Modern Day Door-To-Door Selling

The door-to-door salesman...something that was portrayed as a viable and legit occupation in the 50's and prior ... at least on the tv shows of past that I watched...whether or not it ever was a legit or viable occupation is probably debatable...but now-a-days the door-to-door salesman, to me, seems like a tough way to make a living, but a person can easily put together the formula for most door-to-door sales techniques used today...

I first want to start out with a story of a guy I knew when I was in my late-teens. He dropped out of high school when he was 16 and became a vacuum cleaner salesman...yes, a door-to-door vacuum cleaner salesman. I had known him prior to this decision and then reacquainted with him a year or two after this decision and he was loving every minute of it and making decent money. I then began to drill him with questions because I could not believe a person could sell vacuum cleaners and not only love doing it, but make decent money. Then he unveiled the process in how he can sell vacuum cleaners... He has a friend that he pays a certain amount of money per 'successful booking', which means he tries to find a person they can easily persuade into buying a vacuum cleaner with nothing more than a phone book - this is in the 1980's, no internet at this time. So how do you even start there? Simple he says, you first go to small towns...living in the barren wasteland that we do finding a small town is like shooting fish in a barrel. Then you offer a cheap free gift to be delivered to them at a scheduled time, in exchange for the gift they would like to give a simple presentation - not telling them specifically what that presentation is if possible. You know what the free gift was that they were offering? Steak knives...when I heard that, I said who in their right mind would sit through a sales presentation for some free steak knives and he replied...lots! Their next step was to 'rig' their demonstration...no matter what kind of vacuum cleaner you had, the one they were selling could outperform it in every test...because the tests were rigged...they, the salesperson, was always sure to work the equipment, both your vacuum cleaner and theirs...and although by overall appearance it looked as if their actions were similar but they would have subtleties that would insure their vacuum cleaner would easily outperform anything you had to offer. To close the deal, they would sit down with the potential customer with a pencil and a piece of paper to illustrate how much money they would save by purchasing their $850 vacuum cleaner...in fact, they could work the numbers in such a manner that in 1 year that $850 investment in a vacuum cleaner had already paid for itself...it is all common sense and right there on paper, I recall him telling me...as he laughed hysterically! All-in-all it amounted to a fairly good job for him...for being a high school dropout...

Of course the above technique is focused and works the best on the elderly...most younger people today, I do believe, don't give a shit how good or bad their $150 vacuum cleaner works but I am certainly not going to pay $500 for a vacuum cleaner regardless of how good it sucks (I just had to say that...). Just last week, twice in one day, I had 2 door-to-door encounters and with my other more recent encounters with their ilk, I have begun to put together many of their newer, more modern 'techniques' now... I have never gotten close to purchasing anything from these guys lately, but I imagine the pencil and paper to 'calculate' your savings would still be a part of the formula for some of these guys out hawking their crap today...

A door-to-door salesperson that hits our house at least once every 18 months is the magazine seller that needs your 'vote' to win some contest. I had my first encounter with their type when I lived in Phoenix. Their approach is fairly sly... they first 'become your friend' and then move in for the sell. They will start talking with you about anything and everything and really want you to open up to them...start a friendly dialogue. Then after a sufficient amount of time, they reveal that they are in college and in some contest collecting votes and really would love it if you would help them by voting for them. Why sure you say (they hope) because we are now 'friendly' with each other, how can I vote for you...here's how, by buying a magazine or 5. Magazines? You've just bs'd with me for 15 minutes and want me to buy magazines? You knew something wasn't right and now you know exactly why. I've always been a 'tough sell' mainly because it seems that I am always low on funds and to spend money on magazines...no thanks. The last 2 or 3 times these guys have approached the conversation has been quick... they will begin their 'friendly talk' and I will let them get maybe 2 comments to me before I tell them that if they are selling anything that I am not interested. The last guy, just a month ago, actually replied "Oh, no I'm not selling anything." then hesitated a second or two and then said "Yeah, I am." Just leave now.

