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WHAT ABOUT US LITTLE GUYS?
Mike Marachev

People ask me all the time where I get my ideas for this column. In a world made up of mediocrity, one does not have to look very far. This little jewel came to me just this week. Allow me to show you another example of how not to do things.

I was recently manning a booth with an associate of mine in Philadelphia when I took a break from booth duty to walk the show floor. I stopped at the booth of a major cell phone company, of which I am a satisfied cell phone customer.

The discussion turned to the Blackberry device and the ability to send and receive emails "on the fly." This intrigued me and since my associate already extolled the many virtues of this multi-talented device, I thought it was about time I bit the technology bullet once again. The sales woman invited me to call her when I was ready to talk "shop." She also gave me an attractive price.

In fact, I did make the call and received the expected voice mail message. The woman did return my call and told me to expect a call from the area sales rep. He called and promptly doubled the price of the gizmo and told me I could go on a new cell phone plan that was double my current plan. I politely informed him of the initial quoted price and that my current plan would do nicely. When learning of my location, he quickly informed me that I was not in his territory and asked me to call a local rep.

The next thing I knew I was speaking with contact #3 reciting the entire story yet again... a nice enough gal but who also informed me that she had to do a little research and get back to me.

That was 5 days ago. No rep. No phone call. No Blackberry. No new service. No satisfied client to write good stuff on how top notch companies work.

Is it any wonder that people who attend my live-presentations ask me why the world is so "down" on sales personnel?

Why? Because a great many so-called sales people don't know 3rd base from the dugout when it comes to the selling profession.

I am afraid this is not a special case. I hear and see this kind of thing all the time. (Maybe it is a New Jersey thing - but I don't think so.) Hey, if you don't want my business, please have the courtesy to tell me upfront and save us both a lot of time, money, energy and frustration.

I'm beginning to believe that maybe I am a 6-foot LSM - 

"Lousy Service Magnet." Ladies and gentlemen, do what you say you will do. Don't jerk people around. If you can help me, help me. If you can't, don't pretend you can. If you have bad news, tell me... I am a big boy and will probably get over it before the next re-run episode of FRIENDS. And never get people who buy ink by the barrel mad. **

Unnamed major cell phone company, you should be ashamed of yourself. I realize it has only been five days, but I really did expect better.

I’m Mike Marchev. This is my story and I’m sticking to it.

** This is a reference to people who write for a living and get their thoughts published for thousands to read.

Mike Marchev is the author of two popular sales books, “Become The Exception” and “The 52-Week Sales Planner”. He has shared motivating thoughts in 18 countries and is a popular and entertaining speaker at corporate events. Send for his FREE 7-Lesson Marketing Course by going to www.marchev.com and signing in.