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Don't Look Back - Sales Horror Stories

Don’t look behind you. Your clients’ blazers may be covered with pet hair or your skirt may be caught in your panty hose. Real salespeople share these stories and others in this installment of sales horror stories. Read, learn and avoid these mistakes.

Dog Days

Monster member Mauracous writes:

I was taking three clients to lunch. With this in mind, I quickly cleaned out my car that morning. I thought that I was in good shape. When I picked the clients up, two of them were wearing navy blue blazers. They sat in the back seat. I had been caring for my parents’ golden retriever for approximately one month just prior to this luncheon. Although it was not readily noticeable, the seat back was covered with his long, reddish hair. When they got out of the car, their backs were absolutely covered. I tried to remove as much hair as I could (without the aid of tape). Only one was a dog lover.

The Accidental Salesperson comments: Your story takes a backseat to no other. That was a pretty hairy situation.

The Art of Keeping Quiet

Monster member Nostone discovered the problems with chatting:

We asked a major department store chain’s buyer for the order. As we sat awaiting his decision, he received an urgent call from his superior. We sat twiddling our thumbs and looking at the photos on his wall. When he finally put the receiver down, he was still absorbed in the fallout from this urgent call. To break the ice and the buyer’s trance, I asked: “Is that a photo of your daughter?” The buyer turned slowly looking at the photo on the wall. “That is my 13-year-old son!” Lesson: Don’t ever ask questions about pictures in a buyer’s office if you want to make a sale.

The Accidental Salesperson comments: Small talk can hurt you big time.

Sales in Odd Places

Monster member Mdrexler shows that you never know when or where you can discover a prospect’s needs:

I was in the bathroom and someone in the next stall was making an offer to a candidate via a cell phone. I left the bathroom and went to see the CFO. His secretary informed me that he had stepped out. I waited outside the office, until he emerged from the bathroom. I told him that I represented a staffing service specializing in finance and accounting. I asked if the controller search was still viable. He escorted me to his office and I got the order.

The Accidental Salesperson comments: Now that’s a great example of turning a “stall” into a sale.

Selling Quality Goods

Monster member Veeman1 found out about the importance of selling a quality product:

It was my third week as a used car salesman. I was doing a test drive for an elderly Asian couple. The drive seemed to be going ok until I went to adjust the rearview mirror. It broke off in my hand! The couple couldn’t get out of the car soon enough. Despite handling their objections, they walked. Needless to say, my tenure as a used car salesman was a short one!

The Accidental Salesperson comments: Mirror, mirror in my hand. I wonder if this sale I’ll land. Nope.

Always Consult a Mirror First

Monster member Dan.con explains why you should always watch your back in sales:

Several years ago while managing a retail sales company dealing with wholesaling upholstery and drapery fabrics, I met with a potential new client. I excused myself to go to the ladies room and, when I returned to my meeting, the client began to get very red in the face. Thinking it was just too warm in my office, I crossed the room to the air conditioning’s thermostat. He informed me that my dress was tucked snugly in the waistline of my underpants, providing a rather telling view from behind. I proceeded to gently pull my dress hem from my underpants and told him that I had felt a draft but thought it was from the air conditioning coming on. He became my best customer, and I wore slacks for all future meetings.

The Accidental Salesperson does not comment because his wife may read this article. But thanks for the story.

Don’t Try to Pull One Over

Monster member Btreel tried to use the old “let me check with my manager” close and it backfired:

While working my way through college, I sold vacuum cleaners. Trying to close a sales call, I asked the prospects if I could use their phone to call my boss and see if I could get them a better price. Of course, I already knew what I could sell it for. So instead of dialing the whole number and bothering the boss, I only dialed six numbers. After a few minutes of acting like I was talking to my boss, the phone started making that really loud beeping noise that lets you know the phone is off the hook. They asked me to leave.

The Accidental Salesperson comments: That closing strategy really sucked.