David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
MichaelM said:
NO - It's the lazy, unprofessional way!
What's your sales pitch?
- Thread starter imported_GregCavi
- Start date
NO - It's the lazy, unprofessional way!
imported_mirrorfinishman
New member
Once again it appears that some of you are confusing being a detailer with being a business owner. After all, there is a difference.
Most well educated men and women who are true professionals, such as; financial advisors, stock brokers, doctors, dentists, attorneys and many other small business owners would never think of using high pressure sales tactics. Think about it. When was the last time your doctor hit you with a high pressure sales pitch? How professional would that be?
In summary, you would be much smarter to align your detailing business with the true professionals, rather than constantly trying to sell people on the idea that they need to have there car detailed. It is all about the action you take and the results you get in order to satisfy the needs of your customers, not the words that you speak.
Most well educated men and women who are true professionals, such as; financial advisors, stock brokers, doctors, dentists, attorneys and many other small business owners would never think of using high pressure sales tactics. Think about it. When was the last time your doctor hit you with a high pressure sales pitch? How professional would that be?
In summary, you would be much smarter to align your detailing business with the true professionals, rather than constantly trying to sell people on the idea that they need to have there car detailed. It is all about the action you take and the results you get in order to satisfy the needs of your customers, not the words that you speak.
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
I agree that offering your services to a potential customer shouldn't be done using high pressure tactics like a stereotypical used car sales person. I don't do that. If you don't use basic fundamental sales methods to sell yourself, your business, your work and/or your integrity that why would anyone want to do business with you? Without technique, does'nt the conversation sound bland? What sucessful financial advisor, stock broker, doctor, dentist or attorney doesn't sell themself? I've never met one, or alteast I don't remember them. Do these people just hand out a business card and tell their potential client to call them when they need their 401K switched, a heart condition diagnosed, tooth ache or a lawsuit? I wouldn't want to use them. After speaking to people, I try to have them excited and interested in doing business with me and my business. I don't sell people on false hope and then later they get buyer's remorse like people do after walking out a dealership. I've even had people not decide to do business with me and then later come back for other services and/or suggestions because I was informative and educational.
mirrorfinishman said:
Sorry, but I just do not agree one bit. If you could grow your business without sales pitches, good for you. But being a detailer does make you a business owner contrary to what you may think. You have to walk a fine line in making a sales pitch not to turn away a potential customer, but I don't see how you can say they shouldn't be used. If sales tactics, high pressure or not, don't work than why is it you can go to any book store and see book after book on the subject of Sales? Advice like that is what helps contribute to the failure of 9 out of 10 businesses.
Junebug
JAFO
I'm just starting out, working on the weekends out of my garage. So far, I've talked friends and co-workers into letting me detail their cars. Everybody knows when I'm in to something, (was doing lawn care a few years ago) I go all out, the best tools, products and I always try it myself before I use it on a customer. It's been a learning experience, I tell people the truth, I was a car nut, I use to work in a autobody shop prepping cars for paint when I was in school - so I know a thing or two about finishes and I have a 12 year old that just got braces! So, I turned a hobby into a part time job. My real job is in sales with a large electrical company - service sales! The techniques I learned on the job apply in my little side biz. Talk to customers like they are a friend, look over their car - point out problems and what you can do to correct, be honest - if it's a turd, tell them and recommend a good body shop. In the end, deliver more than you promised and you will have exceeded their expectations, also, you'll have another "salesman" working for you - word of mouth advertising, free and effective.
mirrorfinishman said:
I think, perhaps, you are more of a business man then a detailer. And perhaps the opposite may be true of us.
Your approach to the customer with rotory holograms isn't an educational one because it doesn't help you in any way. Polishing by hand isn't going to remove most holograms, at least not enough, or quick enough to build a business around. So...why would you tell that customer what went wrong and how to correct it if you can't fix it? You wouldn't.
On the flip side, those of us who can correct holograms will gladly explain the do's and don'ts because once they see the highly polished swirl free car that we've just detailed it lends instant credibility to our shops, not to mention the trust that you've built by delivering on your word.
As I see it we are just offering two different services, maintenance vs. correction and maintenance.
mirrorfinishman said:
Explaining what you do, much like a doctor explaining a surgery, or a lawyer explaining what will happen to his/her client through the course of a trial is NOT high pressure.
I'm not even gonna go into how silly I think a comparison of our profession is to those of the fields you just mentioned...