A Sales Horror Story by Becky L. Amble
Becky Amble, MBA
Senior Strategy Leader | Artificial Intelligence Maximizer | Strategic Marketing | Revenue Generator | Visionary | Drives Bottom-Line Results | Multiple National Best-Selling Author | Philanthropist | BlackBelt ATA
Timeshare sales in Mexico
I thought professional selling had moved way beyond this. Here is a very disturbing story. I’m in Mexico with my sister, Bonnie. At one of the premier resorts in Puerto Vallarta, Vidanta. She’s been an owner since 1996 in the timeshare, every year they tell her they would like to do an update so if she agrees. Includes a complementary buffet breakfast 10% off your bill and some other discounts that generally we don’t use anyway. We go to our breakfast and unfortunately two days prior Bonnie’s husband was taken to the emergency room for medical complication, which was later diagnosed as a bladder infection as well as sepsis, and if you know anything about sepsis, you know it is potentially fatal.
The Salesperson
When we got to our breakfast the first person named Monica was told by Bonnie that her husband was very ill and she might get a phone call. Bonnie also said she was not interested in buying, but wanted to hear about any updates that affected her or her ability to visit in the future or changes in the facility. The person told her she must stay for the 90-minute presentation. After Bonnie’s friends, including me, were excused from the breakfast, Bonnie and Monica moved to another area where the salespeople sit at tables and do their pitch, and so the pitch began. Bonnie informed the salesperson repeatedly that she had no intention in buying additional time or upgrades or units. Monica proceeded with her sales pitch. She asked Bonnie three times what bribe she was given to come to the sales pitch. She was given no bribe but a sheet of paper that everyone gets that has some discounts. Frankly we were shocked at the salesperson’s repeated and aggressive questioning about a bribe. Any decent sales organization I know of would fire anyone who was bribing a customer or potential customer!
The Closer
At one point another woman, the “closer”, came to the table. Bonnie told the “closer” that her husband was in the hospital, was an emergency just the day before and she may be getting a phone call. Just about then the phone rang and it was her husband (who is in the hospital). The “closer” continued on with her “pitch” and was drawing boxes on a notepad and pitching Bonnie as she was talking to her husband on the phone. Bonnie then, out frustration said “I am done with you. I’m done with all of you people. I don’t want to hear anything more.” To which the salesperson said “You don’t need to talk to me that way,” (while Bonnie is having a conversation on the phone with her husband who’s gravely ill). How about how they were talking to Bonnie? She met with three different women in the sale process. She informed each of the issue with her husband and that he was in the hospital. Did any of them exhibit any compassion or say anything like, “Sorry to hear that. Hope he is doing better.” No, nada, zip!
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Will Bad Selling Never Die?
Has no one taught these people that this strong-arm pushy sales garbage died in the 50s or at least the 60s? How do we put an end to this abuse and totally outdated sales approach? Everyone that we talked to here has been through a similar situation.
Becky Amble?has spent over 25 years leading organizations to grow and increase profits through cutting-edge marketing strategies, market information and future trends. She has worked as a general manager and Vice President in corporate America and been a consultant and factional marketing resource for Fortune 50 companies to micro businesses.?She has successfully navigated in over 30 different industries in the B2B space from med tech to professional service firms.?She is a bestselling author of over 10 books and numerous articles.?She continues to help her clients grow by identifying market needs, demographic trends and results-oriented business strategies.
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Group Account Director | Product and Program Management | Believer in Intelligent Design
1 年Despicable, and gives all sales folks a bad rap. But MX is the wild, wild west, even more so than TX. Gotta wonder what the leadership is like. PV is led by the Cartel and one of the highest drug areas so I'm sure the problem is way above their pay grade. What an awful experience.
Blooming Bella Photography
1 年Heck, this happened to us in Wisconsin Dells!
President and Chief Mission Officer with the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce Founder and Managing Partner at Parachute Consulting Group LLC
1 年Ridiculous. The fact that it continues seems like an indication that it must have some success. If so, too bad this is a terrible way to treat people and sell. This is ripe for someone to turn it on its head and do it differently. I am sure someone is and is probably getting the business. How is your brother-in-law, Becky?
"The Sales Fixer" | Outsourced VP of Sales | Championing Breakthrough Sales Growth | Transforming Operational Sales Systems
1 年Thanks Becky Amble, MBA. It has been a while since I've seen these tactics in the US. The real scary part is that they must be having some level of success or they would change. Maybe tourists from other countries still fall for this.
Timeshares are the biggest rip-offs with the worst sales tactics.