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Monday, October 30  

Is This Irony - Or Just Stupidity?

Is This Irony - Or Just Stupidity?

I've just purchased Seth Godin's new book "small is the new big."

A big part of Seth's philosphy is being remarkable in the product or service you offer (in how you provide it).

When I bought the book the conversation with the sales assistant went like this:

Me: "How you doing?............. Having a good day? ............... Just this book please."

Her: Rings up the book and holds out her hand.

Me: I hand over the cash - "Thanks so much."

Her: Hands me the book back.

Me: "Thanks a lot. Have a good night."

She didn't utter one word.

Meant To Make You Money

Sales assistants are meant to make you money. Not make the buying experience so poor that you won't return.

But I'd bet the business owner would say"But she's only 17 years old and really cheap to hire."

She might be cheap to hire, but I'd bet she is very expensive to keep.

Cheers

Brendon

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When we go to Brisbane through the week we usually hit Dymocks in Chermside - the staff always seem grumpy, disinterested and snobbish so we often go further in to Angus and Robertson and make our purchases there where the staff are more down-to-earth

A couple of weeks ago we hit Dymocks in Bundaberg and caught a weekend casual on. She was bright, cheerful and she was interested in the CSS and Powerpoint books we bought.

It was like a breath of fresh air
So true Brendon. I was lucky that I learned this when I was a young (god I'm only 27 now) Junior Auctioneer in Toowoomba. Once I got the basics of my call right (speed, loudness, calculating on the run) the most important thing was my spiel before a sale lot as well as the banter during your call and between lots.

They are the points where the auctioneer meaningfully engages with the audience.

Anyone can be a super quick and loud auctioneer but the real skill is keeping an audience of customers focused on you for the duration of the auction (sometimes 5+ hours) and communicating your product to them effectively.

When I wasn't "on" with the most important parts it was the difference between me doing just 50-100 lots relief work for the main auctioneer compared to starting the auction and doing the first 300 premium lots. If I was "on" I could be trusted with the increased responsibility but if I wasn't the cost to the vendors and the auction house from the audience not making that extra bid or not staying for the full duration of the auction would be enormous.
So... How was the book?
Hi

The book was mostly a compilation of Seth's blog. Always a good reminder though.

Brendon
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