There is the variation of the vacuum cleaner give-away scheme that I detailed above that is in full swing today that I recently encountered...that is the totally free giveaway... BUT (fine print) to get the free stuff it will need installation or onsite service. This deal may seem irresistable to some but to the savvy, it is fairly transparent. The encounter I had was for a home security system in which the salesman was going to GIVE me $2,000 worth of home security equipment free for merely putting a sign on my lawn. They of course have the 'Don't you want to keep your family safe?' line locked and loaded when needed...but I didn't give them a chance to pull it out on me. You see this scheme is just a ploy to get whatever company they represent a way into your house and to continually hound you into buying something. You see, before they can come in and professionally install the free $2,000 home security system they will need to come in and do a house survey to make sure everything is properly installed. After the survey is complete it is unfortunate to reveal that the free $2,000 home security package isn't going to be enough to properly insure your security and to really be secure it would be best if another $3,000 of equipment is installed...but I know, your thinking $3,000, that's a lot of money...but I'll tell you what we can do for you...since you've agreed to post our sign in your front lawn, we've already done the site survey and we have all the equipment on hand and we are ready to go...how about if we still give you the $2,000 free home security system and we throw in the needed $3,000 additional equipment for the total $5,000 package and let you have it (let you have it...key phrases...you won't be buying it, they will LET YOU HAVE IT...that alone sounds irresistible to some!) for the low price of $1,500 ... all to keep your family safe... if you continue to whimper they will not take no for an answer will lower it to $1,000, then to $500 ... it is unbelievable how the prices fall when you continue to say no until they leave ... but that is the sale.

The final salesperson I've encountered really isn't a door-to-door salesperson per se, but could just as well be. These folks are the 'unbeliavable deal' guys. They typically prey on younger folks selling stereo equipment - and speakers seem to be top choice. Their approach can be talking to you as your driving or coming out of the mall, but their 'style' is somewhat similar. They are ecstatic and excited but they need to get going...for you see they are suppose to be delivering this high-end, top dollar speakers somewhere but the place that they picked them up from gave them 2 extra ones...so now he has 2 extra, high end, top dollar speakers that he needs to get rid of before he takes his van back to work. He would just stash them at his place but doesn't have enough time...he tells you already. He may even have an "invoice" for the speakers that claim they are worth like $500 a piece...but he needs to get these other 2 speakers delivered and get back to work or else he will get fired...so I'll tell you what he'll do for you... if you give him $400 right now, you can have both of them...no questions asked, just don't tell anyone where you got them from... you need to get some cash? Sure, no problem, I'll wait for you...that's how big of a rush they are in.

So there you go... maybe this blog entry will help someone avoid getting stung by one of these guys, but I also think that I may have just given out some great notes to the "up and coming" door-to-door salesperson because being accountable and reputable are two traits these people will certainly not possess.

US Open Post-View, Wimbledon In Progress

I've been meaning to get a post on here for some time and just have been away from a computer to do so or just not sufficient time to get a complete post up but here's a couple of sports related items I've been meaning to comment on...

The US Open: first, let me again state and praise how awesome having DirecTV is... for most of the open I just had the tv tuned into Tiger's group exclusively, which is really cool... there is very few commercials, usually only when they are waiting to tee-off an extraordinary long time...which was a couple of times...and a person watching gets to see so much of the 'entire' experience the pro golfer gets...as he walks through the crowds and around the course. But aside from that, Tiger did play fairly well except he putted like crap. He had several chances for easy or makable birdie putts and failed to convert. He was driving the ball good and his approach shots were on target as well... his short game, though, totally sucked...chipping, pitching and putting were his downfall this Open. He's playing this weekend and I have ZERO plans...it is a sad state of affairs, more on that later...so I will likely be able to catch much of his play and see how Tigers doing...

Wimbledon fired up last week as well and I've watched quite a bit of it so far...I've mainly been watching Federer, Roddick and Hewitt... Federer because he is awesome, Roddick because I like him and he is probably the best American and Hewitt because he has been playing really well and his matches seem fairly entertaining. I've watched a few of the women's matches ... Sharapova, losing and the Williams girls. I'm kind of surprised at the resurgance of the anti-grunting faction...well, I shouldn't say resurgance, but finally a real vocal outcry by many former women greats (Everett, Martina, etc.) about how they think it is uncalled for and unsportsmanlike. When Seles started grunting when she began playing I didn't like it then, she was the only one doing it so many really didn't make a big deal of it...but now, the grunting and shrieking from these women players is to the point of absurdity. I do think something should be done because it is ridiculious.

Favre: Signed With Vikes

Well, well, well ... reports are out that the Vikes and Favre have a signed contract ... this of course contradicts all the 'posturing' that Favre and the Vikes have done to keep things on the 'down-low'...

Really no surprise other than the attempt to do this contract so covertly ... Favre usually likes lots of fanfare and attention at anything he does...

I can hardly wait to watch Favre lead the Vikes to an impressive 5-11 record next season...

Watch The 2009 US Open Live Online

Sosa: Tested Positive For Steroids

It is all but official now, every 'power' hitter of the 90's through 2003 was on steroids. Sammy Sosa was finally outed and did indeed test positive for steroids in 2003.

