree following up is fine but do so once to get a feel for the situation but there's often little point calling week after week. Spend the time looking for new business rather than pestering the life out of prospective customers who have all the information they need.
If I'm going to order, I'll do so without a reminder.
If I'm going to order, I'll do so without a reminder.
Gassing Station | Business | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff