Comments on: Socially Retarded

By: Bob Caswell

Bob Caswell — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Just minutes after writing this post, I noticed the irony of how closely related my example is to that of an overly excited missionary trying to share the gospel on a doorstep…

By: a random John

a random John — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Speaking of over-excited and socially awkward, Super Dell was arrested recently. The instant I heard that I just knew he had pulled a gun on somebody.

By: D. Fletcher

D. Fletcher — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

He’s not socially-retarded. He’s a salesman. He’s focused on the sale (of selling you on the idea of becoming a salesman). It’s the best kind of salesman, the one who doesn’t care about the product at all, just the sale.

By: Steve Evans

Steve Evans — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bob, remember the ABCs of Glengarry Glen Ross: Always Be Closing!

By: Bob Caswell

Bob Caswell — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

D.-

That’s an interesting observation with which I’m going to have to disagree. I don’t think he is “the best kind salesman” at all. His tactic will only work when he meets people who are like him. The best kind of salesman is one who makes the customer feel comfortable, one who recognizes the environment around him/her and quickly adapts. Those that ignore everything but the one-size-fits-all approach are only going to sell to those people who fit that fairly limited size.

But the question here is slightly different. This man seemed sincerely oblivious. He actually thought I was coming to the meeting! And the whole bit about me having to promise? It could be something I want at a bargain price and the sale still wouldn’t have been made. In short, if being the “best” salesperson means sacrificing any traces of decent human interaction, then I think these same “best” salespersons are socially retarded.

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Bob, tell me that you truely didn’t think of the missionary connection untill after you wrote the post. The recruitment of RMs to sell pest control and other sundry services is legendary at BYU. I guess it is like the dark side of the force.

By: Bob Caswell

Bob Caswell — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

J.-

The dark side of the force? That’s it!

By: D. Fletcher

D. Fletcher — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

You may be right, Bob (about good salesman having some level of social dysfunction). But study after study suggests that salesman who are focused on the sale, not the product or the customer, are overall the most successful. People in info-commercials aren’t even talking directly to a customer — they don’t know you and don’t care. The customer gets sucked in before they even know it — that’s the idea, anyway. Wasn’t there some experiment in the Church of proselytizing and baptizing some new members in 24 hours? It’s the same principle.

The guy who talked to you got his phone number in your hand and walked away in the space of less than a minute. If he could do that with 50 people a day, perhaps 2 of them would actually come to the meeting, which will put him ahead of the other “salesmen.” You see? It’s volume sales. If he spent more time with you, he’d alienate you more and succeed even less.

By: Bob Caswell

Bob Caswell — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I wonder if retention of pest control customers is as much of a problem as retention of members of the Church…

By: J. Stapley

J. Stapley — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I wonder if retention of pest control customers is as much of a problem as retention of members of the Church…

I literally laughed out loud.