Need a Sign!

[Kristine]

WE have a nice polite "No soliciting" sign hanging by our door, but it must be in some obscure foreign language because it's not working!!!

Every NFIB, AFlac type company (some have sent different people several times) have been pestered me. And because our design area is open to the sales floor - there is no hiding.

anyone have a nice but firm sign they use?

oh and can I add: no we don't give change for the car wash (it's next door - BUT the bank is across the street) and No we don't own the car wash so if it ate your money - we don't give you the refund. And No I don't know when the small engine repair guy will be back we only accept his fed ex pkgs you can't leave your lawn mower....
OK Rant over.......

 

[Tracy D'Amico]

"If you are selling something you think we may need, please use our side entrance"

hope you don't have a side entrance - I do know someone who uses this & it works well. Her side entrance is locked from the outside & has no business info on it.

I understand the frustration, but think "no soliciting" & other "rule" signs look rude posted on a front door. Just my .02, but doors should look welcoming... I hide by telling them my husband makes all the business decisions lol and they believe it lol

I can't stand my DR's office with their multiple signs "payment at time of service" "no cell phones in office" "we do not accept credit cards for payment" "no faxed referrals, pick up only" " 50cents for each copy of referral needed" and on and on. I swear it's like wallpaper.

 

[Kristine]

I hate signs too, but lately they come in and ask for ME by name. kind of hard to lie, guess I could be someone else - like sorry, I am just the overworked old lady Doesn't work too well when its a local community person.

 

[mikec]

I was an NFIB sales rep in New Jersey for about three weeks, (hated it), and the guy training me told me to ignore all those kinds of signs otherwise you will never get in.

Sales, especially cold calling, is a whole different animal. Gotta be aggressive and get past the gatekeeper, whether that is a sign or a receptionist. Though your sign may say "use side entrance", it won't eliminate any salesman worth his/her salt.

 

[Kristine]

I was an NFIB sales rep in New Jersey for about three weeks, (hated it), and the guy training me told me to ignore all those kinds of signs otherwise you will never get in.

Sales, especially cold calling, is a whole different animal. Gotta be aggressive and get past the gatekeeper, whether that is a sign or a receptionist. Though your sign may say "use side entrance", it won't eliminate any salesman worth his/her salt.

I think the AFLAC guys follow this model too. They are tenacious

 

[makescents]

I once had a NFIB guy tell me that in his language No Solicitation meant "come on in and sell me something" After I asked him if he saw the sign...

I said "whatever" It means "get out and stay out - and tell all of your freinds"..

I have a freind that owns a massage therepy biz and she has a sign that says "we release the hounds on solicitors - so don't even try!"

 

[Rhonda]

frame the sign, put it within reach of your sales counter and when they come in just reach down and put it in front of their face then point to the door.
I've had to just point to the door when the dammmmed "Combined Insurance" salesmen come in with their binders in hand......
I just say.... Combined??? NO, please leave!

(they screwed me out of over 6 months of compensation insurance due to a slick saleman after I paid installments for 7 years..... they're snakes....)

 

[lizzie ann]

I have a great sign that hangs above my desk as I don't have the nerve to place it out front, says...."There is no reason.It's just our policy"

 

[Chezbloom]

I was an NFIB sales rep in New Jersey for about three weeks, (hated it), and the guy training me told me to ignore all those kinds of signs otherwise you will never get in.

Sales, especially cold calling, is a whole different animal. Gotta be aggressive and get past the gatekeeper, whether that is a sign or a receptionist. Though your sign may say "use side entrance", it won't eliminate any salesman worth his/her salt.

In your opinion Mike, what is the best way to get them to leave? I have the sign to and I just hate it when they ignore it and I have to be the big b*tch and tell them to go away. I mean, I feel for people who are trying to make a living even if it is a snake oil salesperson.

 

[hcflorist]

In your opinion Mike, what is the best way to get them to leave? I have the sign to and I just hate it when they ignore it and I have to be the big b*tch and tell them to go away. I mean, I feel for people who are trying to make a living even if it is a snake oil salesperson.

I don't use signs. But I don't hesitate to tell them politely that I'm not interested and don't have time to talk to them. That usually takes about 5 seconds. If they don't understand that, "GET OUT . . . NOW ! ! !" in a much less polite voice and manner learned from Marine Corps Drill Instructors has always worked when necessary..

Actually, if I'm not busy, I'll sometimes take time for small talk with them, even if I don't think I'm interested. After all, they might be a customer some day. Or they might refer a customer. You never know. It's happened many times before.

 

[mikec]

Well, as I recall, NFIB was a pretty well oiled machine with lots of techniques to overcome the objections to their presence. The guy that was training me, was very good at turning a "I don't have time or I'm not interested" into an hour long visit with many business owners, usually ending up in a "sale". Me? Not so good at it and not very comfortable with being persistent when they told me "NO". Consequently, I was spending more money on gas and shoe polish than I was making.

I'm sure We have all been victims of those sales reps that knew the techniques and are aggresive. But, the one sales technique I remember from NFIB, after giving the spiel, was to ask for the sale, then remain silent to wait for the answer from the owner. So, now that I'm the owner I just say "no, I am not interested" and then stare at them. It usually works in reverse on them. Not many persist when they know that as far as I'm concerned, there really isn't any point to trying to waste everybody's time.

Actually used it just yesterday with the FTD guy. He was gone in about 30 seconds.

 

[Kristine]

. So, now that I'm the owner I just say "no, I am not interested" and then stare at them. It usually works in reverse on them. Not many persist when they know that as far as I'm concerned, there really isn't any point to trying to waste everybody's time.

Actually used it just yesterday with the FTD guy. He was gone in about 30 seconds.

ohh thanks for the tip. Just say no and shut up. no explanation necessary

 

[Dollar Tree - Mark Anderson]

I worked for a company where the owner welcomed solicitors and in short order made an appointment with that rep instead of taking time away from what he was currently doing. Now not every Joe (no offense to any Joes out there) got an appointment but most did. I asked, why did he take time to see these people. He replied “I am in business to stay in business and why would I not take time to hear new ideas”, “Doing the same thing will eventually yield the same or diminishing results”, “Plus it gives me a chance to turn those solicitors into customers of my own, our meeting isn’t a one way street” I thought that was very interesting!