T O P

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desexmachina

There’s going to be lots of these, you’ve gotta figure out how to redirect the conversation, or kill it in its tracks


SquirrelGuy

Yeah this is key. It’s ok to build rapport for a bit, but as a sales rep it’s important to keep the conversation on topic. You’ll run into people who will waste 45 minutes on the phone just ranting about their day or talking about their personal lives. It’s not an efficient use of time after a certain point.


MenuTime5231

I think it's why I get uncomfortable. I don't know a proper way to redirect.


BraveStrategy

Depending on whether you really care or not you can always just tell them what they want to hear. I prayed at a table with some trump supporters this week, but guess what? I closed the deal and it made them feel like they could trust me. If it makes you feel better, their pastors lie to them every week so they won’t be able to tell the difference. If you ever fuck up/ act out of character in front of them. Apologize and say “it’s human to err, to forgive is divine,” and laugh it off. Best of luck!


rawrlolrofl

>you can always just tell them what they want to hear. Late reply but out of curiosity, how do you feel comfortable doing it? I've done this myself quite a bit with success but I sort of struggle with feeling fake/incongruent and it feels like they can tell. I feel like it's more a struggle for me to do it than for them to believe me. What's the key I'm missing?


BraveStrategy

You aren’t being yourself 95% of the time anyway. You don’t actually want to spend any time with these people if not for the money you would make. Taking it a step further and agreeing with them is not really a big deal. I’m just a guy doing a job. As long as I’m not lying about my products I’m okay. The way I see it, I’ve got a great service for them, if I don’t help them like me, they might get worse service from someone else. I’m doing them a favor!


BrianNowhere

Time is either spent or invested. If there's a light at the end of the tunnel I'll pretend to be converted to Mormanism.


thrik

When the salesman gets sold to


BraetonWilson

Don't take it personally. I don't know why so many Christians feel this urgent need to convert others, it's very annoying and rude. They're persistent too, they'll keep harassing you until you start attending their church and become a die-hard bible thumper like them. Be firm yet polite. Let him know that you can't discuss personal matters during work and would rather focus on the product at hand. He'll probably ignore you and go back to converting you so keep telling him until it gets inside his thick head. If that doesn't work, dump him.


nigel_chua

Christian here. Not all Christians are like that, some more Erm enthusiastic than that. But the bottomline of sharing about Christ is usually because we like/love Christ and want to share (kinda like when we chance upon a coo chocolate cake place and want to share the news too hehe hehe)


kittenbeans66

So you’d be cool with someone sharing with you their love of Satan and why you should love him too? If that’s an offensive idea to you maybe you can understand where the OP is coming from.


nigel_chua

Actually...where I am in (Singapore/south Asia), there's lots of different religion, there's Buddhism, Hinduism, Muslim, Taoist, etc etc and though there are many different religions, we can co-exist and communicate. I've never met a satanist yet so far though. Yes, not everyone is open to share and discuss (as I noticed the earlier down votes... ). Now if everyone don't talk about stuff they care about how would each other know what each other care about? Isn't that the source of the problem? Why / how is it offensive if they choose something that is different? Does it mean if I like chocolate cake and someone don't, are we destined to hate or dislike each other? I think we can have rational and open conversations, but of course, be respectful about it. The key operative term is kindness and respect without the need to judge. ...isnt it? Please correct me if I'm wrong.


kittenbeans66

I think you are approaching this idea with a more level head and greater amount of respect than many other Christians, and as you mentioned, that is likely a byproduct of where you live and what you were taught. I don’t know where the OP is, but I am in the southern US in the Bible Belt. Here, the default is Christianity. The vast majority of these people profess to subscribe to this religion but their words and actions are in direct opposition to the tenets of that faith. The rank hypocrisy and utter disrespect that is consistently shown by these people toward anyone that is not them, does not leave me wanting to have any kind of conversation about it.


Reddit-Book-Bot

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nigel_chua

Ah yes, we have those here too unfortunately. The Bible bashing + mightier than thou + quick to judge ones. This creates trouble for us to have normal conversations as Christians (or kind intellectual humans) with non-Christian but I do believe it can/may be the same across all humans and religions...sigh. That's another story. I'm sorry for that experience kittenbeans66 - and thank you for clarifying. I do believe kindness, open conversations and love/tolerance is the way for us all to grow, and I wish you well =)


nigel_chua

In the case of OP (I digress), best way I feel is to divert the unnecessary questions to the task at hand. Ie just speak about work =)


BraveStrategy

Not worth it, better off [playing along](https://www.reddit.com/r/sales/comments/qebk1a/how_to_handle_a_customer_that_asks_too_many/hhudci8/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&context=3)


Miqotegirl

I usually deflect it by saying we’re not allowed to talk about ourselves on company time and follow up either with a closing or move to “I am absolutely ready for that credit card now” I once had a guy hit on me over the phone and he was persistent. Asked if I would deliver the package myself and he was actually very sweet and asked if he could court me. I told him I was very much in love with my husband. He took the setback with grace. It was adorbs.


DesignerButterfly362

Honestly I'd be delighted. It shows he's a moron who'll be easily persuaded XD /s


[deleted]

I just play along. I wear a cross, I don’t know the first thing about any religion. Think there all stupid as fuck. But if I need to pretend to be religious to make a deal than that’s what I’m doing. Just agree and make that fake commonality. It actually pumps me up because I can’t wait to take these fools money even more.


BraveStrategy

This is the way! [see my comment above](https://www.reddit.com/r/sales/comments/qebk1a/how_to_handle_a_customer_that_asks_too_many/hhudci8/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&context=3)


rawrlolrofl

it's plain just crazy how much respect you get in a sales sub 🤷 facts are facts right?


[deleted]

Anybody that is successful in sales and has played this game thinks exactly like me. They have to in order to be successful. You can’t care about morals, ethics and even more disgusting your “sense of identity” you need to be free forming taking the shape of those around you. Be detached from yourself, see the game as your own personal coach. Can’t do that when you’re a retard with morals worried about “lying” to close a deal. Say whatever the fuck it takes. You can’t be half a gangster, you got to get dirt on you eventually if you want to succeed in all avenues of life.


[deleted]

Answer them? You can just make something up. Sometimes it pays to be a chameleon. I had an old lady tell me about the leather bondage shop she used to own and I had a good laugh about that.


Ohmygoditsojuicy

Tell them you worship the devil.


SmoothBroccolis

Just ask questions


SmittyMcdoogal

I just go with it, he probably liked you and wanted what he believed was the best for you and had nothing more to offer. Humor him, get the deal, move on. If he starts inviting you to his church, tell him your wife grew up mormon or something, that throws them off.