"You're a great salesperson!"

8 replies
A prospective buyer pays you that compliment: "You're a great salesperson!"

You might be flattered. You might thank them for the compliment. You might tell them if it helps them get what they want, it's all good. Yet the thing is...

...they should be focusing on the item or service you're selling them and their thoughts should be on how that's going to help them or work for them or add something of value to their lives. Or on if they want to buy it. Or how payment will be made. Or what happens if they make a poor decision and so many other purchase related thoughts --- but instead what these typical, average, every day customers have on their mind is noticing how they're being sold.

Would you say that's a good thing or a bad thing?
#youre a great salesperson
Avatar of Unregistered
  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    If they say that after they commit to a purchase....no problem.



    Good timing - I read an article a few days ago going on about how 'people should not realize you are 'selling' to them'... sounded like over-thinking to me.


    If I have something to sell and someone is considering buying, they aren't stupid. They know I'm selling to them...trick is to do it in a way that makes them feel special.
    Signature
    Saving one dog will not change the world - but the world changes forever for that one dog
    ***
    Sometimes I just want someone to hug me and say...
    "It's going to be OK - here's a horse and two million dollars."
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11513086].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author palmtreelife
      Good timing - I read an article a few days ago going on about how 'people should not realize you are 'selling' to them'... sounded like over-thinking to me.
      Definitely sounds like over-thinking. How can people not realize when they are being sold? If you walk into ANY store for anything at all and someone "helps" you, you're being sold in my opinion.

      A basic shelf stocker can show me where something is in the store. You would say he helped the business make a sale. Therefore, I was sold. It doesn't have to be the typical overcoming objections, careful listening, focus on value etc etc. It can be as simple as "yes, the Godiva chocolate is here, but we have Lindt chocolate on sale now for 20% off"

      In that example, no one is going to feel they were sold. However, if the shelf stocker was wearing a Lindt uniform, I would definitely feel like I was sold, but I wouldn't care because I got a discount on good chocolate...and felt special as you said!
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11513131].message }}
  • "You're a great salesperson."


    "So ... is it my HAIR or my SMILE or jus' SUMTHIN' 'BOUT ME IS REAL PLAIN ADORABLE?"


    "Hey, you convinced me, is all. I had serious concerns about this product ... and for sure I checked in with the competition ... but your expertise delivered the answers I needed. I'm happy to work along with you on the basis of the options we discussed."


    "So what about my t*ts? Don't they count for nuthin' here? Am I invisible or whaaat?"


    "Sorry ... ?"


    "Yeah, I know they ain't exactly squidos, flubbly-bubblin' about your FACE with the kinda enthoosiasm you'd expect from starved rats let loose on a deflated frickin' BASKETBALL, but FFS I showed in a YELLOW BRA jus' for YOU ... even tho it is naaaht my favorite colour."


    "Sorry ... ?"


    "Aw c'mon, I am bendin' ovah to go the extra mile for you here. You want I wear a frickin' SACK over my head so we can max out on trooly personal praise?


    "Sorry ... ?"


    "Hey, yeah, I will TIE IT OVAH MY HEAD MYSELF if'n it makesya FEEL EMPOWAHHD."


    "Sorry ...?"


    "This a Wednesday or whaaat ...?"
    Signature

    Lightin' fuses is for blowin' stuff togethah.

    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11513104].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Originally Posted by misterme View Post

    A prospective buyer pays you that compliment: "You're a great salesperson!"

    You might be flattered. You might thank them for the compliment. You might tell them if it helps them get what they want, it's all good. Yet the thing is...

    ...they should be focusing on the item or service you're selling them and their thoughts should be on how that's going to help them or work for them or add something of value to their lives. Or on if they want to buy it. Or how payment will be made. Or what happens if they make a poor decision and so many other purchase related thoughts --- but instead what these typical, average, every day customers have on their mind is noticing how they're being sold.

    Would you say that's a good thing or a bad thing?
    In my experience, if you get that "compliment' before they have bought..it means that they are separating themselves from the sale.


    they are subconsciously resisting buying, and so they attribute their desire to buy to a technique you are using. I always say something like "No, I'm not that talented. I'm just glad we found the right fit for you today".

    The credit can never be accepted, always given to the offer or to their good buying sense.

    You already know all that.
    It's like when an actor is told "You're a great actor". It's meant as a compliment, but the acting should never be noticed..it should be believed.

    Yes, I'm a genius...and a very stable genius at that.
    Signature
    One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr

    What if they're not stars? What if they are holes poked in the top of a container so we can breath?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11513112].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author tryinhere
      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      In my experience, if you get that "compliment' before they have bought..it means that they are separating themselves from the sale.
      Agree with that, /\

      I mostly have that afterwards where it is followed by words like, I was not even going to let who ever was at my door inside my house, and your here now and we have bought or signed up to xyz, or instore, I was only walking past to buy bread and look I have now spent 10K, or, I just asked you out for a quote and now I have signed up for xyz, the list goes on, these things do not happen daily, but yes they are common enough, but I just smile inside and continue on when I hear it. next customer please.

      Funny thing off topic, I am now feeling to old and or tired of working directly with customers and really am stepping away from all forms of face to face where I can, It is like a stage act in many ways as people say, and I guess I am now just so tired of the acting ? maybe a its a blue moon or something but I enjoy the peace and quietness away from the satge lights now. Time for the next generation to take up to the stage and take a bow I thinks for me.
      Signature
      | > Choosing to go off the grid for a while to focus on family, work and life in general. Have a great 2020 < |
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11513130].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        Originally Posted by tryinhere View Post

        Agree with that, /

        I mostly have that afterwards where it is followed by words like, I was not even going to let who ever was at my door inside my house, and your here now and we have bought or signed up to xyz, or instore, I was only walking past to buy bread and look I have now spent 10K, or, I just asked you out for a quote and now I have signed up for xyz.
        Even after the sale, I won't agree with them. I'll still say "I'm just glad we found the ideal product based on what you needed".

        My thought is, if you say something like "Thank you, I do my best", or anything that acknowledges that you indeed have sales talent, it registers as ego, and reduces the value they put on your offer.

        Watch actors in interviews. You'll see the interviewer compliment their acting, and the actor will at most say "Thank you". But anything more than that sounds bad.

        Can you imagine an actor saying "It's true. I'm at the top of my game. And I think I did a great job"? That would be the beginning of the end.

        When I did speaking at trade shows, I'd often hear "You're a great speaker". It was seldom from the people who bought from me. To them, that compliment was a consolation prize that cost them nothing. Like applause.
        Signature
        One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr

        What if they're not stars? What if they are holes poked in the top of a container so we can breath?
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11513270].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author myob
    I tell myself everyday: "You're a great salesperson!"

    But I have never had a prospective buyer tell me that.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11513147].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Medon
    I wouldn't care much about the compliment. It just recognizes the effort you have made to sell the item. Anyway, when I was still selling cars, I noticed the compliment was common especially when I was dealing with a client of the opposite sex. Well, I never missed selling a car once a client used the phrase. I concluded that it shows that you have won their heart and so as a salesperson, you should exploit it to make more sales.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[11522565].message }}
Avatar of Unregistered

Trending Topics