How do I benefit the most from a strictly commissioned job?

Question

I just got hired as a full time Cell Phone salesman at a Verizon Retailer. I have had a few non-commissioned sales jobs in the past, and I have always done very very well in terms of putting up numbers. However, I know that commission is a whole different ball game. I saw the commission logs for the company from last month, and there were associated who were making literally $7000 that month alone, simply from their sales. I was hired as independent contractor, so this supposedly affects your take-home pay significantly, but my question is what does it take to reach the upper-echelons of commissioned sales? How can I bring home $7000 in one month?

Answer 1

You have to have the customer traffic coming to you.

Once you have the traffic and you are talking face to face with potential buyers, you need to be honest and make them feel comfortable and answer all their questions no matter how stupid you think they are.

I walked out on the first verizon rep in a retail store when I bought my first cell phone. HE gave me such a BAD vibe. Plus he wanted to steer me into one type of account so he lied and said they didn't have any of the other phones. Then, when he realized that I wasn't kidding about the type of plan I wanted and would go somewhere else - poof he found the right phones as they were there all along.

I would never buy anything from a creep like that.

So act like the sale won't do a dam thing for you and be an excellent consultant instead so you can solve people's phone/communication problems and you'll make the bucks. Joe schomoe can go down the street to Virgin Mobile and get the same plan and phone but if you solve his problems and make him aware of things he might want that he didn't know existed (as long as you are not pushy and dishonest like the creep I mentioned), he'll buy from you and tell all his friends to buy from you. And you have to be patient too with consumers who think think think and spend a lot of time weighing the right choice like me. I would not have bought my 2500 dollar Tempuredic mattress unless the sales guy was patient and he was. He was terrific.

Answer 2

You're selling your soul.  In consumer sales, the only way to reach those kinds of numbers is to ignore your customer's actual needs and sell based on what gets you the best commissions.

Never actually actively lie, you'll get caught, but realize that you're in this for yourself, not for  your customer.  You'll probably never sell to the same customer twice, so maximize what you can get out of them and move on....and this is why I have never done pure commission sales and why I won't buy from a company who employs sales personnel on a pure commission basis.

RUN!

Answer 3

Know your product inside and out.  Customer service is key.  Start out slow and build.  Be patient and always give back.

Good Luck.

Answer 4

IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH REJECTION..STOP NOW..A LOT OF REJECTION..ALSO COMMISSION BASED JOBS OFFER BETTER PAY BECAUSE ITS ALL ABOUT THE WORKER. ARE YOU A HARD WORKER? SECOND ITS YOUR PRODUCT. IF YOU HAVE A GREAT PRODUCT THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHERS YOU SHOULD BE SUCCESSFUL. TO BE HONEST (NOT KNOCKING CELL PHONE SALES MEN) I THINK IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE ON A COMMISSION BASED JOB..GET A BETTER ONE. I AM A COMMISSION BASE ENTREPREANUR BUT IN THE FINANCE INDUSTRY. SOMETIMES I CAN CLOSE A TRANSACTION AND MAKE 50K IN A MATTER OF AN HOUR (MOST OF THE TIME 30-40K A MONTH) IF YOU MAY BE INTERESTED SEND ME AN E-MAIL

Answer 5

You need to learn about being an "independent contractor" and how that affects your taxes, and what you can deduct etc when you file your taxes. Go to IRS website and get some publications on this topic.

Straight commission theoretically gives you the most compensation when you have the most results. Problem is they can always change the commission structure on you at any time unless you have a written contract.

Good luck.

Answer 6

You need to sell like there's no tomorrow and sell expensive phones and plans rather than the more basic stuff.

Good luck.

Answer 7

What are their commission rates?  And at what level of sales do their commissions change?  And how much in sales do you need to make $7000 selling phones?  Then, from there, realize what you must do to sell that many phones.  Does this mean that you will need a store front?  You did not give enough info for me to give you a more exact figure...