OT: Anyone ever sell vacuum cleaners?

[Poweranimals]

I got into this company that involves selling Kirby vacuum cleaners. I've heard of bad experiences from these types of jobs in general but I'm trying to have an open mind. Apparently they set you up with houses to go and demonstrate it. You have to get 15 appointments throughout the week but you make $400 per week even if no one buys from you.

I've gone in for what they call training (which is unpaid) where they show you all about the Kirby vacuum cleaner you're supposed to be selling. The problem I'm facing is that I'm shy and this is a rather complicated machine in general. I personally feel like I'm in over my head.

Now of course I expressed my concern to the lady who showed in charge of the training. She keeps saying that it doesn't matter. That they're patient and I'll learn eventually, etc. It seems like a good oppurtunity but at the same time I kinda feel like I'm being manipulated.

 

[CPS]

lol My friend tried that. Didn't last more than a month. It was supposedly horrible.

 

[Poweranimals]

Really? What all didn't she like about it?

 

[CPS]

Hmm, not really sure. I think for him it was commission-based or something.

 

[JFC]

Hmm, not really sure. I think for him it was commission-based or something.

This. My brother worked selling Kirby vacuums after he graduated high school. The job was totally commission-based, so unless they've recently changed their policies about how they pay their employees, the "you make $400 per week even if no one buys from you" that you were told is probably BS. The majority of the "appointments" that were set up for my brother were merely from people who signed up wanting a free demo (in other words, they wanted their carpets cleaned with the Kirby for free) but who never had any intention of ever buying it.

In the 6 months that he worked for them, my brother made...IF he's lucky...maybe 5 actual sales. And despite what some people may think, it's not because he was just a lousy/unlucky salesman. He's currently working for Rogers Communications (which is one of the big 3 Canadian cell phone providers) and his sales stats are consistently high enough that they have him in the Top 3 in terms of sales here where I live, and Top 10 in the whole country.

Poweranimals, if you really want to give this Kirby job a try, then give it a try. Do it the best that you can. However, if you get the feeling that "this isn't for me", give your 2 weeks notice and find something with a proper, regular salary. Don't be like my brother and try to stick with it for half a year, busting your ass, working 12 hour days and not making any money trying to sell something to a bunch of people who likely can't even afford to buy your product, let alone not having the intention of buying it.

 

[glcorps2002]

Look, I WORKED for Kirby for 2 weeks... Realize: 2 WEEKS!!! I caught people actually running away from their apartments after we tried selling door to door in one building. Some people thought I was Immigration during that time. I got no sales and no check because it was pure commission. Workers only stayed on for the chance to win company sponsored trips that occur every 6 months for the top seller.

 

[Judge Faiz]

Buisness still do door to door sales??

 

[nerefir]

My stepmom used to sell Rainbow vacuums, I think she sold maybe 3-4 machines over 2 years. :disappoin

 

[Darkster]

Yeah, this won't last long. Use the time to find another job. They're just switching people and you won't get very much. If they gave you that much money for doing terrible at your job, something's not right.

 

[Impulse87]

I got into this company that involves selling Kirby vacuum cleaners. I've heard of bad experiences from these types of jobs in general but I'm trying to have an open mind. Apparently they set you up with houses to go and demonstrate it. You have to get 15 appointments throughout the week but you make $400 per week even if no one buys from you.

I've gone in for what they call training (which is unpaid) where they show you all about the Kirby vacuum cleaner you're supposed to be selling. The problem I'm facing is that I'm shy and this is a rather complicated machine in general. I personally feel like I'm in over my head.

Now of course I expressed my concern to the lady who showed in charge of the training. She keeps saying that it doesn't matter. That they're patient and I'll learn eventually, etc. It seems like a good oppurtunity but at the same time I kinda feel like I'm being manipulated.

I did that same job down in San Jose, DO NOT DO THAT JOB.

i quit after a day, they asked me to come in at 10, which i did, and we stated at 1 pm. making an appointment is tough enough, most people are either at work or simply uninterested in letting a total stranger into their home.

at the very least they offered me 2 grand a month or commission depending on which is higher, which isn't **** compared to the work that I'm doing now and not even half as rewarding

their training program is good, but it's unpaid and the majority of the work is **** and your coworkers are usually screw ups who either dropped out or aren't planning to do anything with their lives in the next 5 years

I'll tell you now that a kirby costs people around 2000+ dollars, as my one and only appointment said: "a 1991 BMW in the garage and having a 2000 vaccum just doesnt make sense to have."

and I can tell you that I'm a great salesman, my last two jobs were sales and I consistently ranked high in my divisions.