Working on a Commission Only Basis: Good or Bad Idea?

[Lee Jones Jnr]

Uh huh.
I know a reasonable amount of very good sales people, none of whom work on 100% commision.
You must just be more sociable than I am.

Just to be clear I'm not mis representing you, I said that telecoms and double glazing are the only industries I know where 100% comms is common place, you responded with your list of other sectors.

 

[KDMINX]

You did misrepresent me!

You said:

If you think that most sales roles are 100% commission then that's fine.
I shall continue to believe that most sales roles are basic plus commission.

I have never said that most sales roles are 100% commission!

What I did say is that there are people working in a range of industries who are 100% commission. Some of the very best sales people are 100% commission.

When I have interviewed sales people for a variety of roles they always fall into 2 camps:

Those who try to negotiate the basic salary
Those who try to negotiate the commission structure

Guess which ones can sell!

PS. If a sales person doesn’t try to negotiate then they REALLY can’t sell.

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

My mistake, it seemed to me you were saying that 100% commission was common in all those industries, I didn't realise you meant a tiny amount of people work that way.

 

[Sigarfo]

Well I too am thinking of a commission only sales agents.
Personally I think people who work for commission only work a lot harder for the post of gold that awaits them, if they dont make sales then they should look at a different career as sales is probably not for them...

 

[KDMINX]

Well I too am thinking of a commission only sales agents.
Personally I think people who work for commission only work a lot harder for the post of gold that awaits them, if they dont make sales then they should look at a different career as sales is probably not for them...

They are worth there weight in gold!
Very hard to find the best ones.
You'll also cringe every month when you get their commission invoice
BUT get one and you'll have a long, mutually beneficial relationship

 

[steviemac]

having been a comm only sales rep many times in the past, I am bemusd by the term 100% commission. How on earth could you get 100% commission? I have always recieved figures like 20%, 30% maybe 40% commission.

How can a sales person possibly get 100% commission? - that's the total sales price. ie product sells at £100, sales person achieves sale and then pockets the full £100 - thats 100% commission.

How is that possible? :| lol

 

[KDMINX]

having been a comm only sales rep many times in the past, I am bemusd by the term 100% commission. How on earth could you get 100% commission? I have always recieved figures like 20%, 30% maybe 40% commission.

How can a sales person possibly get 100% commission? - that's the total sales price. ie product sells at £100, sales person achieves sale and then pockets the full £100 - thats 100% commission.

How is that possible? :| lol

100% commission means that they get commission only, it reflects the proportion of their pay that is commission *NOT* their commission rate!

 

[steviemac]

Oh....and here's me thinking that's what the well used term 'commission only' meant in itself. Any potential sales person could read a quoted percentage as the commission rate.!

I think they should be savvy enough to know that the the phrase 'commission only' means - only commission, no basic. Dont think theres any need to stick '100%' in

 

[KDMINX]

Oh....and here's me thinking that's what the well used term 'commission only' meant in itself. Any potential sales person could read a quoted percentage as the commission rate.!

I think they should be savvy enough to know that the the phrase 'commission only' means - only commission, no basic. Dont think theres any need to stick '100%' in

Aggreed...