Don't do this on a zoom call if you're selling something
Have you ever picked up the phone and it was telemarketer on the other end? Or perhaps, answered your door bell and there was a salesman at your door? (Back when people used to actually sell things door to door)
And usually, whenever the person states the reason for the call or visit, telling you about the product they're selling - that's the point where you would either do two things.
1. Tell them you're not interested and have a nice day.
2. Tell me more about it.
While I was at Starbucks the other day, an older gentleman struck up a conversation wtih me while I was on my laptop. We made a good connection, as we're both in IT and we brought up various topics about making money online, affiliate marketing and other topics on how, due to current events, people have to take advantage of the internet to bring in extra income.
He says he's been in business for himself for twenty years now through online marketing, and appears to know what he's talking about. He then asked if he could set up some time to have a zoom discussion with me about some of his business models. Sounds interesting, so I looked at my calendar and set up a time for a half-hour zoom call for the next day.
I get on the zoom call and we start talking - continuing our brief discussion from where we left off the other day at Starbucks. Then he decides to share his screen to begin a powerpoint presentation on his business model.
BUT ...
When he started, he failed to start his Slide Show Presentation in full screen mode - which means that I can literally see the next six slides in his presentation, before he gets to them!
Now, being the curious, nosey, inquisitive person that I am - it's obvious that I'm going to glance at them while he's talking. And what do I see on the next group of slides?
"Amway"
Yeah - I know where this is headed and I need to shut this down asap.
How Should I Handle This?
I always try to be polite and professional wtih strangers, no matter what the situation - however, I believe in being direct too. So the very second he started into his pitch, I politely cut to the chase and asked bluntly - "Is this a sales ptich for Amway?". In other words, please don't waste any more of my time.
Now should I have said something up front? Like - "Hey - I can see your slides pane in PowerPoint and you may want to put it in Presentation mode". Maybe. But my brain wasn't thinking on that level at the time - I was more focused on the word "Amway" and how I don't have time for some long sales pitch for a product that I'm personally not interested in.
Conclusion
I'm not sure if there's a lesson to be learned from this or not, as either the customer or as the person presenting.
Certainly the person presenting for the meeting should know better, and always have his slides in "full screen presentation" mode before sharing his screen.
Should I have kept an open mind and let him go through his presentation, even though I know enough from my own research to know that I'm not interested in his product to begin with?
OR should he had been more specific up front with me about his 'business model' before asking me to find time my schedule for a zoom meeting?
Personally, I prefer for you to be direct and tell me what your selling up front. Then allow me to make up my own mind if I'm interested in hearing more about it.
Thanks for reading everyone
Isaiah 😊
Recent Comments
14
I agree. His way of handling the situation was unfair to you. I believe you had every right to "cut him off at the pass," not in a nasty way, but politely, emphasizing that you have researched Amway in the past and are not interested.
I did have a good experience with a MLM; in fact, was involved with them for 10 years (Nikken, in case you're curious). However, I finally quit because I was running a gift shop at the same time and ended up with not enough time to do either one. My problem with MLMs is that I am good at face-to-face selling, and folks I contacted said, "I can't do what you do," and that was it. Nothing I would say would change their minds.
I agree, Fran. I'm just not the right fit for MLM and can't see myself selling face to face consistently.
Another thing, be sure that what you are promoting is acceptable to the general public.
I think that almost everybody has been involved with Amway some way or another. They have become a marketer's disillusion.
I think that they changed their name to Quixtar.
MLM or network marketing has become disillusionment in general.
The "you won't be selling" or "if it breaths, s/he will need it". Or it is easy, just change Crest toothpaste for "mlm brand toothpaste". Has become irritating.
Anyway, with the superstores like Wal-mart, have made it too expensive for mlm's to offer a reasonable price por physical products. Digital products are more manageable.
I have been involved in a diversity of mlm's. None in the last 15 years. I have been approached several times with these offers, always make it clear that if it is a mlm I am not interested.
I am not a good salesperson in persona.
Thus, your presentation is valid in several other instances.
It all depends upon how long his presentation was going to be, Isaiah! I ventured into Amway years ago, and there is no money to be made there! If it was a short presentarion, I might tolerate it, but if it wasn't, then I would try to politely cut him off!
Jeff
The only knock that I have jeff is that some of them don't know how to take a simple 'NO' for an answer - like they've been conditioned on not to accept rejection!
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"Personally, I prefer for you to be direct and tell me what your selling up front. Then allow me to make up my own mind if I'm interested in hearing more about it."
Isaiah, I couldn't agree with you more. To be completely honest, things like that are really irritating to me. I realize that this is probably how people like the man you were talking to are instructed to do business, but I, like you, prefer candor.
Great post!
Margaret
Thanks Margaret!
You know how many meetings or zoom meetings I've been invited to? Where I ask them what is this about and they only respond with "You'll see. Just keep an Open mind." That's a red flag for me!
I agree. That's a HUGE red flag, without a doubt!