Need some advice on a job situation...

[waterinthefuel]

I work for a company leasing (or selling) ATM's, POS machines, etc. Well I just started and am having a terrible time making money. Why? Not because I'm a bad salesman, in fact I've been told I have wonderful qualities, but because I have to use my personal vehicle, burn my personal gas and use my money to go to these appointments, some of which are up to 30 miles away!! I went to a set of 3 appointments, all 30 miles away today, and all 3 were canceled!!! I'm in no way compensated for canceled appointments or for my lost time and money. I'm commission only so if I don't sell, I make nothing. If I would be given a company phone to call and confirm these appointments before leaving I could save myself a ton of time and money. My "boss" says he won't give me one for a few months until I prove myself. How can I prove myself when I'm dipping into my own pocket to go to his effing appointments? The main problem is that people really don't care that you just drove an hour through rush hour traffic to make their appointment. They will cancel for any reason they see fit, and you're stuck. They don't need you, so you're stuck.

Rather than call him knowing what he'd say, I called the home office in California and left a message, explaining what happened today, how I could have prevented it if it weren't for my boss not giving me the tools necessary to do the job and I also made it clear that if I don't get a phone soon I'm leaving. I do not work for free, and I've been employed a week and a half with no expectation of any money for another week, at least. I cannot afford to continue going to canceled appointments and costing myself hundreds in gas. I do not have a personal cell phone nor do I want one, but I am not spending more money on a phone for this job. Either I get it, or I walk. It's pretty bad when it would be cheaper for you to quit a job than to keep working there.

Do you think that calling home office and telling them what kind of operation this guy is running over here is ok? I feel that they should know the truth. I've so far spent about 300 bucks on gas and clothing for this job, and I have not been paid a dime. I think enough is enough, either I'm not cut out for commission only work, or this operation ain't running right.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

And your still there?
I would have done been at my next job.
My time is money, period.

 

[JB]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

Sounds like a new variation on a boiler room or cold calling door-to-door job, WITF.

I would bet those appointments are being "made" by a telemarketing strategy. The prospects are not being properly qualified, they wake up after the high pressure agreement to listen and decide they don't need to listen.

Move on, brother. You are being had.

 

[JMRuth72]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

I agree with the other's on this. You are being had, move on to something better.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

There are some serious flaws in this sales approach. First of all you need to do what people did years ago to confirm appointments prior to wasting your time going someplace.Are there no regular old fashioned put 50cents in it pay phones around? You need to make your own appointments and touch base FIRST before you waste gas. This sounds like one of the many so called "JOBS" that arent real "JOBS" The boss wants it 100% his way 100% of the time and offers nothing but a cut of what you bring to him. QUIT!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

Time management. You need to master the time management and confirm the appointments. This is going to be money from your pocket now but it is a business exspense on your 2008 taxes..... so is your mileage and your vehicle, your clothes...... The way of the salesperson. WHo makes and sets the appointments? You really need to confirm each one regardless of who made them ...... even if you did.

I strongly recommend that you take the time and rent the video Door to Door which is a true story and a valuable learning tool. Read any of the "one minute manager" series books too.

You are just frustrated right now but things turn quickly in the sales game.... more ups and downs in one day then any other job.

You always have two choices...... work or leave. If you leave you will have to find another job but the MOST important part is your life. Find something that you would enjoy.

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

Couple things about sales, it is VERY hard work and if you don't trust the product/company it is even harder. It takes time to build a customer base.
If this outfit is not trustworthy you'll probably never be happy or successfull.
If they will backstab you they will backstab your customers, and that situation will never work.
Just my $.02.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

I agree with bass man and you also need to like what you do and that way it's not work(sort of a old quote for somewhere I heard) and it works.As for as working for free you need to get out of there.None of my sales people ever worked and didn't get paid,those people are not right,take care of yourself and your family first.Good luck, Jim

 

[v1_0]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

The way I'm seeing things, the cost of the phone is less than the cost of the gas, wear and tear, and time that you took to drive out there.

Have you looked into one of those prepaid cell phones? Or a calling card / find a pay phone. Also - if you have enough lead time, you could call them from your home in advance.

That might solve the immediate problem - but is that problem only a symptom, like what others have posted? Why are these people cancelling - if they actually have an interest, but something came up, then it's on them. If the problem is in the marketing division - say they are only being measured on the quantity of appointments they make - then you have a systematic problem. You *could* leave the job, of course, or you could call the people and determine if they are really interested or not before you make the trip out there. You might be able to get a idea of your 'probability of success' too - which would help you focus your efforts on where the reward would be greatest. That decision is yours to make.

