Some sales representatives who call on newsagents and other indie retailers will do anything to get you to buy their products or service.
Retailers would know who I mean – they are the sales people who try and win business by lying about the competitors. It’s their point of difference.
I am talking here about outright lies and not just tough competitive positioning. It speaks volumes for their belief in their own product that they focus on the competitors more than themselves. Thankfully, business won this way often bites them sometime down the track.
If a supplier representative says anything to you about a competitor of theirs, ask them to prove it. This will soon shut them up. Better still, go to the company or person they are speaking about and let them know – it is what you would want if it was you they were talking about after all. Or even better still, write down their claims in front of them, with date and time and their name. Make it clear you will hold them to what they have said.
It is essential you have evidence down the track should you need to confront them or their boss about claims made.