Hi folks,
PC World - a good place to shop as undoubtedly almost anyone who enters the
portals knows more than the staff employed. My most famous encounter was at
the specialist desk wherein I enquired after a hard drive caddy or drive
case. "Nah, don't make 'em anymore, no call for them." I looked on the
shelves and found a Belkin device that looked as if it would do the job (it
does - still) and I took it back to the specialist counter and asked the
same bloke if I could mount an IDE drive in it. He concurred that what was
wrote on the box was correct. I asked that as they didn't do 'em anymore -
no call for them - was there a special price? They must be aware of their
reputation? I worked for Dixons for ten years. In my time even the junior
had a full product knowledge and was actively encouraged to join clubs, go
to college or adult learning centres to learn more and more about the
subject.
It is embarrassing at times to overhear the sales patter! But go into any
multi selling almost anything. You'll find Sales Managers, Sales Advisors,
Key Account Executives (the person that knows how to write an invoice) Team
Leaders but no team or any lowly sales persons. Most of these companies are
driven by accountants who have know knowledge of the product. A famous
photographic company I was once in frequent contact with had a policy of not
employing anyone with photography as a hobby - 'we want them to sell boxes,
we don't want them to like the product.' The reps main line was always 'how
many outers do you want?' No trying to buy one item to replace the one you
sold last week. Many more boxes - don't matter what's in 'em. These people
also employ ad agencies at vast sums of money to produce these facile and
incorrect ads. The ad agencies are briefed (obviously inadequately) by Sales
Directors.
Ah Whale!
Bob Dove.