Children selling shoeshines, finger puppets, postcards and cigarettes navigate the narrow streets of Cuzco like a pack of piranhas. Once they smell gringo dollars, they start a frenzied circling motion and spin up their pitch, which is well-rehearsed and fairly uniform.
"Want to buy a postcard?"
"No, gracias."
"Why not?"
"No es necessario."
"Where you from?"
"Los Estados Unidos."
"Ahhhh. The capital is Washington. The president is George Booosh. Before him was Clinton. Before him was another Booosh. Before him was Reagan. Before him was ..."
And on and on. Sometimes it's a chance to practice my Spanish. Others it's just annoying.
They are all orphans.
They all have five brothers and sisters.
They all make 10 nuevos soles per day (about 3 bucks). But today they have made nothing and want something to eat.
It tries my patience because after you've heard it once, it's so obviously a come-on. But I try to be gracious and humorous. I even learned that singing "no no no no no no no" in a descending scale as they persist with their pitch draws a smile and makes them realize the answer really is "no" and that "no," I won't want to buy that postcard "maybe later," either.
Posted by Bob Benz at May 8, 2007 9:19 AM
Mosquito seller: Want to buy a post card?
El gringo gigante: No gracias... No neccesito... No por favor, no...
Mosquito: Where you from senior?
Gigante: Soy de Estados Unidos (China, Brazil, Peru, Mars, outer space... anything to find a new put off for the mosquitos)
Mosquito: You want some peace and quiet, senior?
Gigante: SiŽamigo
Mosquito: Well my name is Peace, and this is my friend (pointing to a smiling confederate in the game of tourist sales) Quiet. Would you like a post card?
Gigante: No amigo
Mosquito: Why not?
Gigante: No neccisito.
Mosquito: Do you have brothers my friend?
Gigante: SiŽamigo, tengo dos hermanos, pero ellos no neccesitan post cards.
Mosquito: El gigante, let me tell you what I know about your country... LetŽs talk...
Gigante: Vamos ala Hotel amigos...
Mosquito: I like to speak english, maybe I can help you with your spanish...
Gigante (giving in to the the sheer force of mosquito will)... : Where are you from mosquito?
Bob and I did not want their post cards, but it was a silent pleasure to experience the mastery of motivated sellers.
I cant help but think, what would happen if I were armed with 20 sellers that worked with this kind of persistence? Their process was simple, obvious, but effective:
Get a šnoš, ask again. Get another šnoš ask why. Get a third šnoš, ask anything about the potential customer, get them talking. Find a friendly conversation, share a little about yourself (truth seems to be optional in these anecdotes of lost family and starving hermanos).
I find myself impressed, even enjoying the game with these kids. They are having fun as well. They are completely dedicated to practicing their craft, even when they are clear a sale is not pending.
I imagine the 75% increase in sales volume if an interactive sales team had this kind of will. I have to wonder how much more I could do with the same persistence... 45 minutes later, the conversation is winding down, Bob and I are now surrounded by a swarm of mosquitos...
Lead Mosquito (calls himself Dennis the Menace): Amigos, it has been nice practicing my english with you. Before you go, are you sure you donŽt want a post card?
El Gigante (completely enthralled with this final request for the sale): SiŽamigo, here is 20 soles, keep the post card.
El Gigante Bob (much more generous than I) turns over $20.
Viva capitalism!
Good lord, I enjoy great sales people... Money well spent...
wj
Posted by: Wes at May 8, 2007 3:53 PM
Mosquito seller: Want to buy a post card?
El gringo gigante: No gracias... No neccesito... No por favor, no...
Mosquito: Where you from senior?
Gigante: Soy de Estados Unidos (China, Brazil, Peru, Mars, outer space... anything to find a new put off for the mosquitos)
Mosquito: You want some peace and quiet, senior?
Gigante: SiŽamigo
Mosquito: Well my name is Peace, and this is my friend (pointing to a smiling confederate in the game of tourist sales) Quiet. Would you like a post card?
Gigante: No amigo
Mosquito: Why not?
Gigante: No neccisito.
Mosquito: Do you have brothers my friend?
Gigante: SiŽamigo, tengo dos hermanos, pero ellos no neccesitan post cards.
Mosquito: El gigante, let me tell you what I know about your country... LetŽs talk...
Gigante: Vamos ala Hotel amigos...
Mosquito: I like to speak english, maybe I can help you with your spanish...
Gigante (giving in to the the sheer force of mosquito will)... : Where are you from mosquito?
Bob and I did not want their post cards, but it was a silent pleasure to experience the mastery of motivated sellers.
I cant help but think, what would happen if I were armed with 20 sellers that worked with this kind of persistence? Their process was simple, obvious, but effective:
Get a šnoš, ask again. Get another šnoš ask why. Get a third šnoš, ask anything about the potential customer, get them talking. Find a friendly conversation, share a little about yourself (truth seems to be optional in these anecdotes of lost family and starving hermanos).
I find myself impressed, even enjoying the game with these kids. They are having fun as well. They are completely dedicated to practicing their craft, even when they are clear a sale is not pending.
I imagine the 75% increase in sales volume if an interactive sales team had this kind of will. I have to wonder how much more I could do with the same persistence... 45 minutes later, the conversation is winding down, Bob and I are now surrounded by a swarm of mosquitos...
Lead Mosquito (calls himself Dennis the Menace): Amigos, it has been nice practicing my english with you. Before you go, are you sure you donŽt want a post card?
El Gigante (completely enthralled with this final request for the sale): SiŽamigo, here is 20 soles, keep the post card.
El Gigante Bob (much more generous than I) turns over $20.
Viva capitalism!
Posted by: Wes at May 8, 2007 3:53 PMGood lord, I enjoy great sales people... Money well spent...
wj