HOW TO BE AN ASSHAT SALESPERSON (FOR CREATIVES)
A total asshat of a car salesman tried to buy my nana's car for $250.
Picture this - we go to Turners Cars - a few years back.
We have a lovely little nana car, which my lovely nana drove for many years.
We needed to sell it because we didn't need it.
Enter, the classic salesman - bald (no diss) smarmy, dirty coffee stained shirt - messy looking.
Hey I know you need to sell this car right.
You're probably worried about paying for more repairs right? You're on one income I bet? Could become a liability... I know you're just keen to get it gone right?
In my head I was thinking... this guy is a talker, not a listener, and man he's a total douche as m'fcker.
After all that - he say's - here' a sharp price.
Writes a number on a card - passes it to me - $250.
I did everything in my power to not say - GTFO you bald bastard.
I instead said - thanks but no thanks.
Now aside from being a total asshat, he did the one thing that you shouldn't do in a sales call.
Assume you know what people need.
Assume you know their motivations.
If you're getting pushback, it's cause you're talking solution too early, the client doesn't feel understood.
And they won't buy.
Asking questions mean the client feels guided, heard and that you're in control.
You have the reins.
So you need to know -
The problem you solve
The issues it’s causing them
What it’s costing them not to act
The real value of the investment over the time of usage
Their intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
As a designer, you want to be the open minded, authoritative listener.
Not the bald (no diss) ass hat from Turners.
PS I sold our lovely nana car (called Hilda) to a good friend, who loved it and still drives it to this day.
Love you nan.
