Trust worthy salesman - oxymoron?

[Bunkers]

Call me a cynic, but i'm always a bit wary of the advice given to me by sales reps in golf shops especially concerning expensive purchases like irons.

Was in a shop today, let's call it USA Golf for arguments sake, looking for a new set of irons. Really fancied the AP2s and hit them ok on the range. Then tried the MP58s on advice of salesman, and again hit them reasonably well.

Despite not seeing or noticing a marked difference between the clubs in terms of results, the salesdude insisted that the MP58s were for me.

Then got talking about wedges and again he went straight for the new Mizuno ones without considering any others.

It seemed that he was definitly "pushing" the Mizuno stuff which brings me to my point.

Do you trust these chaps to offer unbiased advice or do you feel that it all just boils down to mark-up and sales bonuses?

 

[EaseNgrace]

He cant be doing much wrong if he recommended the Mizunos. At least he didn't try and flog you Nicklaus crap.

 

[CannyFifer]

If you buy a new tyre you will get fitted with what they make the best deal on. Maybe an irrelevant comment but it happens through all outlets whether Golf or tyres etc.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I tend to try out the clubs using a well known golfing store with a range attached and then go to my pro and ask his advice. I usually like to try them at a demo day where the only clubs will be brand A or B etc and even if more than one company are there they will focus on their own brand and tend to let you make your own mind up. I'll then shop around for the best price.

I guess its not particularly fair on the shop as I am using their test clubs and range balls (I have to pay for those) but I don't trust their service and realise they are there to make money so will do whatever to make a sale.

 

[Smiffy]

I will listen to the advice of salesmen, pro's, friends, family, etc. etc.
And then go out and do exactly the opposite

 

[pokerjoke]

Dont take it out on the sales rep he has a job to do,if you go into a shop with no knowledge of what your looking for a good sales rep will give you some advice a crap sales rep who knows nothing,wont,my advice is do some homework yourself and have at least some idea of what your looking for and tell the rep he then might be able to recomend something.Blaming a rep for so called pushing a product is basically blaming someone else for your nievety,I,M.O

 

[USER1999]

But Smiffy, you are a salesman.

You are supposed to uphold the brtherhood, and convince us the salesman is right.

Otherwise, how can you go to work tomorrow?

 

[colint]

There could be plenty of reasons for the salesman pushing Mizuno, it's a bit of a leap to think there's something underhand going on. The Mizuno are a good club and perfectly acceptable as an alternative. Maybe he plays Mizuno and so is biased ?

If you couldn't notice a difference, he's going to push which one of the 2 he thinks is best. What did you want him to do, suggest you buy both ?

 

[Bunkers]

Dont take it out on the sales rep he has a job to do,if you go into a shop with no knowledge of what your looking for a good sales rep will give you some advice a crap sales rep who knows nothing,wont,my advice is do some homework yourself and have at least some idea of what your looking for and tell the rep he then might be able to recomend something.Blaming a rep for so called pushing a product is basically blaming someone else for your nievety,I,M.O

Whoa, sorry pokerjoke, not getting at the fella, just curious as to how it works in these establishments.

Is there a big incentive (financial / bonus etc) for shop floor salesmen to sell certain gear?

(p.s. not such a plonker as to not have researched this purchase in great detail- can assure you my homework is done! )

 

[HRC99]

The bottom line is they need a sale. Pushing one above another too much will just alienate the customer.

They've got to be pretty rubbish/stupid to push something when you clearly don't want it.

 

[bobmac]

I asked this question in an AG and was told the staff get a flat rate commission on total gear sold, so no incentive to sell more Niklaus clubs.

 

[bobmac]

I will listen to the advice of salesmen, pro's, friends, family, etc. etc.
And then go out and do exactly the opposite

Buy the i 15s

 

[Smiffy]

I will listen to the advice of salesmen, pro's, friends, family, etc. etc.
And then go out and do exactly the opposite

Buy the i 15s

Except that bit of advice

 

[Doh]

Problem is if you have set your mind on a set of clubs and you then buy some thing else that is recomended you will always wonder if the other clubs would have been better.

 

[Smiffy]

Problem is if you have set your mind on a set of clubs and you then buy some thing else that is recomended you will always wonder if the other clubs would have been better.

I'm going into this with a very open mind.
It will either be the i15's, the i15's or the i15's.

 

[drawboy]

You will never ever get genuine unbiased advise from any salesman including pro's. They want to sell the gear that nets them the biggest mark up. That is what they are in business for to make money. I think you have to trust your own judgment and stick to your guns when you find the clubs for you. try as many as you can and if not sure leave the shop and go back another day and try again. Your cash is harder earned than theirs so make it work for you.

 

[colint]

You will never ever get genuine unbiased advise from any salesman including pro's. They want to sell the gear that nets them the biggest mark up. That is what they are in business for to make money.

Bit of a sweeping statement that. Any professional salesperson will want you to return and buy from them again, so it's unlikely they'll recommend something which makes them an extra few quid if they know you'll be unhappy and never buy from them again.

Salespeople are like any profession, there are good and bad. The trick is to find one you trust and stick with them. Not all salepeople are dodgy, just like not "all buyers are liars".

 

[haplesshacker]

Being in sales myself, I always work on the principle of what's right for the customer. Not the profitability of a product. After all, returning customers are the best kind.

With the Internet customers are often well researched in their product choice. I used to find that customers often just wanted reassurance that the product or products they've selected for themselves, was the right product. Very rarely do you get a customer who hasn't got a clue about what they want.

'Forcing' a customer to buy something else often ends in tears.

I'm obviously aware of the bottom line, but there's more profit from a happy returning customer than a one off sale and a unhappy customer.

As in any job. There are good and bad everywhere.

At the end of the day, if the sales person is being asked to recommend one product over another. There will always be an element of bias. Whether that be financial, personal preference or other.

After all. As a customer, it's your choice where you buy the product.

I enjoy shopping for high value items, as I actually enjoy the sales process, and how different people sell.

 

[pokerjoke]

Being in sales for 7 years you would be surprised at how little the costumer knows about the product hes buying,they basically rely on the sales person to advise,if the sales person is trained well and has some pride in what hes doing he will always do whats right for the costumer,i wasnt having a go at Bunker personally just in general it would help the sales person if the buyer done some homework on the product hes buying.If you go to an establishment that encourages their sales people to push certain products then your probably in the wrong place.