Im sure most of ya have heard the expression, “keep ya chin up” or “keep a stiff upper lip”. Definition being, stay positive and confident, look beyond doubt and grief.
Ive been trying to stay positive. Salesmen have it waxed.
Over the years, and through experience, I have noticed how optimistic a salesmen is. Their job seems to revolve around staying positive, im not talking about a shoe salesmen, or a helper in a clothing shop but more the knock-on-ya door type, or car salesmen. They live on commission, denial and lies. Yet stay positive. Never letting their guard down on a potential clients’ fears. Now i know a sales pitch, hell ive had to learn 4 pages worth of one, and a few days back I fell into the trap. This is how it went.
I was slowly walking through Gardens Centre, looking around.. Until I unfortunately made eye contact with an over-egocentric, red-shirted salesmen from Virgin Active. This is less than a seconds worth of eye contact, I practically glanced by, while working my sight over to the other end of the mall. Then he started waving his hands like he was on television or something. So I figured hell, I am on Discovery Health, lets go check the benefits/price for sign up. I get to his table and he has this smile that could kill a cheetah, this is how the conversation goes: (SM = salesmen)
Positive SM: Hi, how are you?
ME: Good tha.. (SM Interrupts)
Positive SM: Thats awesome, take a seat
ME: No thanks, im kind of in a hurry and just looking at prices for…(SM Interrupts)
Positive SM: Please, … sit. This wont take much of your time
(SM still smiling, keeping eye contact, slowly making me feel smaller and smaller, I wondering what narcotic this guys on)
ME: *slowly sits down*
Positive SM: Right now we having a special with for all new sign-ups, and if you sign up in now, I will *pulls out calculator and does some calculations* take off a huge saving of R250 off the sign up fee.
ME: Thats cool but..(SM Interrupts)
Positive SM: Thats not all…. (rambles on for another 2 mins)
ME: *almost buying this bullshit..*
Positive SM: So whats your name? *starts filling out form*
ME: *comes to senses*
ME: Wait… what I have been trying to say is, I am on Discovery Health.
Negative SM: Oh. I see. um..well then you need to go to the nearest Virgin Active.
ME: Why? don’t you know how much it is?
Negative SM: No..
*SM turns to fellow sales colleague with an annoying look*
ME: Err. Oh okay then, well I still require one of these forms for my girlfriend. *I attempt to pick one up*
Positive SM: *stops me* Your girlfriend? Well go get her, I will wait here for you.
ME: She isn’t with me
Positive SM: This deal isn’t going to be like this for very long, I will wait for you. Where does she live?
ME: Really dont worry about it then, we will maybe stop by tomorrow
Positive SM: *taps watch* time is ticking, just go grab her quickly.
ME: Err, okay, see you in a bit then *turn and walk away thinking how strange that was*
Well I didn’t end up going back. We ended up signing up at the gym, with the same benefits that this fool and his calculator were going on about. I found out that all Virgin Active gyms were offering this benefit until the end of the month.
Talk about staying positive though. This guys’ optimism destroys brain cells.
Anyone else know any over-the-top positive salesmen?
