# "I'm just looking." Sigh...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [May 19, 2005, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571 "2005-05-19T12:55:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/41 "2005-05-19T14:44:11Z")
Why are the vehicles locked at all? Why not just have some open demos? You could still have salespeople or a security person watching discretely for damage or theft.
Or how about putting some kind of viewing platforms next to the windows so people can step up and peer in?
If I couldn’t browse a lot without having to get somebody to keep opening every vehicle I’d probably leave. I just don’twant to be accompanied while I’m looking.
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### Author:  [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/42 "2005-05-19T14:44:54Z")
Chefguy I am happy to be a idiot elsewhere. I sure don’t want to be an idiot in front of an asshole. Guess what with a little education I could overcome my idiocy, while you will still be an asshole.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/43 "2005-05-19T14:45:54Z")
> [@missbunny](#):
>
> Based on what you just wrote, you actually don’t understand. You are a salesperson. You’re supposed to show people the product. Many people use the line “I’m just looking” when they really mean they are probably interested in buying but want to look around first. In your type of sales, there is, granted, more effort required from you. You can’t just say, “Okay then, go ahead and call me if you have questions.” You have to unlock the doors and let them inside. A bit more work than a clothing-store clerk who can just walk away.
>
> But do ANY of these “just looking” people ever buy? You aren’t really going to claim that NONE of them, ever, have bought after claiming they were “just looking,” are you? Because if NO ONE has ever - NEVER - really bought, then frankly your sales technique just need a lot of work. Or you are rubbing people the wrong way.
>
> What’s the commission on a $100,000 RV anyway? I bet it’s worth opening a few doors and answering questions. You could always try telling someone, upon hearing “I’m just looking”: “Okay, fine but my time is very valuable and I only deal with people who are seriously planning to buy so I’m afraid I cannot let you into any of our motorhomes, nor answer any questions.”
>
> See how that improves your sales percentage.
Please go back and re-read the entire thread. You’re creating a circular argument. Your final sentence is something I would never say to a customer. Not answer questions? Salesman suicide.
I have no idea what the commission is on a $100K RV. Neither does the sales manager or the general manager or the owner until the month-end invoices are reconciled. Seriously. MY commission is 25% of the commissionable gross (after the dealership backs out the overhead costs and other expenses). So if the profit is, say, $6,000 and the pack (overhead) is 7%, then the commissionable gross is $5,580. I would get 25% of that, unless someone helped me with the sale, in which case I would get 12.5%.
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### Author:  [@Calendar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calendar)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/44 "2005-05-19T14:46:11Z")
Are these “just looking” people pulling you away from a serious pricing negotiation/closing or making you hang up the phone while you are proactively cold-calling customers to earn your mortgage payment? Or are you just standing around?
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/45 "2005-05-19T14:50:10Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#):
>
> Why are the vehicles locked at all? Why not just have some open demos? You could still have salespeople or a security person watching discretely for damage or theft.
>
> Or how about putting some kind of viewing platforms next to the windows so people can step up and peer in?
>
> If I couldn’t browse a lot without having to get somebody to keep opening every vehicle I’d probably leave. I just don’twant to be accompanied while I’m looking.
The lot is very large and we are located in an iffy part of town. We’ve had TVs, DVD players, CD players, etc. stolen out of vehicles that were inadvertantly left unlocked. In broad daylight, no less. Not being accompanied = no problem for me. Please re-read the thread.
**askeptic** : I’m truly sorry your mother didn’t breast feed you, and that incident where you were dropped on your head probably didn’t help. Please go fuck yourself.
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### Author:  [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/46 "2005-05-19T15:11:49Z")
Jeebus.
Remind me to never open a thread where I bitch about the people whom I serve in my job.
That would be all of you-I’m a nurse.
Cut the OP some slack-it sounds to me like he wanted to vent about the daily irritants at work. Don’t we all?
Sheesh.
(I cannot stand RV’s, so I’ll never be a customer, **Chefguy** --but I also won’t waste your time! 😉 ).
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### Author:  [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/47 "2005-05-19T15:23:51Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> If I never hear this phrase again, it will be entirely too soon. It’s the standard response of the uninformed to the salesman question “Can I help you?” You’re just looking? Great! I was tired of making those pesky mortgage payments anyway! What this answer tells me is that you haven’t taken the time to do your homework, you have no idea what it is you want or can afford, and have given no thought as to the needs of your family.
I’m guessing that a lot of people don’t have a clue where to start when it comes to RVs. Maybe they think they might like one, but don’t really know. They fear a salesperson might pressure them into a purchase that they’re not ready to make (whether this fear is rational is a separate issue).
