Tough week

Buckterrier · 04-10-2010, 05:37 AM

Just got finished with 2 weeks of raising prices to every customer. I'm not a sales guy but had to take on the responsibility of sales last year. You don't say no in this economy. Got beat up a bit but goes with the territory. On top of that 10% of the salaried work force was let go this week. This is the 3rd cut since about 06'. I'm very fortunate I've 'made the cut' every time. But it also made me realize my time will come eventually.

Going to clean the garage then have a few Yuenlings and watch the Masters.

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

Storm into your bosses office on Monday morning and Demand a Raise! Pound your fist on his desk while you are doing it. Show him you mean business.

If he says 'No', tell him you have been having an affair with his wife.

Joeaksa · 04-10-2010, 06:06 AM

Do the best you can and keep things moving forwards. You had to let 10% go, but that hopefully saved things for the remaining 90%.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

Sales is one of those things where people either have the stomach for it or don't - I'm one of the latter. I have a certain amount of respect for those who can do it without resorting to lies/BS/pushy tactics in order to meet their goals. It's a tough balance. I've had to do limited amounts of selling/marketing in the past in service of other business objectives, but I always hated it. Best of luck to you.

Yep - the economy sucks and will continue to suck for a while. Just buck up and sit tight at whatever job you're at. Nothing's going to change for quite some time to come, so you might as well get over it and do the best you can wherever you are.

widgeon13 · 04-10-2010, 08:16 AM

I spent 30+ years in sales and marketing and the most stress came from within, most customers understood price increases if they were delivered properly with a logical explanation and not a gouging strategy. I always spent a lot of time building to a price increase, getting the customer ready and always being above board. No one likes a price increase but if you are dealing with customers that have an appreciation for a business making a profit, they will accept them. We lost business over the years on rare occasions but in most cases it worked out.

I retired as VP sales and still have many friends in the industry, more customers than peers within the company, in fact the company declared bankruptcy last year. I'm just happy I got out when I did, it has become much more stressful and certainly not much fun on most days.

You have my sympathy. So much distrust has developed recently in any business, trust and a handshake were the way we built business. That type of loyalty no longer exists. Most unfortunate.

Jim Bremner · 04-10-2010, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by widgeon13

I spent 30+ years in sales and marketing and the most stress came from within, most customers understood price increases if they were delivered properly with a logical explanation and not a gouging strategy. I always spent a lot of time building to a price increase, getting the customer ready and always being above board. No one likes a price increase but if you are dealing with customers that have an appreciation for a business making a profit, they will accept them. We lost business over the years on rare occasions but in most cases it worked out.

I retired as VP sales and still have many friends in the industry, more customers than peers within the company, in fact the company declared bankruptcy last year. I'm just happy I got out when I did, it has become much more stressful and certainly not much fun on most days.

You have my sympathy. So much distrust has developed recently in any business, trust and a handshake were the way we built business. That type of loyalty no longer exists. Most unfortunate.

Well said!!! 23 years here. There's some loyalty out there. Not much but some.

Buckterrier · 04-10-2010, 11:21 AM

Technical service was my career for the past 24 years. Yeah sales isn't my gig. But it is interesting how things work at that level. Both from the customer perspective & internally. I'm very fortunate to have an excellent boss, for now. Sales meeting next week to review a restructuring and it's been stated we'll all have new responsibility and bosses.
Thanks you are the kind words and encouragement.