How to start with door to door selling of a product

[John D]

Hey,

First off, this is not for me, I hate it to be honest.

A friend is selling door to door and wanted to get some advise on how how to start with actually talking to the person, I.e. what to say once they open the door and before actually saying about the product.

I don't know myself as I have never done this or anything like it (Including phone sales)

(Please don't reply saying you hate this, I know it already )

 

[Psl]

I would suggest that your friend go and work for an existing door to door sales company and learn the ropes that way.

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Seems your "friend" will need one of these. https://www.gov.uk/pedlars-certificate

 

[John D]

"friend"

- Not sure what you are trying to infer by that, I work online only.

I would suggest that your friend go and work for an existing door to door sales company and learn the ropes that way.

It is stock he wants to sell from a shop that just wasn't viable so he is trying to sell it cheaper to try recoup his losses, so I don't think that will be an option, unfortunately.

I hate seeing so many shops going down in the last few years

 

[vvaannmmaann]

Well good for you.

 

[John D]

Seems your "friend" will need one of these.

Well good for you.

I come here after being a member for 5 and a half years to get some help and this is the help I get?

Why show such disrespect to someone asking for help?
Would you do the quotation marks if I asked you in person?
Would you say "well good for you" if I was talking to you in person?

Forums are the main thing I do and I hate when people show disrespect that they wouldn't when talking face to face with someone, there is no need at all for it.

 

[GraemeL]

I come here after being a member for 5 and a half years to get some help and this is the help I get?

Why show such disrespect to someone asking for help?
Would you do the quotation marks if I asked you in person?
Would you say "well good for you" if I was talking to you in person?

Forums are the main thing I do and I hate when people show disrespect that they wouldn't when talking face to face with someone, there is no need at all for it.

John, I think you are reading too much into VM's post. And you seem to be quite prickly!

He has directed you to the place to get advice about the certificate that may be necessary, though there are other conditions. Helpfull I would have thought?

On the other hand, I can also see some irony in your comments 'hate seeing so many shops going down" while also saying " I only work on line".

Lighten up and continue to seek advice, would by my input.

 

[mobious]

How to start with door to door selling of a product

Find a house, knock on the door

It would be pointless using someone's sales pitch as this may not be viable for their product or them. It's trial and error in door to door sales. Be ready for rejection!

Mo

 

[mhall]

- Not sure what you are trying to infer by that, I work online only.

Really ?
http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=235729

 

[Dave.F]

There are loads of youtube videos on door to door sales

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Jo41JnfDdI

 

[Psl]

What stock does your friend have to sell?

 

[Ashley_Price]

Yes, as has been mentioned before, your friend will almost certain need a "hawkers" licence to sell door-to-door. There are also certain times of the day when you can/can't call.

Also, depending on what he sells he may not be able to sell on the first visit. Some years ago I had a (very short) stint at selling insurance door-to-door. We were told that, by law, we had to do this in a two-stage process. Firstly, try and get an appointment (even if it was set for just 10 minutes later) and then go back for the appointment.

It also depends on the type of person they are. No two sales people work the same way, so what works for one won't for another.

He has to expect a lot of rejection, more and more people are becoming suspicious of someone coming to their door. We had someone come to our door a while back, trying to sell stuff. I didn't open the door, so they started looking through the windows, going round the side of the property (we're semi-detached) and looking through the back windows. He suddenly saw me in one of the rooms and stuck his finger up at me before leaving. Great salesmanship!

Has your friend not considered using the internet - eBay - to sell?

 

[ThePublisher]

Ebay, bootsale or a market stall have all got to be better options than going knocking on doors surely. At least people who approach him there are potentially interested in buying.

Few people are actually going to be on the other side of their front door thinking, I'm just itching to buy an XXXX, I wish somebody would come and sell me one.

 

[John D]

Thanks mhall
That was last year if you read the date


Times change, I have always worked online and thought about doing things local but it simply didn't work out - So I didnt do it and stuck with online

Thank you Dave, unfortunately he doesn't have internet but I could lend him my laptop if he wants to check

Psl I am really not 100% sure what he has to be honest...It is the general market stall items, we don't have markets here at all, like in England, just shops.

we had to do this in a two-stage process. Firstly, try and get an appointment (even if it was set for just 10 minutes later) and then go back for the appointment.

I really didn't know that, is that only for insurance?

they started looking through the windows, going round the side of the property (we're semi-detached) and looking through the back windows. He suddenly saw me in one of the rooms and stuck his finger up at me before leaving. Great salesmanship!

That is unbelievable!
Great way to get a sale!

As for eBay, I wouldn't recommend it to him, I do it myself and the eBay and paypal fees are not worth the items he is selling unless it is sold in bulk as a job lot.

Great post, thanks Ashley

Thanks for replying ThePublisher - But just as above, it wouldn't be worth unless selling to a business really.