To me, the best response a salesperson can give at this point is: “Well, I’m **Chefguy** , here’s my card. I’d be glad to show you around or answer any questions if you have them. Until then I’ll just let you take a look.”
Something along this line sends them the message that they’re not going to get a hard sell from you. If you can point them to sources of information so that they can educate themselves, all the better. If a salesperson is courteous and helpful when I’m in presales mode then I’ll go out of my way to seek him or her out when I am ready (which could be minutes, days, weeks, etc). You might even ask them a few clarifying questions that will give you an idea of where they are in the purchase cycle: “Do you have an idea of what you’re looking for?” “What will you be looking to do with an RV?” etc. Again, light on the pressure. But it might help you to steer them in the right direction. Then give them some more space so that they don’t feel pressured.
Come to think of it, it is a bit like fishing…
🙂
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### Author:  [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/48 "2005-05-19T15:26:09Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> **Noone Special** : You have some points. Weak, but points. The one that is glaringly off base, however, is the one about taking up less of my time. Time is what I have. Again, this is not a car dealership, where volume is critical. Our volume is MUCH smaller and we are expected to take as much time as needed for a customer to be fully informed about the product. I spent three hours one day with someone buying a $14,000 pop-up trailer; service spent another hour going over the operation of the product after the sale.
OK, I guess I didn’t read the OP quite closely enough. I agree that in your line of business the customer probably **requires** assistance; whether they know it or not. Still, if I were going to buy an RV (I’m not), I’d educate myself **before** setting foot on a lot. I’d know (roughly) the price ranges and what to expect in each. If I need help right now – if I’m not still trying to figure out what price range a certain RV is in, and what **external** characteristics I’m getting for tht price (the price **is** marked on the **outside** , right?) – I’ll damn well **ask** (for RVs, I suppose the most likely things like size and spaciousness – these are notoriously hard to determine for cars when looking at ads or at the Internet, so I expect the same is true for RVs – but I’m not buying so I haven’t educated myself, so I don’t know). If I’m _not_ asking then I’m still forming an impression. Among other things, I’m trying to get an impression of the place and the people involved – not necessarily only the merchandise itself! So refusing to take an “I’m looking” response _from me_ is probably going to be counter-productive for you. Maybe not so for other customers. I repeat – know thy customer. Don’t assume they’re all the same.
And anyway, I’m confused. If time is **not** at a premium for you, then it is the one resource you should be more than willing to spend even if the return rate on it isn’t all that high. What, would you rather read a book for the next half hour if you think the guy looking around isn’t more than, say, 3% liekly to buy? I don’t get it.
Also, while this **is** the pit, I really hope you don’t come off as impatient with any kind of criticism IRL, as you appear to be coming off toward some of the (possibly more snarky) posters to this thread.
Dani
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/49 "2005-05-19T15:28:16Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#):
>
> Jeebus.
>
> Remind me to never open a thread where I bitch about the people whom I serve in my job.
>
> That would be all of you-I’m a nurse.
>
> Cut the OP some slack-it sounds to me like he wanted to vent about the daily irritants at work. Don’t we all?
>
> Sheesh.
>
> (I cannot stand RV’s, so I’ll never be a customer, **Chefguy** --but I also won’t waste your time! 😉 ).
Yeah, I’m a little surprised by the reaction to a workplace frustration, but salesmen have a deserved bad name. For many years, everyone followed a sales method invented around the turn of the century. People became more sophisticated, but the techniques remained the same 80 years later. What’s being taught now is a complete reversal of the old “what’ll it take to put you behind the wheel today?” ploy. Our dealership uses the Sobel system of sales training, which is completely customer oriented. Communicating that to the public is word-of-mouth, and suspicion still abounds (as witnessed in this thread). We’re only now figuring out what the Japanese have known for centuries: it’s what you cultivate for the future that will pay dividends.
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### Author:  [@Parthol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Parthol)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/50 "2005-05-19T15:33:23Z")
**Chefguy** , I have as much respect for good salespersons and I have contempt for bad ones, and it sounds like you’re one of the former.
The situation where you spend time with someone, and they end up buying somewhere else, has been mentioned a couple of times in this thread. What is your opinion on this situation:
Guy comes into your place. He’s clearly interested in buying an RV, and you spend an hour with him answering every question he has. You’ve pretty much got him sold on a 75k vehicle, but he wants to go home and discuss the purchase one last time with his wife.
That night, his wife goes online and finds the exact same model somewhere for 68k. Is he a jerk if he buys the cheaper one? Was your time worth $7k per hour from his point of view? What if he comes back to give you the opportunity of lowering your price, but you can’t? Do you resent him, or just shrug your shoulders?
