Commission for what?
I got a new cell phone this week. Not by choice really, more by necessity as my old phone’s screen was starting to flake out.
The whole exasperating ordeal (made worse by the 1 1/2 year old that I had to hold the entire hour) made me come to one realization: A commission should not be awarded merely because someone rings up your sale, rather, it should be awarded because the customer thinks the sales person is worthy.
The kid who helped me was a soft-talker, mumbled and made me feel stupid for only needing “a pretty basic” phone.
“But I don’t check my e-mail on my phone,” I said. He rolled his eyes.
“I really don’t need my entire music library on it.” Heavy sigh.
“No, really, I don’t like Blue Tooth, and I don’t need it.” Blank stare.
Hovering over my shoulder the ENTIRE time, he only perked up when I looked at the expensive phones. When I told him a needed I basic one he took me to the $19.99 phone (Come on! Isn’t there a phone that costs between $300 and $20?)
Finally, when I’d made my decision, which he observed by eavesdropping on the 25 calls I made to my husband to check the sound quality, my toddler had finally had it and the meltdown began. Amid all that, he then kicked into his version of “high gear” with an annoying string of mumbly up-sell offers.
No, I don’t need to buy more music storage. No, I don’t need it to be a modem. No, I don’t need anything else.
Period.
I like my new phone. But I’m highly annoyed that some kid who did a lousy job is a bit richer today because he was the one standing there when I walked in. He didn’t offer me any great insight; he only talked about the expensive phones; he didn’t take into consideration what I need in a phone; and he easily could have been lying all the while.
What I propose is a box on the receipt that says: “Check here if your salesperson provided adequate service to receive the commission on your transaction.”
THEN and only then, would a salesperson pause long enough to think, “This woman hardly seems like the type to watch ‘SpongeBob’ on her phone, I’ll steer her toward this phone.”
And we’ll all be happier.