So for those that need to review...

The "greatest" pitcher of this era, Roger Clemens, on steroids.
The "greatest" hitter of All-Time, Barry Bonds, on steroids.
Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Bonds all hit for more than 61 homeruns in a season...all on steroids.

Is MLB going to do anything to try and rectify the unbelievable skewed stats during the roid era? Probably not. The sad part is that I continue to hear all of these hall of fame voters that said they are going to vote all these roid-boys into the hall of fame because they are just 'comparing' them with others during their era...which is total bullshit because there may have been several players that didn't use steroids and what do they get for playing honostly during a dishonost time? Absolutely nothing.

I know I am going to make sure that my son knows that all these guys are cheaters and equal to piles-of-shit even though the media tries to 'soften' the crime and justify their actions. I am hoping that a commissioner down the road has the balls to banish all these cheaters from the game forever...it's the least they deserve.

ADDED:

As this story continues to hit the airwaves, sports pages, etc... I was quickly alerted to this fact:

5 out of the 6 greatest power hitters of the past decade or so have all tested positive steroids, Bonds, McGwire, Sosa, Manny Ramirez and Palmerio. The only player so far that hasn't had a hint of steroids attached to his name: Jim Thome ... All I could say is wow... I mean I have been one to quickly judge everyone in baseball during the roid era as guilty but I had no idea it really is that close to reality. MLB was and is a joke until it can do something to rectify all the cheating, lying and cover-ups and the best and only way that can be done, in my eyes, is to still banish all these cheaters from the game forever...no ifs ands or buts. Anything less than that is just accepting their lying, cheating and cover-up attempts as acceptable behavior.

ESPN Gave Up Live Mornings?

I recalled, it was last year prior to the Olympics that ESPN, with much fanfare, announced that their morning Sportscenter shows would now be 'live'. Now I don't usually watch ESPN at all unless they are airing live sports for the obvious reason, I have grown tired of hearing about the Yankees, Red Sox and the rest of the east coast teams...not to mention they barely acknowledge hockey and place the NBA as the premiere sport...because of course they are covering the NBA for their parent company, ABC. But I digress...

This morning I had a fair amount of 'slow work' (as I call it) where I am essentially sitting around waiting 2-5 minutes before I need to hit a button and/or change some media or whatever... so I turn on the ole' ESPN just to kill some time and, besides, there is literally nothing worth watching on television in the morning. It wasn't even 1 hour and I begin to notice that ESPN is just re-airing the same Sportscenter over and over and over again...just like before. You know, I thought at the time of the announcement that ESPN would not be able to fill an entire morning with enough fresh material to justify going live...but I also thought that since ESPN is more about fabricating stories and sensationalizing most anything I thought they would be able to put enough garbage together to fill 3 hours with little problems... well it looks like that experiment is all but over.

The live ESPN Sportscenter obviously left quietly and with little opposition and I don't know if anyone knows exactly when because no one was watching in the first place. The facts remain the same...there are very few times that would justify a live morning sports show.

As a sidenote...many people in this region have had their eyes opened as to how shoddy and inaccurate ESPN's reporting actually is during the entire Favre saga this summer. I haven't trusted ESPN for any sports news in quite some time and there are so many other reliable sources a person could go to get the right information. If you want some speculation and opinion, tune into ESPN ... if you want the correct story and the facts, you will need to get your sports news from some other source.

Money Talks And You Walk

I'm not really going to be detailing anything that everyone with a clue already knew, but it is just another example of what fame and fortune is worth in American society...

Donte Stallworth just pleaded guilty to DUI vehicular homicide, accepting a 30 day jail term and settled out of court with the victim's family. Donte Stallworth is, of course, an NFL football player... he got bombed and killed a guy in Florida early one morning and now will have to serve a short sentence and pay a large sum, but in the end, will walk away pretty much free and clear...

Let's compare that to the fate of the guy who killed Anaheim Angels pitcher Nick Ardenhardt. First, the suspect in the Ardenhardt has not seen daylight since his accident, while Stallworth had been free and will remain free until his sentence begins. And some might be quick to point out that the Ardenhardt suspect has a past of DUI convictions and was driving under suspension at the time...but those are just minor obstacles for a skilled lawyer.

In the end, I am willing to bet that the Ardenhardt suspect has a sentence that will put Stallworth's to shame...and why? Of course it is because he isn't rich and famous...once again proving that you can kill someone and get away with it as long as you have money...

