Well, usually bad weather can be a part of it. If you're out in the field and it starts pouring rain and you don't have proper protection for your samples. Also, uncooperative clients who waste your time and then don't buy. And sometimes, technology fails. For example, if your tablet with all your sales materials crashes right before a big pitch.
One common element is transportation problems. Like in my story where my car broke down. Another is dealing with difficult or unexpected people, such as the thugs I faced. And also getting lost or having wrong directions which can make you late or miss the client entirely.
Common elements often include lack of preparation. Maybe not researching the area well enough and ending up in a bad situation. Competition can also play a role. You might arrive at a client only to find out that your competitor has already offered a much better deal. And of course, there are those unpredictable events like a sudden illness while on the road that can ruin your sales day.
Late delivery is very common. Like I said before, customers are often promised a delivery time that is not met. Another is misrepresentation. Salespeople might over - sell a product, making it seem better than it actually is.
Often, over - promising is a key element. Salespeople might promise things like huge discounts or very fast service just to close the deal, but then can't deliver. This can lead to angry customers and lost business. Another element is not understanding the customer's needs. If a salesperson tries to sell something that doesn't fit the customer's requirements, it usually ends badly. And internal competition within the sales team can also cause problems. For instance, if two salespeople approach the same client in different ways and create confusion.
High - pressure sales tactics are very common. Like not letting people leave until they consider buying. Another is false promises, such as guaranteed returns on investment or easy rental options that turn out to be untrue.
One common element is difficult clients. For example, some clients are very demanding, asking for impossible discounts or delivery times. Another is strong competition. Competitors may use underhanded tactics to steal business.
Sure. I once had a day where I had back - to - back appointments all over the city. I started early in the morning, but my car broke down on the highway. I was late for my first appointment and the client was furious. Then, trying to get to the next one by public transport was a nightmare. I got lost, my samples got damaged, and I ended up losing three potential big deals that day.
One common problem is misrepresentation. Sellers often exaggerate the condition of the car or hide flaws. Another is paperwork issues like false titles or incomplete service records.
One common problem is incorrect classification of items for sales tax. For example, a business might think a product is tax - exempt when it's not. Another is miscalculation of sales tax amounts, which can happen due to errors in accounting software or human error. Also, not keeping proper records can be a big issue. If a business can't show clear records of sales and the associated tax calculations, it can lead to big problems during an audit.
Pushy salespeople are common. They don't respect your 'no' and keep pushing their products.
Well, in many success stories, a deep understanding of the market is crucial. This means knowing which areas have a higher demand for certain drugs, which clinics are more likely to adopt new medications. Also, communication skills play a big role. Being able to clearly convey the benefits of the drugs to the medical professionals is essential. And perseverance, not giving up when facing rejections from some clients. For example, some reps keep going back to the same doctors with updated information until they get a positive response.
One horror story is when a salesperson was promised a large commission for closing a big deal. They worked hard, got the deal done, but then the company changed the commission structure at the last minute and they got a pittance. It was a total bait - and - switch.