On The Knock

Everyone's got a friend called Dave. Mine lives in Stafford, and today we went for lunch, sampling a fine pie and pint at the town's new Pie and Ale bistro type place. After I dropped him off, I got home and checked Facebook* and was dissapointed to find that I'd missed an altercation with a door to door salesman by literally minutes.

The just of it was that some chancer with dodgy ID had turned up at Dave's place "not selling anything" byt wanting to get him "a better deal" on his electricity bill. Dave sent him packing in what reads like a hilariously confrontational manner, but it reminded me of an experience I had some 8 years ago...

The date was 26th June 2002. I'd finished universiy the previous month, and was continuing my actually quite enjoyable part-time job in the garden centre for Focus DIY while trying to find a full time job and start a career. Each Wednesday I would scour Stoke's Sentinel for jobs, especially in the Sales section, because I'd convinced myself that's where the real money was (yes, I really was that naive).

I saw the advert. A small box advertising a junior position in Sales and Marketing. Graduates welcome, no experience neccessary! I gave them a call, and was invited to go to their office the very next day for an interview.

The day of the interview was quite hot, and I felt uncomfortable wearing my new suit in the centre of town. Their office was very modern, and I was led down some steps to wait for my interview. I was surrounded by other candidates (I recognised one as a barman from the student union, which probably wasn't a great sign), and while I waited a video played in the corner of what looked like a corporate love-in event, with lots of awards been given to their sales people. Still, I was there for a job, so I suspended my cynicism.

When I was eventually called into the interview I found myself face-to-face with the manager of the place. He explained that the office was actually a franchise of a much larger group whose corporate video I'd been watching earlier. He'd worked for them, got on very well and opened up his franchise in our city. I was impressed, he was maybe about 28 and had obviously done well. He told me more about the job - "We like to market directly to our customers, it means we can get out message across clearly. We work for a number of clients..." he then listed well known energy companies, charities and credit card providers for whom this company worked on behalf.

He seemed very pleased with me, said he was glad I was well turned out and dressed smart, and invited me back the following day to shadow one of his sales managers on a typical day's work.

The next day I got up early and drove down to the office. I was introduced to Trevor, who I would spend the day with. He was a very enthusiastic character who proceeded to march me across town to a sandwich shop. On the way he gushed excitedly about how much he loved working for the company and how supportive they were, that it was the thrid biggest company in the world (I knew that wasn't true). He explained that we'd be meeting a couple of his sales team staff and be driving to Crewe to meet clients and give them a demonstration of the product we were selling - cheaper energy.

At this point, I genuinely beleived everything I'd been told, and began to picture myself in an hour's time, sitting in an office while I watched these guys did a presentation on this mysterious energy product. I was good at presentations while at university, so I should take to this easily...

We met the sales team, crammed into the back of a Citroen Saxo and began the 20 mile journey up the A500 to Crewe. There was a lot more excitement about what a great company this was to work for... but hang on, now we're heading into the council estate area of Crewe?

At this point I'd already twigged something was amiss when they started talking about their 'goals' for the day. This was apparently because if they set themselves goals they were more likely to achieve them. Then, the moment of clarity. Three photocopied maps are produced, and streets are allocated to each team member. Instantly, my inner voice says "This is door to door sales. It is beneath you."

Now, I know that sounds like a very conceited and slightly pompous attitude to take. Maybe if I had no other income and mouths to feed I would try to make a living from door to door sales. But I hadn't spend 4 years to go on the knock, and my part-time job would be better. Still, here I was in Crewe with a whole day ahead of me so I might as well play along.

The next few hours saw us knock on perhaps 100 doors. Trevor moved at lightning pace, obviously the more people who spoke to, the more sales he'd get. he got £30 for every sale he made. Thinking about it, you'd only need to get 5 to make £150, not bad for a day's work, right? The whole day he got 1 person to sign up. And the only pay was commission.

Throughout the day he went on and on about what an amazing oppurtunity this was. We met up with the rest of the sales teams for an afternoon break. One of the sales team pathetically announced he'd 'shortened his goals' which as took to mean as realising no-one was going to buy off him. Trevor continued his bluster, saying he was going to buy a brand new Lambourghini Diablo (it was out of production) like one he'd seen at a show the previous month. One that apparently had got a load of subs in the boot (mid engined car...).

Once the day was over, the plan was to go back to the office, where I would be given some kind of test. Trevor had asked me throughout the day how I felt about working for them, and while initially maintained a veil of eagerness, I was gradually becoming more reticent, until i told him I wasn't sure it was for me.

His attitude immediately changed. "I can't put you through to the test" he told me. The next ten minutes he ranted once more about what an immense opportunity I was giving up. "Don't you want to be a millionaire?" he desperately asked? "Money isn't everything!" I told him. Once he realised I wasn't interested, he then walked at an even faster pace, and ignoring me. I knew I was 20 miles from home, but was it really worth sticking out for another hour and a terse car journey back to Stoke? No.

Luckily, my friend and colleague Jane lived in Crewe, I knew she'd be sympathetic to my situation, and would probably give me a lift home. As I walked away from Trevor, still furiously charging to the remaining addresses on his map, I pulle dout my phone and turned on for the first time that day. A text arrives... "Hello from a hot and sunny Glastonbury..." sender? Jane.

*******

This day was an important life lesson for me. Many times during my subsequent career at the head office of one of the building societies I would have an opportunity to go and work in sales, and while i would dip my toe in it, I never got to the point where I actually had to sell as part of my daily life.

It made me see the people who do these jobs in a new light too. Everytime someone comes around to try and sell me power, I know they aren't really from the company they say they're from, they're employed by a company to flog whatever the office has got a deal with at that particular time too. Same with the 'Chuggers' - the charity muggers on the street who try to sign you up to direct debits.



*Yes, i'm back... I know it's nearly 2 years since I last wrote a blog, but I held out for 7 months before returning