SNfl@@TH SELLING

by George N. Kohn, Morketing Consultont Co)fighl-Gcorge N. Kahn

Selling Quolity

Today, a salesman is frequently afraid to mention quality to a buyer. It's become an almost unmentionable word. Instead he climbs on the price band wagon, igrroring the top features of his product. And when he can't compete in price he's lost. The sale goes by default because he couldn't muster up an intelligent argument for his line.

Manr- times the salesman lets himself be scared into harping on price by the prospect, who starts tossing competitive offers at him. Here is a case of ignorance feeding on ignorance.

Just because a biryer goes into the price routine does not mean that you have to follow suit. If price is not your strongpoint, brush his objections aside and concentrate on the quality aspects of your product.

IYHO BUYS OUATITY?

}\Iore people than you think. If cheapness were the only factor in selling everyone would own the lowest priced automobile. dress in shoddy clothes and buy the least expensive furniture, jewelry, sporting equipment and education.

The prospect you call on may be a tough bargainer but look around his plant. You'll readily see that he didn't buy the cheapest equipment he could find.

There are many buyers today who have stuck with high quality merchandise for years and would not think of changing despite all the price blandishments in the world. They have built their reputation on qualitv and would do nothing to jeopardize that good name.

BACKDROP F(|R OUATITY

The appropriate backdrop is important in selling alsoparticularly in selling qualit,v. Just as Tiffany would not put a diamond necklace in a cheap-looking box, so you must not cheapen or degrade your product by skimping on the props.

nEPRINTS FOR SALESMEN thlr ls a condanscd vcr- don. Each lesson is availablc in an expanded form, ln a 4-pagc broc,hurc, sizc Bl'xll, printcd ia 2 colors on wbltc

' glossy papcr and is 3-hole punched to fit aay standatd 3sln8 binder. Each subjcct in this cxpanded version is fully snd complctoly devcloped i! comprchcnsivc detail and includes a self-exanination quiz for Salesmen. Pricrs are a8 ' , - follows:

1 to 9 coplcs (of cach aniclc)........-..-...50 ccn$ cach l0 to 49 coplcs (of cach articlc)...-*...-.-..37th ceDtg each

This includes more than your sample cases, display kits, literature or audio-visual material. These are necessary but even more important is that you yourself act like quality. If you are trying to convince a buyer of the quality of your product you must make him see the quality in you. Dress right, talk correctly and demonstrate complete sincerity and conviction. Reek of class and quality.

A big West Coast aircraft factory needed a small engine part it found cheaper to buy than to make. Several salesmen from small firms came running for the order. The airplane plant's purchasing agent gave the business to a young salesman, Bill Marsh, who had been sixth in line.

Over lunch one day, the purchasing agent explained how he arrived at the decision.

"Well, in the first place," he said, "Bill's product was first class. Our engineers gave it a thorough going over and it met every test.

"But Bill impressed me more than any of the others with his manner, refinement and his general appearance. He was selling a good product and he acted like it. Anotler thing. Even though his outfit was small and we were big, he didn't grovel or beg. He kept his independence all through the interview and I respected him for it. So many salesmen, even with a good product, are servile and mealy-mouthed. Those kind embarrass me or make me nervous."

HIDDEI{ VATUE

Some quality features stand out like a lighthouse beam on a dark night but others must be revealed by the salesman. Certain products have hidden values which are not readily apparent, For example, you may be selling an electric generator that looks and operates like most other generators on the market. But if you can show reports from an independent testing company or an endorsement from well-known users, you can sell the motor even if it does oost more than others. This is the hidden value in your product.

A prospect will buy a more expensive item but he needs a good excuse to do it' You must plant in his mind the idea that it is sound judgment to choose your prod' uct even though it costs more.

A father I know went to five stores before he found a sled of a particular make for his son. The sled he bought co6t more than the others but he was only too happy to pay the price.

If you can proye that your product is of superior quality the price tag need not worry you.

Ouatity Is Ihe Service

You may have the same product as your competitor, but your firm offers better service. Hit that point hard as a quality feature of your company.

Quality comes in many forrns and the ambitious salesman will take advantage of its selling power. Don't be shy about pushing quality over price. This takes real salesmanship but the payoff will make it more than worthwhile.

The price merry-go-round has gone far enough. It's time salesmen got off and sold on merit.

Are you emphasizing quality enough? Ilere's a means to help you tell. If you carl score at least seven times with a 'oyes" answcr you are on the right track.

1. Do you stress the quality features of your product? Yes ! No n

2. Do you show your product in an atmosphere of quality? Yesn Notr

3. Are you convinced that price is not always the most important part of selling? Yes n No !

4. Do you feel at ease talking about quality?Yesn No!

5. Do you emphasize the service your firm can provide the buyer? Yes tr No n

6. Do you research the product''for hidden value? YesD Non

7. Do you manage to override the buyer's concentration on price? Yes ! No n

8. Does your appearance and manner suggest quality? Yes n No n

9. Do you know why people pay more than they have to for Droducts? YesI Non in your selling? Yes I No j t00 or morc copicE (of cach articlc)-.-..--.25 ccnts each

50 to 99 copi$ (of each aniclc)........-...-.-.30 crots each

' Tho ontiso scrlcs may bc pr€-ordered or individual articlca

6ty bo ordcrcd by numbcr address ordcrs to ttre