Working With Commission Salespeople
When working with commission salespeople, time is a valuable commodity. Tick Tock, you are on the clock. Once they approach you a clock is ticking. Let’s see how time works for you and the salesman.
A commission salesperson is paid a percentage of the sales they make. The more sales the more money the employee receives. Commission based salaries are either paid totally off what the salesperson sold or may have a base salary plus commission. Even with a base salary, their sales make up most of what they are paid.
Therefore, what you do while working with these employees makes them money or creates their doom. Most people look at the process as the salesperson works for them. This frame of mind hampers the ability of the employee to help you, which in turn makes it difficult for you to get what you want.
Salespeople are there to help you. They want to find what you came there for in the timeliest, friendly way they can. The salesperson is sensitive to your time and you should be sensitive to theirs. It comes down to Time.
Time
Be cognizant of the amount of time you spend with your salesperson. They are paid on your purchase. If today is not the day you are buying then don’t take up a lot of their time. They don’t make any money while just talking to you. If you do spend a while with them, remember to use them at the time of purchase. Ninety percent of customers don’t return to the employee they worked with originally.
Put it in this perspective: I’m buying a car. It’s a big financial purchase so it does take time to get educated on the product you want so you will have many questions. That’s why commission for those salespeople is high; they get paid a good amount, but they don’t get many sales.
Now look at what happens for smaller item purchases. Let’s say you are at a furniture store. You want to buy a living room set; sofa, loveseat, and chair. In furniture sales, this can be a good sale. You spend an hour with them. Let’s say they make 2% on your purchase of $4000.00. The commission is $80. Getting paid $80 in an hour is a good wage.
Another time you are in the store looking for a coffee table. You find one priced at $165. You spent 30 minutes with the salesperson. Their commission is $3.3 in a half hour. That’s below minimum wage. Heaven forbid you spend an hour with them and they make $6.60 for their time with you.
I’m not saying you don’t deserve help; that’s what salespeople are for. Instead, I want you to be aware of what impact you have on the family of the person helping you. Be conscious of the amount of their time you use.
Remember
If you aren’t buying they are not getting paid. How would you like someone to show up to your work and take up your time for free?
How a Commission Based Salary Works
