A discussion about sales, sales tips and advice, and about those who land the deal

I'm sitting here wondering if they do.

I am looking to search resumes for a possible employee.  Yahoo! was one of the companies I contacted for their resume search rates.

Today, I get a call back from the Yahoo! sales rep.  We talk prices, coverage, and all the details.  I thank him, and tell him that I'm looking at a few other sources for resumes, and that I will call him back towards the end of the week if I'm interested. 

Then he says this: "Hey, before you make a final decision let me know...I'd like to try and match the price and discount the service if I have to, and possibly throw in some extras, so I can try and get the bid."

My reaction to that?....

Shock and disgust. 

I have to call you back and threaten to use another service to get your "best" price and all the other little "extras" that you're holding back?  COME ON!

If you're a sales professional, what this guy did today should be a slap across the face.  Look, I've been in sales now for more than a decade and I've seen every approach and trained sales people on most of the better sales approaches.  That's one of the worst lines I've ever heard.  I can guarantee you that he won't get my business.

You need to make sure your approach is perfected before you go out and trip over yourself in trying to make a sale.  Is your sales approach smooth and professional?

One more reason I'll keep using Google for all of my search needs.  Now, if they only had classifieds...