How to Get Rid of a Salesperson
If you’ve been following my blog for awhile, you probably know that I am a salesperson, and I sell for a living. But no – this is not clickbait.
Although this seems like a rather unique topic to write about as someone who’s in sales, I think I offer a rather unique perspective to the subject and can give valuable insight to those of you who get cold calls from “pesky salespeople.”
That said, I am not turning on my fellow salespeople either (even if it might look that way). I rather think that both those who are annoyed with cold callers and those doing the cold calls will appreciate this post and agree with it.
Here are 3 tips for getting rid of a salesperson, and why you should follow these suggestions.
1 – Always let the salesperson give their pitch (don’t hang up on them).
I know…this is exactly what you want to avoid. However, salespeople are in their roles for a reason, and they can be very persistent (trust me, I know). If you hang up on them without letting them talk, they’ll just call you back later. Salespeople are like hunters – their job is to determine whether or not you’re a good fit for their product or service. If you’re not a good fit, they’ll leave you alone (if they’re good, that is) because you don’t need what they’re offering. If you are a good fit, then maybe you could benefit from their service. It never hurts to listen to them for a few minutes and see – there’s no commitment tied to listening to a sales pitch.
And that’s that – one phone call, and both of you are done (unless of course, you decide to purchase something from them).
However, if you hang up without letting them discover if you’re a good fit, there’s a very good chance they’ll call back again…and again…until they find out. They don’t like unresolved answers. This wastes your time and the salesperson’s time.
If you’re not a good fit – explain WHY you’re not a good fit. Just listening to the salesperson and saying “not interested” is as good as hanging up. They need to know why you’re not interested, or they may call back later.
Once, I called on a company with multiple locations to see if they would be a good fit for my service. The first guy hung up on me, the second person also hung up after I pitched, but the third person took the time to explain their business model and showed me how they wouldn’t be able to utilize my service. It made a lot of sense, and it only took about 3 minutes. If that first guy would have explained that to me, I wouldn’t have wasted my time calling two of his colleagues, nor would I have wasted their time with my inquiries.
2 – Always let the salesperson talk to the decision-maker if possible
Trust me when I say salespeople get lots of receptionists that hang up, saying their boss would never be interested, only to somehow get in touch with that boss later and have him buy. As a result, they usually don’t like taking “no” for an answer from a receptionist – no offense intended. The best way to get cold callers to “take you off their list” is to let them talk to whomever they want to talk to. It usually only takes about 2 minutes to determine if there’s a fit, and then the salesperson is satisfied and won’t call again.
If you’re not able to give out names or pass any info along, kindly explain that and give alternate options (sending to voicemail, potentially giving out an email address, etc). When you show a cold caller you’re genuinely trying to help, they’re less likely to call back because they know you can’t give them anything even if you wanted to.
3 – Always be nice and treat salespeople like actual human beings
Yes, we’re sometimes annoying, but we’re also people with feelings just doing our jobs. I’d even speak for salespeople everywhere and say the majority of salespeople are passionate about what they sell – it’s hard to be in the role if you’re not.
When you get cold calls, it’s always best to be courteous. You never know who you’re talking to and if your professional paths might cross someday, so don’t burn down bridges blindly.
In the end, it comes down to treating people like people – with respect and dignity.
On the flip side, salespeople should be treating you with courtesy and respecting your decisions as well. If you’re not interested and you’ve explained why, they should 100% respect that and move on. Pushy salespeople are what give buyers a bad taste for sales, and give other salespeople extra hurdles to jump over.
To sum up, if both sides are respectful and professional, things go well for both parties.
I know this advice may seem counter-intuitive, but as a salesperson myself, I can honestly say this is the best way to “get rid” of salespeople.
And to all the salespeople out there – know when to push, and know when to let off. Not everyone is a fit for what you’re offering, and that’s okay. I’ve always heard that “it’s for who it’s for, and it’s not for who it’s not for.” Meaning, for every person who says no, there’s another one waiting for your call – so go find them.
Until next time,
Hope Frances
Untitled Novel - Part 9
