Salespeople are consumers too!

One key characteristic of seasoned sales professional is that they have over time, developed incredibly thick skin. There is no doubt that no matter what it is that you are selling and no matter how good you are at selling it, rejection is still and will always be part of the sales world.

It is certainly okay for a prospect to make a decision not to do business with a salesperson, as we are all entitled to our own opinions and decisions. There is however, a way in which the rejection should take place that is professional and won’t damage the business owner’s reputation and business at the same time.

It is important for business owners/decision makers to recognize that salespeople are people too and most importantly we are also consumers! We could potentially be consumers for your particular product or service or we could know someone that could be as well. Let’s face it, most salespeople love to talk and they generally know a lot of people so…. is it a good idea to anger them when you are talking with them or saying no to their product or service? I would certainly suggest it is not!!

Word of mouth is extremely powerful and can be positive or negative in nature. When treated poorly, salespeople will have no problem telling their network of people that they were treated that way. Often times, in order to vent anger and frustration, people tend to voice a negative experience far more often then they voice a positive one. So the next time that you are dealing with a salesperson, remember that they are a consumer too and treat them with the respect that you would treat a prospective customer with. Being rude will only cost you potential business and damage your business reputation. Even if a salesperson is told no but told it in a very professional way, they can still act as an advocate for your business!