I just witnessed what had to be the WORST sales call I think I have ever seen.  I was meeting with one of our strategic partners when two salesmen walked into his lobby.  They approached us and here is a word for word transcript of what happened:

Sales Rep # 1:  “Hi.  I’m with (name withheld).  You wouldn’t want to buy a cabinet, would you?”

Answer:  “No, not really.”

Sales Rep # 1:  “How about some things to put in the cabinet.  We have those, too.”

Answer:  “No.”

Sales Rep #2:  “How about getting your carpets cleaned?  We do that, too.”

Answer:  “It must be pretty rough out making sales calls today.”

Sales Rep #1:  “You got that right!  We are just out casing out the area (actual wording) to see what businesses are in the area.  Here’s my business card.  Let me put my cell number on it for you.  Call me if you ever need a cabinet or anything to go in it.”

Sales Rep#2:  “And here’s my card if you ever need your carpets cleaned.”  (Note:  There were no carpets in the lobby – just a tile floor!)

These two guys then left and walked out to the back of the van they were driving.  I thought at least they would go knock on other doors in the office park.  But they stood there for about 15 seconds, then got in the van and drove away.

I promise you.  This is what happened.  The van, by the way, had their company’s name and logo on the side.

Here is the classic example of a company putting sales reps out making sales calls with NO sales training, no strategy, and no planning other than to go make calls.  Some business owner is paying two sales reps, their gas, the expense of a company van, and the cost of business cards to go through the above routine! 

Oh, yes.  I did collect their business cards and I will call the owner of this company.  But I can tell you now what I will hear.

“We don’t have the money to provide sales training for our reps.  They are on straight commission anyway, so it’s really not costing me anything.”

And you wonder why so many businesses fail!