But He Didn’t Do Any Work – Why Should He Get The Commission?
My husband and I had to go shopping for a new television last weekend. The old one was about to die – its channel guide was getting fuzzy and my eyesight is already “bat-like”. We researched our options online, found one we wanted, then set out for a reconnaissance mission to Sears, Best Buy and yes, Sam’s, at my Hubby’s insistence.
Right away, at our first store, Sear’s, there was our new flatscreen- and it was a lot less expensive than the internet price! I got really excited. The on-duty salesman, Lee, came over and quietly introduced himself to ask if we needed any help. My husband asked if it the t.v. had built-in speakers, and Lee said “Yes”. Hubby didn’t give signals to talk further (being an engineer), so Lee said to call him if we needed more help.
My husband and I walked up and down the aisles but I already KNEW it was the t.v. we wanted (OK– ” I” wanted). Hubby and I whispered ….”I really want it, let’s get it now!” I said. My husband agreed.
I called Lee over and we said “We’ll take it“. He said he would have to check their inventory (sigh). Sadly, there were none in stock, but if we ordered it then, we could have it in three days. Hubby and I looked at each other. I said “Let’s order it”, but my husband wanted to finish our mission and go to the other stores.
Before we left, I asked the salesman, Lee, “Are you commission sales?”
“ Yes” , he responded.
“Then I want you to get credit for the sale if we call or come back to order the t.v. I am a salesperson, too, so I respect that.”
Lee then filled out a customer-finder form so we could let any of the other Sears salespeople know we were “his” customers.
Hubby and I completed our research at the other stores. Sears was the best price by far. I sent Hubby to get the t.v. the next day. “Make sure you give the on-duty salesperson Lee’s card so he gets credit!” I instructed.
“Why?” he asked innocently, being an engineer, “He didn’t do any work. He answered one question.”
“Honey”, I said, “ If someone called me up because they found a house, then grabbed me to write an offer, would I not deserve a commission? Some deals are easy, some are hard. That’s just the way it is. Lee might have killed himself with the previous three customers. They might not have bought, or maybe they did not give his card so he didn’t got credit when they did buy. Yes, we were ‘easy’, but not all sales have to be ‘difficult’ to make the salesman deserving.”
Hubby went back to the store, and there was a different salesperson there, not Lee. He did a lot of work to take the order from my husband. I asked Hubby what he said when he gave him Lee’s card… He said….
“He would have done the same for me.”
It’s Wendy!
Wendy Rulnick, Broker Rulnick Realty, Inc.
Destin FL
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