March 09, 2007:
Last Friday, I was working from home, and just before noon, a couple of young boys about 8 and 10 rang the door bell, and asked if I wanted a carpet or a blanket. Initially I thought they wanted to collect them for a charity, but then I realized they wanted to sell the two carpet rolls and two blanket rolls that they had with them. I was a but surprised because usually kids come for small donations for their projects, but this was a bit different. They looked like brothers and were carrying these no-so-light carpets and blanket rolls on their shoulders and asking door to door. I didn't need any of their stuff, but I wanted to help...somehow.
I asked if one of them could stay with the stock while the other covered the rest of the street, so that they don't have to carry the load door to door. They didn't want to leave each other alone. What else could I suggest? By now, I was already with them on the street, trying to see if some of the Merc, BMW or Jaguar homes had the cars still parked outside, which could make good places for a pitch. I thought of Price...."how were they doing it?". I asked "how much is the carpet"? The older one, who was standing next to me, said: "can you give £35 for it?". And the younger one added immediately: "and we can't give it for less than £25!". I realized that was very close to their cost price and someone at home told not to sell below that, and he said it straight to me. These kids had put their whole plan in front of me, and were ready to take any price I wanted to give. You know, dealing with layered conversations, and iterative discussions, can make you lose touch with such direct conversation!
I suggested they they should ask for £35 and then talk about where the blanket or carpet is made. And that if they were not able to sell any of the 4 items by the end of my street (about 50 homes), they should come back to me, and I will take something. They went on. I got back to my work, and the bell did not rang again. I hope they made a sale.
A part of me says I should have bought something right then, and that they needed my sale (at least to reduce their weight), more than my training. In this whole rapid episode, I forgot to ask one very important question: "why were they selling these items? what need at home made them take these heavy items from door to door?" In this case, I think I missed the forest for the trees. This incident has stuck in my mind. I wish they do well.
Last Friday, I was working from home, and just before noon, a couple of young boys about 8 and 10 rang the door bell, and asked if I wanted a carpet or a blanket. Initially I thought they wanted to collect them for a charity, but then I realized they wanted to sell the two carpet rolls and two blanket rolls that they had with them. I was a but surprised because usually kids come for small donations for their projects, but this was a bit different. They looked like brothers and were carrying these no-so-light carpets and blanket rolls on their shoulders and asking door to door. I didn't need any of their stuff, but I wanted to help...somehow.
I asked if one of them could stay with the stock while the other covered the rest of the street, so that they don't have to carry the load door to door. They didn't want to leave each other alone. What else could I suggest? By now, I was already with them on the street, trying to see if some of the Merc, BMW or Jaguar homes had the cars still parked outside, which could make good places for a pitch. I thought of Price...."how were they doing it?". I asked "how much is the carpet"? The older one, who was standing next to me, said: "can you give £35 for it?". And the younger one added immediately: "and we can't give it for less than £25!". I realized that was very close to their cost price and someone at home told not to sell below that, and he said it straight to me. These kids had put their whole plan in front of me, and were ready to take any price I wanted to give. You know, dealing with layered conversations, and iterative discussions, can make you lose touch with such direct conversation!
I suggested they they should ask for £35 and then talk about where the blanket or carpet is made. And that if they were not able to sell any of the 4 items by the end of my street (about 50 homes), they should come back to me, and I will take something. They went on. I got back to my work, and the bell did not rang again. I hope they made a sale.
A part of me says I should have bought something right then, and that they needed my sale (at least to reduce their weight), more than my training. In this whole rapid episode, I forgot to ask one very important question: "why were they selling these items? what need at home made them take these heavy items from door to door?" In this case, I think I missed the forest for the trees. This incident has stuck in my mind. I wish they do well.
Update from April 6th (4 weeks later): The kids came around again, and I was glad to see them. I asked why they sell carpets instead of going to school, and they said their dad also sells carpets using his mobile van, and they help him often. They were from Ireland and that they got the carpets from Poland and Ireland. I knew I was going to buy a carpet, but still wanted to give them sales practice...so I asked them to suggest what carpet I should buy. The young kid said - "Take the blue one - its a good color" and the elder one said "take the red one,its a warm color for the house, you can put it in your office". I told the younger one that he could also sell his color if he tells why the color is good and how I can use it! And I bought the small red carpet. They went happy with new money and one carpet less on their shoulder. And the red carpet indeed looks great in my home office.
1 comment:
Well, this is a great post. Thanks for sharing it.
Post a Comment