I’ve always been curious about that sort of thing. I personally try to buy from salespeople who help me the most (and are the most friendly about it), all things being more-or-less equal. But sometimes the price difference is too much to ignore.
-P
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/51 "2005-05-19T15:38:19Z")
> [@Noone Special](#):
>
> OK, I guess I didn’t read the OP quite closely enough. I agree that in your line of business the customer probably **requires** assistance; whether they know it or not. Still, if I were going to buy an RV (I’m not), I’d educate myself **before** setting foot on a lot. I’d know (roughly) the price ranges and what to expect in each. If I need help right now – if I’m not still trying to figure out what price range a certain RV is in, and what **external** characteristics I’m getting for tht price (the price **is** marked on the **outside** , right?) – I’ll damn well **ask** (for RVs, I suppose the most likely things like size and spaciousness – these are notoriously hard to determine for cars when looking at ads or at the Internet, so I expect the same is true for RVs – but I’m not buying so I haven’t educated myself, so I don’t know). If I’m _not_ asking then I’m still forming an impression. Among other things, I’m trying to get an impression of the place and the people involved – not necessarily only the merchandise itself! So refusing to take an “I’m looking” response _from me_ is probably going to be counter-productive for you. Maybe not so for other customers. I repeat – know thy customer. Don’t assume they’re all the same.
>
> And anyway, I’m confused. If time is **not** at a premium for you, then it is the one resource you should be more than willing to spend even if the return rate on it isn’t all that high. What, would you rather read a book for the next half hour if you think the guy looking around isn’t more than, say, 3% liekly to buy? I don’t get it.
>
> Also, while this **is** the pit, I really hope you don’t come off as impatient with any kind of criticism IRL, as you appear to be coming off toward some of the (possibly more snarky) posters to this thread.
>
> Dani
You’re _almost_ there. 😉
I’ll never refuse to accept a ‘just looking’ response. If you don’t want to talk to me, that’s your right. However, if you don’t want to talk to me, but you want me to spend two hours opening vehicles so you can bitch about the price, it just ain’t happenin’.
However, if you are willing to talk with me only to the extent of identifying the product that will best suit what you intend to do with it, I’ll spend whatever time is necessary showing you that line of vehicles.
We don’t do resistance selling. We do what is called ‘downstream’ selling. You tell me what you want; I try to point you in that direction. If you don’t tell me squat, I don’t know how to help you, and opening 20 doors is not going to make things any better or assist you in a significant manner.
My only point in this feeble rant was to vent about the few customers who are a source of frustration to someone who is helpful by nature.
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### Author:  [@Maendosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maendosa)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/52 "2005-05-19T15:41:20Z")
I always prefer establishments where the sales staff greet me with a casual ‘Hi, I’m Soandso. Take a look around, and let me know if you’ve got any questions or need any assistance.’ – and then make themselves visible and available when **I** go looking for them.
The one way to make sure I never spent my money on your product is to do just what other people in the thread have outlined - push yourself on me and make me feel like prey. That was a good way to describe it.
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/53 "2005-05-19T15:45:46Z")
> [@Parthol](#):
>
> **Chefguy** , I have as much respect for good salespersons and I have contempt for bad ones, and it sounds like you’re one of the former.
>
> The situation where you spend time with someone, and they end up buying somewhere else, has been mentioned a couple of times in this thread. What is your opinion on this situation:
>
> Guy comes into your place. He’s clearly interested in buying an RV, and you spend an hour with him answering every question he has. You’ve pretty much got him sold on a 75k vehicle, but he wants to go home and discuss the purchase one last time with his wife.
>
> That night, his wife goes online and finds the exact same model somewhere for 68k. Is he a jerk if he buys the cheaper one? Was your time worth $7k per hour from his point of view? What if he comes back to give you the opportunity of lowering your price, but you can’t? Do you resent him, or just shrug your shoulders?
>
> I’ve always been curious about that sort of thing. I personally try to buy from salespeople who help me the most (and are the most friendly about it), all things being more-or-less equal. But sometimes the price difference is too much to ignore.
>
> -P
A guy who buys from someone else because they’re cheaper is not a jerk, he’s a smart consumer who has done his homework. While he didn’t buy from me, he may refer a friend to me because he liked the way he was treated. For what it’s worth, a $7K difference in price is usually irrelevant to someone who is financing the purchase. $7,000 means a monthly increase in payments of about $100 (if the term of the loan stays the same). An RV that costs $68,000 is going to mean a monthly nut of roughly $700, so another hundred isn’t always seen as a deal breaker, since the term of the loan can be extended to keep the payments down. Different story for a cash buyer.
