Some sales people need an attitude adjustment. Beware of Slick Willy!

Unfortunately there are “Slick Willies” in this world. But not all sales people are “Slick Willies.”

Some sales people need an attitude adjustment. Slick Willies abound!

I was shopping for a new cell phone service. I do not like the forced contracts that most cell phone carriers impose on customers. They rope you in with the new phones but you must agree to a contract with a hefty fine if you change your service. Service? They call THAT service?

I went online and looked at several of the major companies who offer no contracts. I did my research on each company and what they had to offer. Service prices, prices on phones, etc. I did my comparison shopping. I did not want a company with a contract, however, if you don’t get a contract, you have to pay full retail for the phone. I could have ordered my phone and gotten my service online but instead I chose to go to several of the local stores in my area and see what they offered.

The first store I visited had a young guy working at the counter and when I walked in he had an arrogant attitude. As if I were taking up his precious time and he casually pointed over to the phones on the wall and blurted out prices and what phones came with it. When I looked at the phones they were way more expensive than the ones I had seen online. I told him that I had seen the phone offered online for a lot less that what his company was offering. He told me that the service that I saw online was no longer available with that company and that I had to buy one of those phones and I would get one month free of the “higher” service price. He acted like he was bored and didn’t want to spend any time waiting on me if I wasn’t going to buy one of the more expensive brands. It was bad enough that I was looking for an affordable priced phone. He just wanted to get rid of me. Wow, now I'll remember that guy everytime I pass by that store.

Well stick a fork in me, I'm done. LOL!

I felt lower than a toad stool. Like I was nothing and the only way to redeem my self was to BUY, buy, buy... the more expensive phone. Then maybe this guy would stop being such an a**. Thankfully, I got myself out of that store promptly. That’s what I call intimidation. Feeling judged. So what if I’m trying to save money and we ARE on a budget. And no, I don’t have an IPhone. So what? Actually, I would love an expensive toy to play with and surf the net with. Man that would be handy. I realize that for some folks this is a priority or needed for their business. As a loan officer, I don't need all of that right now. I refuse to be pushed into something I don't need. My ego can do without the fancy phone for now. I,m not the only person concerned about being more frugle with our economy in the state it is in. Sorry, Mr. Slick! I ain't buying what you're selling.

There is still hope! Great sales people DO exist!

I didn’t let the first sales guy's rudeness discourage me and I went yet to another store. This time when I walked in I told the new sales guy (his name is Allen) exactly what I needed and what I wanted to pay. He walked right over to the phone he thought would work for me, showed it to me and explained why it would be the best fit for my needs. He was not judgmental or rude and he was not treating me like I was wasting his time. He really understood what my needs were and listened with an open heart. I didn’t feel ashamed because I wasn’t buying a fancy phone with all the bells and whistles. Which is what the guy at the first store I went to made me feel like. I remembered this guy's name and was so greatful for his help.

Also, there were the same phones that I saw at the first store that the sales guy (now referred to as Slick Willy) was pushing on me with the higher prices and telling me that the service I had seen online didn’t exist. Guess what? Slick Willy was lying. The second store had them with the lower price and the service I had been looking at WAS available.

Moral of the story. Don’t feel ashamed if you have to live on a budget. Most people do. Shop around for services and if you run into a “Slick Willy” who makes you feel bad, move on. Keep looking. You will find a decent sales person, like Allen, who will listen to your needs and help you find a suitable product for your individual situation.

Attitude shows and the customer feels it. A good sales person accommodates the needs of the customer. It isn't all about what you can get but what you can give that brings back referrals. Many people now days are learning to live within their means and there is absolutely nothing shameful about being careful how you spend your hard earned money.

Just keep on saying no!

Another recent occurance is a company who keeps calling me because I purchased a domain name. They want to sell me a service that I don't want or need. I get a canned speech where the same sales guy (I recognize him but he has called too many people to realize he has called me before) inserts my name all over the place which is annoying in itself and then proceeds to ask me if I intend on being found on the internet or if I am not interested in being found. Yeah, insult me and then I'm going to want to buy from you.

Ah, the Slick Willies are out there! Beware!

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