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Re: Re: Re: A simple checklist up front can help sort out leads!
ash_pradhan - that's actually what I have done. Where there is no way to determine how much time will be involved in code writing, especially considering that much of the work is done on a learn as I go basis, by placing the store template on auto download and taking a hands off approach to selling it, a decision has been made on how to apportion time to maximize profits.
posted by
gomedome
on April 2, 2009 at 7:14 AM
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Re: Re: A simple checklist up front can help sort out leads!
Precisely, I used the term "leads" generically. A cleverly composed checklist can allow you to decide how to apportion your time between the different queries to maximize profit. A simple automated decision tree that you could script yourself can be a useful tool. Btw, I know exactly what you mean as one time, as the Chief Engineer of a major division of a Fortune 50 company, I had the challenge of inventing a similar strategy for a sales & engineering staff of over a 1,000, selling hundreds of inter-related products to thousands of customers..I had fun with it, not to mention that my compensation was tied to the division profit :), have fun...
posted by
ash_pradhan
on April 1, 2009 at 9:05 AM
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Re: A simple checklist up front can help sort out leads!
ash_pradhan - that is true but we are not really talking about sales leads here. We are more discussing means of selling and distribution, effective techniques and the importance of not allowing the transactional timeframe to erode the profit margin.
posted by
gomedome
on April 1, 2009 at 8:05 AM
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A simple checklist up front can help sort out leads!
posted by
ash_pradhan
on March 31, 2009 at 5:49 PM
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Re: Automation might not be the way to go on the sales side
cpklapper - that is very true, with personal interaction becoming more important as the cost of the goods increases. I speak from experience here, I've sold items online ranging in cost from $4 to $30,000. With most of the higher priced goods coming from sales listings on eBay, a back and forth dialogue was necessary to allow the prospective buyer to reach a certain comfort level. The one pitfall however to personal interaction is that the time involved must be covered in the profit margin. That ultimately is why I feel that some goods are better sold through automation.
Again speaking from experience, I have been selling a template for osCommerce for about 30 months. A newer improved version is ready for release but this time I am not willing to trade off any of the profit for stupid people asking stupid questions and expecting the moon for less than $20. I would rather trade off a few sales, which would make all transactions profitable. . . . it really depends on the product as to how it is sold.
posted by
gomedome
on March 31, 2009 at 8:31 AM
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Automation might not be the way to go on the sales side
Though I am no salesman, I have found much better response to personal appearances than through my Amazon links. My surmise is that the customer responds better to the personal interaction with the vendor during the sale and delivery customization (installation for software, signing for books) than to an automated system that does not answer their questions nor give assurance that there is some kindly soul on the other side of the transaction.
Carl Peter
posted by
cpklapper
on March 31, 2009 at 8:12 AM
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Re: You seem to've dropped auction pirate ways and gone all "E" on us (majroj)
majroj - it's a sign of the economic times. There are plenty of auctions around but also a peculiar shortage of buyers. For the time being, I'm concentrating on auto downloads and other aspects of my web service.
posted by
gomedome
on March 30, 2009 at 10:01 PM
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You seem to've dropped auction pirate ways and gone all "E" on us (majroj)
posted by
majroj
on March 30, 2009 at 9:18 PM
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