Trader Techniques

Posted by Denise on 23 October 2012 | 0 Comments

Tags: selling, business skills,

On a stopover from Europe to Singapore recently and indulging in retail therapy  (as you do :o)  )  I experienced a range of selling techniques from Singapore traders.   Here’s how it goes:   Hook the customer in with the promise of a good deal, find a connection point to build the relationship and throw in a hefty measure of charm offensive and sales bartering to secure the deal. 

With me the connection point was consistently “where you from, this your first time in Singapore?”….. “(Me) : New Zealand, No I was born in Singapore”…… “Ah, you Singaporean I do you special deal” (yeah right, I think). 

Don’t get me wrong, these guys are good traders, really good.  In some cases where they didn’t have the model I was looking for the sales technique skillfully shifted to trying to sell me something I didn’t want.  Sometimes I let this run to observe the range of tactics used; diss the brand you were looking for, propose different models or brands, try and sell a completely different product, even though I am consistently replying with “No,  this is what I want”.   So add in another skill to selling…. perseverance. 

I  reflected on this experience with my husband as we toured around Singapore City.  He was tired of the in your face bartering (who would blame him).  Typically,  I looked it from a biz skill perspective.   My take on it was that this is how these guys make their living and they are very good at it.  We could learn a lot from the Singapore trader   - Hook the customer in, build the relationship, perseverance.

Good news is that  I came out with the model I was looking for at a good price, along with some learnings  around  selling.