Should you take that job when you're desperate?

Published: Wed, 10/23/24

Updated: Thu, 10/24/24

October 23, 2024

TOGETHER WITH

Good morning Quota readers! This is our one-hundred and fifty-sixth newsletter, which means we've been doing this for three whole years. It feels like yesterday, a sales newsletter was merely a concept in our caffeine-addled brains. But thirty-six months later, we’ve proved our staying power. Okay, enough about us, let’s get to the CONTENT — news, fun facts, and Fails. Let’s go!

NUMBER OF THE WEEK

71% of B2B buyers are willing to spend more than $50,000 in a single transaction using a remote or self-service model.

Source: McKinsey

SALES ROUNDUP

Here’s what’s happening in the sales world this week:

Detroit Lions rookie Jake Bates worked as a brick salesman after he thought his football career was over. “I was working as a brick salesman in Houston,” Bates said. “I thought the dream was dead... I thought football was done, so I had to move on and do something else with my life. Luckily, the Lord had something else in store” Bates was recently profiled by MLive, and talked about how he clawed his way into the NFL. You can read more about it here.
What’s the worst experience you’ve had selling a car? Car enthusiast site Jalopnik recently posed this question to their readers, and got some entertaining (and horrifying) responses in the comments, including a seller who got a call saying the car’s exhaust had fallen off (after the sale), a customer who took off with a car and went missing, and a buyer who never went through the process of transferring ownership, leaving the seller on the hook for impound fees. You can check out the article and comments here.

FEATURE

A History of Door-to-Door Sales

Selling door-to-door might just be the toughest sales gig. Getting a door slammed in your face is perhaps the worst form of rejection you can get in your personal and professional life.

The practice of door-to-door sales has a history that spans centuries and cultures. From ancient trade routes to modern suburban neighborhoods equipped with Ring cameras, the art of bringing products directly to consumers' homes has evolved significantly while maintaining its core principle: personal interaction as a means of commerce.

Ancient Beginnings: The Silk Road

The concept of traveling salespeople can be traced back to ancient times, with one of the most notable examples being the merchants of the Silk Road. This network of trade routes, established during the Han Dynasty around 130 BCE, connected East Asia and the Mediterranean world. While not exactly door-to-door, these early traders would travel large distances, stopping in cities and villages to sell prized fabrics and exotic goods directly to new markets and customers — wonder if they followed a sales script?

The Rise of Modern Door-to-Door Sales

The 19th and early 20th centuries saw the emergence of door-to-door sales as we now know it. One of the pioneers in this field was the Fuller Brush Company, founded by Alfred Fuller in 1906. Fuller started by selling hair brushes door-to-door in Boston, Massachusetts, with the company’s famous lifetime guarantee.

Fuller Brush sales reps, known as "Fuller Brush Men," became a common sight in neighborhoods across the U.S. They were known for their persistence, charm, and ability to demonstrate products effectively. However, not everyone thought they were charming. The widespread adoption of door-to-door sales after Fuller Brush’s success led to pushback from homeowners who didn’t want to be bothered. The Green River Ordinance was established in 1931, which prohibited door-to-door sales reps from soliciting homeowners who posted “No Solicitations” or “No Trespassing” signs on their property. Fuller Brush challenged the ordinance in court but was unsuccessful.

Encyclopedia Salesmen: Knowledge at Your Doorstep

In the mid-20th century, encyclopedia salesmen became iconic figures in the world of door-to-door sales. Companies like Encyclopædia Britannica and World Book employed armies of salespeople. These salesmen were often viewed as purveyors of education and self-improvement, tapping into the aspirations of middle-class families eager to provide their children with educational resources.

The encyclopedia salesman's pitch involved demonstrating the value of having a comprehensive reference work at home, appealing to parents' desires to give their children every possible advantage in their education.

Companies like Hoover and Electrolux followed suit by selling vacuum cleaners and home appliances, giving in-home product demonstrations to housewives while their husbands were at work.

