Thursday, February 11, 2010

Millets boys should go on a sales course....

I've just been in Millets on Tonbridge High Street and have discovered just how little those salesmen know about their products. They must be either very bored or on a high incentive commission scheme because both of them wouldn't leave me alone. I'd only been in the shop a minute or so and I swear the same guy asked me if I needed any help twice. Then he saw me looking at the walkers sticks and came over to see if I knew about Leki sticks and I said yes I did and I'm happy to just browse. I wouldn't have minded so much if he'd actually known what he was talking about. Salesmen should always beware of spouting rubbish to customers who might be more knowledgable than them. Far better to back off if the customer is happy browsing than to intimidate them with a heavy sell. That guy gave up in the end after I repeated that I was alright and thanked him for his help. A minute later his colleague came bounding over and asked me did I need help with the Leki sticks and did I know that Millets were also doing a similar one on a two-for-one offer but without the "Leki guarantees" When I inquired what these guarantees were he started fumbling around with the label on one of the sticks and, rather than just admit that he didn't know, started to bullshit (that's the only word for it I'm afraid) about it being 6o years, oh no that's how long they've been in business, it might be a lifetime guarantee, or a year or maybe three. What utter crap! Did I know that you need two sticks instead of just the one? Doctors have proved this that people who only use one stick become unbalanced which leads to back problems. Oh my God! I only went in for a look at the sticks now I'm going to go out with the threat of getting arthritis or some other hideous disfigurement. In the end I had to get quite blunt and say that I'm happy to decide for myself from here. When I finally wanted to pay for something, they were nowhere to be seen and I had to almost beg them to let them have my money. Millets boys: go on a sales course and if you've already been on one, go on a better one! Stop being so desparate to sell something, it shows and it puts people off. Actually in the end I made my choice of stick and I'm very happy with it, you see being quite an experienced hill walker, which they failed to get out of me, I kind of knew what I was looking for all along. I nearly walked out deliberately so as not to give them the sale but I bought the stick because I wanted it in spite of their pathetic sales pitch....

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

look here tonbridge blogger you have no retail knowledge, there only doing their job for god sake!!! most shop staff our told to approach the customers, you know tb it is called good customer service it must be pretty dam quiet in your shop and basicly stop complaining about other retailers!!!!

Paul Bailey said...

It's always good when you can catch these people out. There's nothing worse than pesky sales staff. Something anonymous would do well to take heed of!

Tonbridge blogger said...

Anon: I'll stop comlaining when there's nothing more to complain about! Yes ok I probably was just in a bad mood yesterday when I laid into the Millets boys with my metaphorical pen but, having come from a sales background and having attended many many sales courses I just can't bear it when I see it done badly. Millets would be much better off if they invested more time in sales training and, let's face it, they are struggling as a retail group...

Anonymous said...

mr TB, sounds like you are against all the tonbridge retailers, i ahve been going through some of your posts and seems like all you are intrested is to finding some demerrits or may be in good words complaining about retailers who are facing worst time of their business life, paing high rents and rates to councils. so obviously to stand in this high competition with higher bills .. its nothing wrong that salesman would approcah. he needs his job and his boss needs lot money in till.
one time was for that pound shop in woolworth... that poor guy sitting with sign of HAND CAR WASH.. nothing wrong in it,, cost effective marketin and somebody was getting paid rather than claiming benefit.. card shop.. etc.

I WILL GIVE YOU GOOD IDEA.. if you want to moan then why dont you start with council for higher business rates and rents... atleast if thats success it will bring another retailer in town.

its easy to moan and complain,, but put yourself in to that salesman and what would you do..

you are talking about experience for that salesman.. do every complain about big supermarkets or stores.. if you go to currys or pc world .. do you think that all of them has got degree in microsoft and enginers.. are all the car saleman are mechaninc?.... in any tiles shop do you think only tilers are working???

so do something which motivates other person in the community.

sebfox said...

You shouldn't go to Millets. That shop is run by aliens.
I bought a woolly hat from there only a month ago, and have been getting headaches, and messages from outerspace whenever I wear it.
I only bought it because the salespeople (aliens)talked me into it.I don't wear it anymore, but I still get messages.
They're possibly cybermen, or maybe daleks, it's a bit hard to tell exactly, but I tell you what, that shop is much bigger inside than it appears from the outside. Has anyone else noticed that???

sebfox said...

PS
neither should you enter Mr Books' shop, for he is a wizard who sells books, the pages of which are cunningly dusted with ancient Fairy dust, crafted from unspeakable ingredients. One whiff of this dust will plunge you into madness. So be warned...Millets and Mr Books are no-go's.!

Professor Lupin said...

Take no notice of these muggle ramblings Professor Snape (oops, I mean Mr Books). He who must not be named will soon sort them out, once the Dementors and Death-eaters have been released from Azkabhan!

As for sebfox; we know where you are hiding!

pedro said...

Interesting blog this, I love secondhand bookshops and will go a long way out of my way to go to one but I never go in Mr. Books shop, do you know why? you guessed it, on the three occasions I have been in, I have been made to feel uncomfortable because I have not been left to browse, being asked can he help, what is it I am interested in. etc. until I have left feeling pee'd off that I can't be left to have a good look around, I have many interests and really enjoy turning up something of interest to me, I don't want any help. Look to yourself Mr. Books.

Tonbridge blogger said...

Pedro: well that told me didn't it! Alright I've already admitted that perhaps I was a little unkind on those Millets boys. I'm sure they haven't taken it to heart; in fact they probably haven't even read it so it shouldn't hurt their feelings too much. I could have put it more fairly but, on the whole, I stand by what I said. It's not even their fault; it's Millets who need to invest in training their staff in the art of selling, although experience will also obviously help. It seems that training budgets in an economic recession are the first thing to go when really the the exact opposite should be the case. As for Mr. Books' salesmanship well that's for others to judge....