in my experience, every business gets some form of cold calling be it farming, catering, interior design, automotive. Those cold calls can be by phone, email and in most cases, in person.
Reps
- Thread starter Tarw Coch
- Start date
- Location
- Cumbria
It is rather ironic, we demand the Supermarkets sell British, we demand the processors give a decent price, we demand vegans should not have a message, we demand public footpaths should be closed during this virus, we demand, we demand...
Then we give short shift to anyone cold calling, from our own Industry, all in it together.............. ??
A fine example of why farmers cannot work together.
Then we give short shift to anyone cold calling, from our own Industry, all in it together.............. ??
A fine example of why farmers cannot work together.
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Exactly and for those in the pig or particularly poultry sector cold calling definitely doesn't mean rolling up unannounced. There's still ways to work
- Location
- south norfolk
Being a small farmer I never get reps calling for a social visit,ever.i get a happy xmas txt from a local rep which I appreciate and I’ve done some business with him.i cannot remember the last time someone appeared on farm either unlike the 80s when we woukd get 3/4 a week calling.i do contact reps and companies but after initial contact I never hear from them again which annoys me intensely and I could post a list.ive recently contacted a new grain trader on my agronomists recommendation and she has been great and I’ve probably spoken to her 4/5 times over the last couple months and I’ll do some business with her selling grain and buying seed and fertiliser.its just the same regarding my construction equipment.never hear from company I buy diggers from after taking delivery,not even a call to see how machine is going.thats after buying 4 new volvo excavators.i find the best companies are the big 3 used cultivation equipment suppliers who are allways friendly helpful and value your time and business and I shall not mention names but I’m sure you can guess.
Nick...
Nick...
In this instance...I'm the man with the chequebook. If they're going to get the sale, they will get the call.
I might well be warped, but that's up to me.
The strict policy has clearly worked, as I'm seldom bothered.
Do I drop stock to market unannounced?
If it's any kind of catalogued sale, or such as where it might matter...never.
Don't sell grain, but I sell a lot of other product, and with specific exception where it's expected -phoning-emailing beef customers when there's a bullock hung for instance-, I'd never cold call customers hawking my wares.
If they want them, they ask...simple.
And I don't know what you get up to, but I have several tasks which require consummate concentration, working with complex maths and specs, and nasty severely 'cut you in half' type machines.
The last thing I want is someone bothering me when I'm in the middle of something with them.
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
The middle part of your reply really annoys me. There is no reason for no reply. I realise in my work that tis takes extra time, a good reminder list etc but I can honestly say that at the outset you never know where even the most casual small enquiry can lead and besides which it's common courtesy. One thing that i notice as I get older, fewer and fewer folk want to be accountable
Johnnyboxer
Member
- Location
- Yorkshire
BDBed
Member
- Location
- Melton Mowbray
Can I ask how you introduce yourself to your customers? As I started as a complete unknown to my customers, I personally found that a face to face introduction is the best way. I will always call if I can first but not always possible.
- Location
- Cumbria
I remember one of the major blue-chip brands ethos being " treat everyone like they are a potential customer" no matter who they are, in addition, they may not be in a position to buy, but maybe know someone who is, and depending on how you treat them, they may have an influence with others.
So, whether it's a delivery man/women, ministry person, representative, member of the public, anybody, we should always remember PR is everything.
Being a miserable, unsociable git, helps no one other than you're inflated ego.
So, whether it's a delivery man/women, ministry person, representative, member of the public, anybody, we should always remember PR is everything.
Being a miserable, unsociable git, helps no one other than you're inflated ego.
- Location
- roe valley
Fine you have caught me out, you've exposed me for the simple man I am. I dont require consummate concentration for my job, or have the ability to work out complex maths algorithms or even have the knowledge never mind the big balls you must have to work with those very dangerous types of machines.
However using my basic skills with a pencil a rubber a calculator and several pieces of paper (I didnt get it right the first couple of times) going by the reactions 'likes' of the other followers on this thread which i will take as the popular opinion. On our initial posts at this time @ 11.00am if this was a sport the score is 16-3 in my favour and you are getting whipped but its not a sport. It is a very rough guide from an uneducated man to gauge people on their thoughts. My opinion although it may not be right but it is topping the polls.
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betweenthelines
Member
- Location
- southwest
There's a simple reason why reps and cold calling exist. Politeness
Human nature finds it harder to say "No" to someone face-to-face or to a person you know.
How much easier is it to so "No" or hang up on a stranger selling over the phone than in person to someone you have known for years?
Human nature finds it harder to say "No" to someone face-to-face or to a person you know.
How much easier is it to so "No" or hang up on a stranger selling over the phone than in person to someone you have known for years?
- Location
- Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
Makes for sad reading this thread.
I know quite a few ag reps and I would say to survive and thrive they must be of worth to their employer and customer base. I see many much poorer examples in other sectors
I know quite a few ag reps and I would say to survive and thrive they must be of worth to their employer and customer base. I see many much poorer examples in other sectors
- Location
- Summer set
I used to go out and about for an oil company and loved it. Most of the time I more of a problem that I couldn’t get away from farmers.
Sometimes you had to work out when was the best time to visit.
I had one company that was a large plant outfit. The day I thought I would visit was the day they were moving defence boulders at West Bay with a massive slew. The track had fallen off and the tide was coming in. I didn’t even bother?
Sometimes you had to work out when was the best time to visit.
I had one company that was a large plant outfit. The day I thought I would visit was the day they were moving defence boulders at West Bay with a massive slew. The track had fallen off and the tide was coming in. I didn’t even bother?
Enquired about a handful of used seed drills with full details of trade in pics etc and had auto replies from all but then subsequently no replies with details of what they have advertised.
But I enquired online with an Italian company about a new machine and they replied within a hour via email and then called me and couldn't be more helpful. They are keen to do a deal and get the machine shipped over to be pdi'ed by there UK representative so we can view before confirming the deal. They have said they could have a machine in the uk within 48 hours from the factory.
Johnnyboxer
Member
- Location
- Yorkshire
As a young feed rep, 30 years ago...........straight out of college and working in Dorset - I can say most of that is true
There were a few places that you wiped your feet on the path/grass on the way out, too
Summer was good, on sunny days...........with a buxom daughter/wife sunbathing in a secluded garden - thinking they weren't going to be disturbed, until a Rep turns up unannounced.... and some colleagues had some great stories
Hooby...I couldn't give a flying whatsit.
You're views are more popular than mine. Good for you.
We used to spend on advertising, but now primarily rely on
1st our website (which does cost, but stuff all), and others almost free to use
2nd word of mouth
3rd 'cross pollination twixt existing customer base'
ollie989898
Member
It is true you should treat everyone as an customer- so-called 'internal' customers and external ones should in theory be treated with the same attitude. They are big on this in the USA.
However, I have little time for authority, least of all inspectors, clip-boarders and the like.