I once tried to join as a sales agent for a networking company but I didn’t like the woman who interviewed me.She asked me a couple of questions about qualities,self-esteem and all that crap and in the end she gave me an example of an old lady who doesn’t know how to use the internet and I didn’t know what to answer.
Also,why did she ask these questions when a sales agent is someone who sells you something and can trick,lie to you? I haven’t met someone in this trade who is honest and can sell products at 20-30 bucks per price.
Is it possible that if you are a scam in this career you can buy a car and live a decent life?
Are you asking is salesmen can have a decent life or if an honest salesman can have a decent life?
The answer to both is of course. You can be scrupulously honest and still tell people what they want to hear. It depends on what you’re selling and what your pay structure is do determine if you’re going to be able to afford a good life.
As an example the realtor we just bought our last house with just showed us houses and left me to do all the work to see if i wanted to buy it. We just saw an add by her in the paper that implied she made a little over 4 million dollars in commissions in the last two year. She never lied that I saw and I would say she can afford a good life.
I meant the sales agent who is a scam and not the one who has an honest view of himself.
Let’s say his salary is around 1900 bucks.How can you buy yourself a car and live a decent life from that salary? Don’t you have to be implicated in illegal activities?
Sales agent isn’t a term commonly used in the US. Salesperson or salesman is often used. Sales people can do well, but it’s a job that often relies on a combination of a small base salary plus commission. You’d think that being dishonest would get you ahead, and it might, in the short term. But good sales people find that being honest bring return customers, which is the sales person’s bread and butter. Being a good sales person takes a certain personality, which is probably why the person interviewing you asked those questions. They are often out-going and are people-pleasers. I can sell, but I’m not a salesperson. I don’t care enough that people are happy.
As for living on the salary you make - that’s an art in itself. I’m a data analyst. I don’t make a lot, but I own 2 houses (one I rent out), a car, several horses, etc. I save half my salary. I’ve learned to enjoy what I have without feeling jealous of those who have more than me. And to work and save toward what I want.
StG
I think you may be confusing “sales” with commissions. If she actually made 4 mil in commissions, her sales were likely 100 mil or more, and I would probably have read about her in the national Realtor news.
I have a plaque on my wall that says I am a “million dollar producer”. That’s sales; my commission for that kind of year is closer to $20,000 - $30,000. A lot of agents sell a million; very few make a million.
Apparently, she was involved in $44 million in transactions in the last two years at a 3% commission that 1.3 million. I did misremember the number and she is making less than a million per year.
we used to have a local RE agent who always ran ads that she was selling millions. The ads said “Phyllis did it again!” Haven’t seen ads lately so maybe they no longer need to run them or she retired.
She is doing phenomenally well for a real estate agent but nowhere near $1 million in earnings per year. Generally, the commission breakdown on real estate is that the seller pays 6%. Half goes to the buyer’s agency and half goes to the seller’s agency. The agency then generally keeps half the commission and pays half to the agent. So she gets roughly 1/4 of the commissions generated on her transactions, or about $660,000 over two years. From that, she has to pay all her expenses, like MLS listing fees, car expenses, client gifts, advertisements, and perhaps even home staging costs. For a high volume go-getter like her, these are relatively small potatoes, but they aren’t nothing.
I think it depends upon the product and the commission rate.
I knew some new and even used car salesmen who were doing very well off of straight commissions.
From what I’ve read it’s easy to get a job as a car salesman. If you don’t do well you will probably quit fast since you won’t be making enough money. A guy sold new cars just to write an article about the job . It was a very long but good article can’t seem to find it online now.
The thread was about sales agents. The people who answer phone calls and try to sell their products to clients like internet packs,food,electronic devices etc…
I’m not familiar with either the term “sales agent” or the job description you’ve provided. You’re talking about a business where people call the business (for what reason?) and someone answers the phone and tries to sell food or electronics to the caller? I don’t get that at all. What are some examples of such businesses?
As a sales agent, you are the front line in customer service. You are the person that they will depend on to fulfill requests and provide services that best meet their needs. To do this, you will take orders, offer services and provide support in person and via telephone or internet. You will also be responsible for maintaining client files, ensuring that returning customers are served to the best level possible.
Many companies are looking for sales agents with experience in their industry, but there are also entry-level opportunities for those new to the workforce or changing careers. Regardless of why and how you are moving into sales, it is important to be customer-oriented, approachable and confident. Your excellent service is what brings customers back.
Sales Agent Duties and Responsibilities
Make multiple outbound calls to potential customers
Deliver customized, targeted sales strategies
Share information about company/product by following sales scripts
Meet all quotas for inside and outside sales
Facilitate future sales
Answer potential customer questions and follow-up call questions
Close sales and lead customer through purchasing process
Understand customer needs and offer solutions and support
Maintain record of calls through computerized system
Research potential leads from business directories, web searches, or digital resources
Create and maintain a list/database of prospect clients
Work with sales team to close sales
Cold call potential sales leads
Where and what is this? I’m assuming this is not in the US and/or is some niche thing most of us are not familiar with. As others have stated, I have no familiarity with the term “sales agent” and the follow up posts and even job description posted is not something i’m familiar with. Therefore I have no idea what the $1900 a month, “scams,” or anything else are really asking about. I mean if it’s a scam like you say and they don’t make any money and none us know what you are talking about, the answer is probably what you suspect.
I think what **wolly **is talking about is “inside sales”, which from what I understand is a role/term mainly used in business to business sales, not consumer sales. ( It’s not the same as a “telemarketer”) My husband is an outside salesman, which means he physically travels to his customers’ stores to make sales, looks at what products they have in stock, suggests new products, etc. There are also inside sales/customer people, who work in the office, answer calls from the outside salespeople’s customers and take orders from low volume customers who are not assigned to an outside salesperson.
This reads like a recruitment pitch. Are you trying to find potential “sales agents” for a particular company? If so, which one?
Or are you being recruited and you’re wondering if it’s a good idea?
I was being recruted and I was wondering if it’s a good idea.
By the way if you work in that field with the minimum salary is it a shame to live with your parents? I know that once you grow up you have to reach certain aspects.
Besides that I met most of my ex school classmates and most of them live a good life because of their parents. I don’t think they bought cars by hard work and most of that is because the parents were involved in these cases.
At my company, inside sales reps make a very good amount between their salary and commission. Enough that managers in others areas (like Finance) quit their managerial jobs to become sales reps.
But cold calling offices to sell paper and toner - probably not so much. My guess is you’d have to get more info.
In America, it’s not unusual for parents to help their kids buy their first (usually used) car. Often when they’re in HS or off to college.
StG
I would say “sales rep” is most common, in line with the trend toward removing -man, -woman, or -person from occupational descriptions (mail carrier, police officer, etc.). But regardless, I agree that “agent” is typically used (in the US) only in niches like real estate or insurance or personal representation (athletes, actors, etc.) that involve a certain amount of intermediation among multiple buyers and sellers.
Can honest sales reps make a living? Of course, if they work for honest companies selling reputable products. If not, then no, probably not.