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### Author:  [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/54 "2005-05-19T15:46:57Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> My only point in this feeble rant was to vent about the few customers who are a source of frustration to someone who is helpful by nature.
Well, then, you are ranting at the **impression** of a bad customer-base. Based on your experience with the few truly lousy customers who create that impression of everyone.
Most of the reaction to your OP was caused by potential (or maybe not) customers who have a bad impression of all salespeople. Based on their experience with the few truly lousy salespeople who create that impression of all of them.
I think we’re even 😃
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### Author:  [@spectrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spectrum)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/55 "2005-05-19T15:51:12Z")
> [@Priceguy](#):
>
> What I want when I say that I’m just looking is to be left alone so I can continue just looking. When I need help I’ll ask for it. I hate being badgered by salespeople.
Agreed.
I react very badly to being sold to. Contact with some grubby salesdrone is precisely the best way to get me to NOT purchase your product. I will gather information. I will make up my own mind. I will not deal with some person to whom I’m just a walking commission who is trying to badger me or sell me up to something I don’t want. That’s one major reason I’m still driving my old car: I want all car salesmen to just drop dead, with their fake sincerity and false smiles, their constant lies and aggressive pushing. I hate being sold to, it’s fucking demeaning.
The only thing I want when I’m shopping is to be left the fuck alone until **I’m** ready to ask questions or buy something I’ve chosen for myself without the non-help of a salesman.
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### Author:  [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/56 "2005-05-19T15:54:09Z")
> [@spectrum](#):
>
> The only thing I want when I’m shopping is to be left the fuck alone until **I’m** ready to ask questions or buy something I’ve chosen for myself without the non-help of a salesman.
Did you read the thread? At Chefguys’ place, you **can’t** shop alone. The RVs are locked. You just want to wander around and look at the pretty colors?
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### Author:  [@spectrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spectrum)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/57 "2005-05-19T15:56:34Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> I understand. I really do. As mentioned earlier, however, ‘just looking’ in my line of goods means I have to be involved, if only to unlock the doors. It’s just a waste of time.
You’re obviously in a niche where regrettable interaction with the salesforce is required (for security reasons, not for informational reasons). I suppose it’s good that I don’t have any interest in mobile homes or RVs – I’d never be able to buy anything if you had to hover around to unlock the doors. I’d never feel comfortable. Even having salespeople around me makes me nervous and unhappy.
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### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/58 "2005-05-19T15:57:00Z")
I most often say “just looking” at places where I’ve gone for some specific item but I’m taking my own sweet time browsing the rest of the store, to see what else is about (the other day I went for a PC game for my bro and found a nice deal on photo paper).
When I need to do a Big Buy (home, car), I begin by doing a “just look” in several places to get a feel for the market, then pick a few and move into “hi, I’d like to see _this one_ and _this other one_”. I’ve even been known to move from “just looking” to “hi, I want to buy _that_ car” with no salesman intervention (the model was far superior to anything else in its size and this particular one was priced ultracheap because it had been used in a show).
When I say “just looking” and they take it well, they get extra points for it: I’m more likely to come back to that store. If they insist they lose points. One Peugeot salesman grabbed me by the arm (not in a violent way, but also not in a way I could disengage without violence) and made me listen to The Twenty Reasons Why Their Second Most Expensive Model was perfect for me… did I mention I have a Toyota?
Sometimes a person who is trying to be helpful can come across as pushy, I know it’s happened to me. Best wishes and may you sell lots of stuff to people who think they got a good deal… _a month later_
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### Author:  [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/59 "2005-05-19T15:58:56Z")
> [@Zakalwe](#):
>
> Did you read the thread? At Chefguys’ place, you **can’t** shop alone. The RVs are locked. You just want to wander around and look at the pretty colors?
OK, they’re locked. Don’t they have any kind of paper listing info? I like looking at the numbers first and the pretty colors second.
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### Author:  [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-just-looking-sigh/304571/60 "2005-05-19T16:01:21Z")
Given the nature of the thing you are selling, I think you just need to suck it up. At some point the customer is not going to know much at all. Further research is the next step. Further research in my case involves getting a good look and feel of what is out there, something that cannot be done on the internet.
This involves, as you say, a guided tour. It’s your perogative to say no. In my case, this will involve me buying the item somewhere else. You need to weigh up the costs and benefits of each approach. But please quit whining about what is a completely rational strategy on the customer’s side. Don’t like spending half the day opening or closing RV doors? Sell speedboats!
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