Now the disclaimer: I haven't had a sales job in a while, and even then it was in-store rather than travelling from place to place. So, I can't vouch for any of this from experience, just from theory. I'd place my trust in experience over theory any day...

-V

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

The ones that were canceled today were canceled for legit reasons, but why not call us and tell us? One was a small cafe, that had no customers at the time, but they'd just received a huge order and everybody was busy preparing food. So, we were done there. The next place was a sporting goods store that we were told might be interested, then when we get there we find out they just got a new system and are even integrating it into MAS 90. That appointment should have never existed. Then another was a doctor, and he wasn't in the office.

Great advice guys. I'll give it one more week with the new "system" in place. If nothing changes, I'm gone. As far as the new system, let me explain:

Before we had a girl cold-call and the ones who were interested she would schedule an appointment. That would be given to one of us and we would go to it. About 1 out of 5 appointments usually would result in a sale. After today she and I agreed, she will call and confirm every single appointment for me the morning I go out. If she can't I will have her give me the phone numbers and names and I will do it from my house.

The reason I'm in it is because of the money, that and the freedom. If I close a single ATM account, I make 1700. A single POS machine 500-700, and other little bits hundreds each. This guy does this and I saw his W-2, he made 150,000 last year. I'm just new and I had a very bad day. I can also take off when I want for as long as I want, I'm an independent contractor. I can tell the girl not to schedule any appointments before 9am, as I like sleeping in. Thats fine. I REALLY want this to work, because the company is nationwide and huge. I guess I can say which company, as I'm not advertising, not with this thread! LOL It's US merchant systems, website is usms dot com.

Someone else suggested prepaid for the cell phone, but thats about the most expensive route to go. I don't do public phones, not with all these diseases out. I also hate to give out a pre-paid number and get rid of it weeks or months later, only to have lost contact with all of those clients. Like I said, one more week. If things don't look up and look like I might actually make money, I'm out. Do you think that's reasonable?

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

Yes.
But like I first said, I would have already been gone.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

"dont do public phones with all of these deseases" gez man "the hood" is the only place I would be afraid of using a public phone.they do make sanitary wipes.I keep some in my van all the time.lordy ATM machines for sure are covered in cooties too you know lol no offence

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

Yep, that's why I never see, much less touch, the ATM's I sell. I only sell the contract for another company to come in and install it.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

Maybe thats why my wife uses her friggin credit card so much. she doesnt want to get her hands nasty touching real money.lordy

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

i actually find my prepaid phone is much cheaper than the contract phone. been using it for 8 years.

if you want to be in commission sales, and an independant contractor, go into something people need. they really don't need an atm machine. true small businesses need credit card machines, but i found that there bank usually points them an a certain direction.

i was a real estate broker, made over 6 figures a year, but man it was the hardest job it ever had.

 

[dave11]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

Many companies will hire every one who applies for a sales job. It doesn't cost them much. If you sell a lot, they make money. If you don't it doesn't cost them anything. Been there, done that. I would find something that pays.

 

[oops!]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

water ....

i used to do that..... selling a different item.....#1 in canada.

i think jb nailed it in post #3

used to drive and fly hunderds of miles each day....my expence...stayed in hotels....b&b's and my car !
man did i get good at golf...never played an entire round. just practised...couldnt play a round cause u never knew when the appointments were gonna be confirmed....if i ever played a round...i betcha i would have broke 80.

made really good coin !
but when i tallyed up the cost of doing business...i was better off in my old profession...! (and the golf was free)

as far as cell phones......td hit it bang on.

with my current company....my bill .....on the best plan the cell company had....was 1200 a month.
3 years ago i scrap piled it and got a pay as you go...bills about 90 a month.

atms and pos are good items to sell. but the banks are your compitition. tough to beat.

if jb did hit it....pm me if you want more info.

good luck with everything
cheers
oops

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

Get a cellphone, you can get them without a contract for like $30 a month with generous minuteallowances & long distance....
The gas savings from two cancelled stops would have paid for it.....
I thought you were an airplane guy, what happened to that?.....​

 

[Mark42]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

Been there done that. They are using you. Use your time and money to find a new job. Don't bother using them for a reference.

Good luck.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Need some advice on a job situation...

I thought you were an airplane guy, what happened to that?.....​

I guess I didn't fill you guys in. My company was taken over and went out of business. I was enrolled in aircraft mechanics school and 7 days prior to classes starting the instructor walked out. So no new students. I was then out of a job and out of school with nothing.

I've decided to take you guys advice. I'm going to make the unfortunate call to my boss and tell him I'm walking. I literally can't afford to work there anymore.