Crap Basic - Good Commission, Would You Do It?

Crap Basic - Good Commission, Would You Do It?

Author
Discussion

gsfrontera

Original Poster:

516 posts

215 months

Tuesday 17th June 2008
quotequote all
Been offered a sales job which has a really low basic, but if I sell a reasonable amount, the commission would be quite good. In my last sales role I did quite well in sales volume so have no reservations regarding my ability. Would just like to know what other people thought?

Toobin

1,222 posts

249 months

Wednesday 18th June 2008
quotequote all
hmm...can you live on the base? how soon before you start bringing in the commission..realistically? if it were such a certainty then why don't they boost the base?

Jakestar

436 posts

206 months

Wednesday 18th June 2008
quotequote all
Personally if I were confident in my ability I would go for it. Im assuming the rewards will be greater if you do well, since you are taking a risk with a low basic?

I guess it also depends on your situation, do you have ties/responsibilities etc? The reason i say I would go for it, is becasue I dont have a familly or a mortgage etc etc so would be willing to take that risk.. if you cannot afford the risk then maybe it wouldn't be worth it.

Just make sure you know exactly how its broken down and the realstic OTE.

Edited by Jakestar on Wednesday 18th June 21:43

Dan 80

119 posts

218 months

Wednesday 18th June 2008
quotequote all
Out of interest, what industry is this in? I work in finance and this is quite common - low basic, medium OTE but uncapped earnings.

Silent1

19,761 posts

250 months

Thursday 19th June 2008
quotequote all
Sounds like car sales £10k basic + commission

pgilc1

37,691 posts

212 months

Thursday 19th June 2008
quotequote all
Silent1 said:
Sounds like car sales £10k basic + commission
That would be ok. Photocopiers or something like that and it woul worry me!

bint

4,664 posts

239 months

Thursday 19th June 2008
quotequote all
Silent1 said:
Sounds like car sales £10k basic + commission
Which I turned down in a local Toyota garage as I realised that to get to the equivalent of the job I was leaving would take approx 6+ months due to the experienced sales guys muscling in and time taken to gain confidence.

mylesmcd

2,561 posts

234 months

Thursday 19th June 2008
quotequote all
in sales jobs you need two things;

a product that sells

be paid well paid for selling it

my advice is given current economic climate to go for larger basic, as big orders are harder to come by, and wait till things pick up, and experience is gained, before going into low basic jobs.

okgo

40,464 posts

213 months

Friday 20th June 2008
quotequote all
Silent1 said:
Sounds like car sales £10k basic + commission
I say do it if you are confident.

I have just gone for the above pretty much, and I have set myself a bit of a challenge as on basic I would just pay the rent hehe

Rock on smile

KimmyM

177 posts

207 months

Saturday 21st June 2008
quotequote all
Personally wouldn't do it. I'm on a little more than that and basic and I just cover living costs without commission.

Just remember you will have quiet months and they'll be the times when you need it most

Road Pest

3,123 posts

213 months

Saturday 21st June 2008
quotequote all
How low is the basic, what industry, etc, etc? Working in finance I've had a low basic and large bonuses from front line sales through management but the industry is taking a big hit at the moment, which I believe is trickling over into other areas of business. Just make sure the bonuses expected are based on the current climate and not one from 6-12 months ago.

gsfrontera

Original Poster:

516 posts

215 months

Saturday 21st June 2008
quotequote all
Road Pest said:
How low is the basic, what industry, etc, etc? Working in finance I've had a low basic and large bonuses from front line sales through management but the industry is taking a big hit at the moment, which I believe is trickling over into other areas of business. Just make sure the bonuses expected are based on the current climate and not one from 6-12 months ago.
Basic is 12.5k, its working for an internet marketing company selling advertising solutions to businesses. Bonus could be quite good as long as I can sell between 10 - 15 deals per week. Even the poor sales staff are getting near 10.

$nake eye$

411 posts

217 months

Saturday 21st June 2008
quotequote all
Alex on the Apprentice was taking 100% commision!

okgo

40,464 posts

213 months

Saturday 21st June 2008
quotequote all
[quote=$nake eye$]Alex on the Apprentice was taking 100% commision!
[/quote]

Wow what a hero.

You will find that lots of managers of sales teams are on the same thing.

He was a manager not a drone

Road Pest

3,123 posts

213 months

Saturday 21st June 2008
quotequote all
gsfrontera said:
Road Pest said:
How low is the basic, what industry, etc, etc? Working in finance I've had a low basic and large bonuses from front line sales through management but the industry is taking a big hit at the moment, which I believe is trickling over into other areas of business. Just make sure the bonuses expected are based on the current climate and not one from 6-12 months ago.
Basic is 12.5k, its working for an internet marketing company selling advertising solutions to businesses. Bonus could be quite good as long as I can sell between 10 - 15 deals per week. Even the poor sales staff are getting near 10.
Basic sounds like market rate where I am. If you're confident at selling and the bonuses are at least doubling the basic then it doesn't sound like a bad starting point. Make sure they have a good training plan to start you off, then continued support to help you through those difficult months that are inevitable in front line sales.

curtisl

1,405 posts

221 months

Monday 23rd June 2008
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In my opinion you can be as confident as you want, if something happens and no one wants to buy your product, can you afford to live on your basic? If you have no/minimal out goings then take the risk but if you have kids or a house then it maybe risky.

But in the wise words of Del 'e who dares, wins.

ol

2,386 posts

223 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
I was on 100% commission for the last year and a half.

It's not as bad as people think, as the commission is usually quite high, which motivated me to keep selling. I would much rather be paid on my performance than sitting being an un-noticed drone in an office getting paid a set salary.

The thought that you might not get paid for the weeks work if you don't do well acts as a good motivator, and if the commission is uncapped (which it should be) then if you are good at selling, focussed on the job and work hard you can earn some really goood money.

The only reason i didn't stay in the job was because i set up my own company doing the same thing.

okgo

40,464 posts

213 months

Thursday 3rd July 2008
quotequote all
ol said:
I was on 100% commission for the last year and a half.

It's not as bad as people think, as the commission is usually quite high, which motivated me to keep selling. I would much rather be paid on my performance than sitting being an un-noticed drone in an office getting paid a set salary.

The thought that you might not get paid for the weeks work if you don't do well acts as a good motivator, and if the commission is uncapped (which it should be) then if you are good at selling, focussed on the job and work hard you can earn some really goood money.

The only reason i didn't stay in the job was because i set up my own company doing the same thing.
Which is?

Silent1

19,761 posts

250 months

Friday 4th July 2008
quotequote all
In the current economic climate i wouldn't be in a comission based role unless the basic covered my living costs.

ol

2,386 posts

223 months

Friday 4th July 2008
quotequote all
okgo said:
ol said:
I was on 100% commission for the last year and a half.

It's not as bad as people think, as the commission is usually quite high, which motivated me to keep selling. I would much rather be paid on my performance than sitting being an un-noticed drone in an office getting paid a set salary.

The thought that you might not get paid for the weeks work if you don't do well acts as a good motivator, and if the commission is uncapped (which it should be) then if you are good at selling, focussed on the job and work hard you can earn some really goood money.

The only reason i didn't stay in the job was because i set up my own company doing the same thing.
Which is?
Publishing and advertising