Door-to-Door in an Online World

The late 20th and early 21st centuries brought significant challenges to traditional door-to-door sales. The rise of telemarketing, e-commerce, and changing consumer habits led many to predict the demise of the door-to-door sales model. However, the industry is still worth $36 billion (as of 2022). Today, door-to-door sales reps continue to thrive. But they’re no longer selling consumer products worth a few hundred dollars. Instead, they’re selling high-ticket products and services like solar, pest control, and home security. These modern door-to-door salespeople often combine traditional techniques with technology, using tablets for presentations and CRM systems to manage leads and follow-ups.

Despite the digital revolution, door-to-door sales persist because they offer something that online transactions cannot: personal interaction and immediate trust-building. The ability to demonstrate products in person, address concerns on the spot, and create a personal connection with potential customers remains valuable in certain industries.

The future of door-to-door sales will likely continue with this hybrid approach, combining in-person visits with digital follow-ups and online support. While methods and products may change, the fundamental principles of door-to-door sales continue to play a role in the modern economy.

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MEME OF THE WEEK

Source: Instagram -- Sales Humor

QUIZ

Approximately how many companies use Salesforce worldwide?

A. 150,000
B. 180,000
C. 40
D. 215,000

SALES FAILS

Each week, we bring you the most cringe-worthy sales moments from across the web. To submit your sales fail story for consideration, click here. (Don't worry, you'll remain completely anonymous).

I'm sure every salesperson has a story about some friendly hazing on the job going a bit too far — this is mine. I was selling financial services early in my career, way back in the 90s. We had a fun little ritual that we'd do to new hires. When a new rep came in and missed their quota the first month, the sales team would pitch in and send a giant flower arrangement to their desk with a card that said "Sorry for your loss." Most people took the joke and just moved on with their day.

Well, one time, we had a new rep and he missed his quota the first month. It was not surprising since it was his first sales job. We were all sitting in the office. We knew the flower delivery was coming in the afternoon so everyone was patiently waiting. The flowers were delivered to the guy while he was sitting at his desk. We were waiting for him to look around so we could all start laughing, but instead, the guy dropped his head to his desk and started sobbing. Nobody was laughing. We all just looked on, feeling sorry for the guy.

Apparently, his girlfriend (who he lived with) had just left him two days earlier but he hadn't said anything to anyone about it. The guy went to the bathroom to compose himself, and I went in to apologize and told him it was just a joke and that we did it to all the new reps. Needless to say, after that incident, we decided to put the kibosh on our little flower prank.

Anonymous Location withheld

GRAPH OF THE WEEK

Source: LinkedIn Poll -- October 2024

WORTH A PEEK

Have you read the official Sales Humor book, I Hope This Email Finds You Never, written by the cofounder of this newsletter? Good news — it’s been selected as an October Kindle deal, which means you can grab your copy for a measly .99 cents! Undoubtedly, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for…. pick up your copy here.

ASK THE QUOTA

Want to submit a question and be featured in our advice column? Click here. (Don't worry, you'll remain completely anonymous).

Dear Quota Team

I'm in a bit of a tough spot right now. I got laid off 6 months ago. My cash reserves are getting low. I've been using my savings to pay my rent and it doesn't feel good. I've got about 2-3 months of runway left. I've been applying to jobs and have had a handful of interviews but I haven't gotten any offers. I finally got one last week. The pay is fine, about the same as I was making before. But I checked the Glassdoor and Repvue reviews for the company and it turns out it's not a great place to work and has pretty high turnover, especially on the sales team.

I'm thinking I should take the job anyway. I don't expect to stay there long-term, but I need the money. I plan to keep interviewing if I take the job. I feel like having a job will make it easier/make me more desirable as a candidate. Should I take the job or keep looking for a better opportunity?

Going Broke in Texas

Dear Going Broke,

While it sounds like the company has some red flags, it also sounds like you're in survival mode. Having a job will make you more marketable to potential employers. Our advice is to take the job and get some money coming in, and, if your concerns about the company turn out to be justified, keep interviewing. Go in with an open mind and give it your best effort. You’ll want to put up good numbers and hit your quota so you have something to show when you talk to other employers. Good luck!

Quiz Answer: A. Approximately 150,000 companies use Salesforce worldwide (you can read the source article here)

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Today's email was written by Ken Kupchik, Erica Furgiuele, Steve Rado, and Emily Hill.

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