All About The Money vs All About The Client

by Paul Castain on May 3, 2012


Someone pursued me for a while to do business with them and quite frankly . . . I think they did a great job!

So great, that I signed up for their service.

I noticed that once I signed up, I would get various things that equated to upgrading and spending more money with them but . . .

I would never get ideas on how I could use their service more effectively.

Never a follow up call to see if I was indeed digging their product.

Just a whole lot of “but wait there’s more” nonsense geared at getting me to open my wallet again.

I often talk about the value in creating “courtships” with our prospects but the problem with many is that they promise marriage when all they really want is the business equivalent of a “friend with benefits”

Don’t get me wrong, we need to always think of ways to expand our relationships.

Upgrade our services.

Develop accounts.

Penetrate other departments even though I just laughed at the fact that I used the word “penetrate” but . . .

I wonder if we’d ultimately attract a bigger paycheck if we simply focused on the client.

Caring . . . Truly Caring . . . pays a better dividend!

Your Turn . . . How do you feel when you buy and it becomes apparent that all that’s cared about is the money?

To find out more about my monthly sales program where you’ll receive (2) one on one sales lessons each month, email me

paul@yoursalesplaybook.com

  • http://twitter.com/MZazeela Marc Zazeela

    Paul – I have seen lot of sales reps walk away once the deal has been struck. I see two possibilities:

    1) Corporate only rewards new business and once the sale is made the customer becomes a house account.

    2) Poor sales person who does not recognize the lifetime value of  their customer. Maintaining is always easier than finding new ones.

    Cheers,
    Marc

  • http://yoursalesplaybook.com paulcastain

    Thanks Marc . . . ready for the twist to the story?

    This was the owner of the business so your awesomely articulated thought #2 sounds like the culprit.

    Thanks and have a fantastic weekend!

  • http://www.linkedin.com/home?trk=hb_tab_home Dknoedler

    Wow — the line “never get ideas on how I could use their service . . . ” what a “dah” moment.  Talk about how we can be helpful–it’s right in front of us.  Thanks Paul and have a great weekend!

  • http://twitter.com/francois_steyn Francois Steyn

    “with our prospects but the problem with many is that they promise marriage when all they really want is the business equivalent of a “friend with benefits”” – Ha ha ha, you couldn’t have described it better!

  • http://brucezim.wordpress.com/ Bruce Zimmerman

    Jedi-Master, Another thought provoking post. Unfortunately, for far too many companies and their sales reps it’s all about the deal. Get it done and move on. What ever happened to the “Professional” part of Sales Professional? I guess it depends on who the Dude/Dudette is! 

    Here’s hoping you have a ROCK’n Friday!

  • http://yoursalesplaybook.com paulcastain

    Thank YOU Debbie!

  • http://yoursalesplaybook.com paulcastain

    I’m glad someone appreciates my crazy sense of humor Francois :)

    Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment!

  • http://yoursalesplaybook.com paulcastain

    So true Bruce. 

    I think this is wrong on any level but the thing that made this worse is that the person owns the business.

    How freakin crazy is that?

    Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!

  • Jess Robinson

    I can best answer by telling you what happens when the opposite of Money Ho Syndrome occurs. I’ll fall in love (figuratively). The company who looks after my needs and not my wallet will have my undying, Lassie-esque loyalty.

    Great reminder, Paul. It’s all about the long haul. And a fantastic weekend to you.

  • Mr. Anonymous

    Sorry to say it but I have to admit to being a sales hoe myself. I’m with Marc on this one. When you completely separate the hunting and farming roles you encourage this sort of behavior. I can say for myself and many other in sales that you learn to play the game to make the money. Often the game is all about bringing customers in rather than closing the back door and keeping them in. This results in unhappy customers and more attrition for the company. The only person it helps is the sales rep, but even then it is short lived. You won’t get many referrals by treating your customers as a piggy bank.

  • http://yoursalesplaybook.com paulcastain

    Well stated Jess . . . here’s to falling in love and the ultimate destination of “til death do we us part” status with our customers!

    Thanks for sharing your valuable thoughts!

  • http://yoursalesplaybook.com paulcastain

    “You won’t get many referrals by treating your customers as a piggy bank.”
    We need to print this out and keep it front and center . . . well said my friend!

    Thank you!

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