Big Surprise: Favre Wants To Play Again

Brett Favre stunned the sports world in an interview last night by saying he was considering playing again next season.

Brett Favre's "official" status as to whether or not he will play next season has been upgraded from retired to "maybe".

Umm... why still the charade Brett?

Anyone notice the 'big lie' in the article that Brett said? Brett said he didn't attend the Viking's OTA's because he didn't want to have a media circus ... HA HA HA... quit lying Brett, you are the ringmaster of the media circus and you will take any opportunity to create a media circus. The real reason you weren't at the Viking OTA's is because you are lazy and selfish. If you can possibly skip the entire preseason and just show up week 1 is your dream gig.

I wonder if Brett is going to demand his own suite in the Metrodome where he will prepare for the games and go to during halftime and afterwords...

Vikes Impose 'Deadline' To Favre

If it wasn't real when I mentioned it earlier, it is now public... the Vikes imposed some artificial deadline to Brett Favre stating that they want to know this week if he is going to play for them or not... How silly the Vikes are... Brett Favre will grace the Metrodome with his presence when he is ready to and you will welcome him with open arms and great fanfare.

UPDATED 6/9/09:

Reports are that Favre's family and 'entourage' has booked a block of hotel rooms in Green Bay the weekend the Vikes play the Packers (Nov. 1). That should all but squash any doubts about Favre's intentions about 'retiring'.

Sunday O' Sports

Yesterday I was feeling ill and pretty much just laid in bed all day to rest up...and while I lied around all day I was able to monitor/watch a full days worth of sports and it was pretty entertaining...

First was the French Open...although I was not up early enough to watch the beginning, I did wake up in time to see Roger dominate the 3rd set and win his 14th major title and his career Grand Slam, making him probably the greatest tennis player ever... As I have stated earlier, I do like Federer and I was happy to see him finally win the French...I was kind of hoping he would beat Nadal to really validate his win, but maybe next year!

Then I dozed off until the afternoon and watched Tiger Woods light up the back 9 at the Nicklaus hosted Memorial PGA event to win it. It looks like Tiger is getting his stroke back...there are 3 majors left to be claimed this year and I think Tiger could...should...be able to win 2 of them if he continues to play like he is right now.

The evening session had me watching the Lakers-Magic game...you know what the lamest rule in professional sports is? It's the NBA rule where a team calls a timeout under the opponents basket and then is allowed to inbounds the ball on their end of the court. That is exactly what happened last night and if the Magic would have won the game because of that rule it would just further illuminate at how lame that rule is. In what other sport does a team get rewarded 3 quarters of the playing field for simply calling a timeout? The Magic got a loose ball with .7 seconds left in the game (a tie game), call a timeout...because they then get to inbounds the ball on their side of the floor, they almost convert a buzzer-beater play. This rule has been an NBA rule for quite some time and no one must see any problem with it because it is just the NBA's attempt to make every game 'close' and if it means they have to sacrifice fairness to achieve that, then they will do that... the NBA is lame...

And the nightcap was the Faber-Brown MMA fight... now I am not a big MMA guy, but for some reason I have followed "The Califonia Kid" Uriah Faber. He got beat by Mike Brown, a guy who I thought caught Faber with a lucky shot to win the lightweight belt, but there was little doubt who won the fight last night...it was Brown, who had threatened multiple times to secure a submission hold on Faber. Faber, for the most part, tried to keep the fight on their feet and any time they went to the mat it was Brown who was the aggressor. Faber landed a few decent shots, but nothing that slowed Brown down. Overall, not a bad MMA fight.

There was my day in bed in front of a t.v.

Merriman Vid

Shawne Merriman posted a video showing him warming up for a basketball game on 6/6/09 ... I hope that's a good sign that he will be good to go for the 2009-10 NFL campaign...


VID 00037.3GP on 12seconds.tv

Some Quick Bits...

I will be fairly busy with work the next 2 weeks and then like usual, I plan to take an extended break from work...only seems proper, not? Since my blogging has tapered off I figured I better get something 'fresh' up there now or else it will look even more desolate than normal. Anyways, here's some quick notes, thoughts, what-have you...

I normally don't tune into late night television anymore. When I was younger I did watch Carson and Letterman on NBC but once Leno started, it seemed as if I grew tired of the late night talk shows and barely would watch any of them. For some reason...probably because there was no sports on...I tuned in the premiere of Conan O'Brian on the Tonight Show. I've seen Conan a few times and think his schtick is o.k. but after after the first 30-40 minutes of the show last night, I know that I will be making no extra effort to watch his show with any regularity.

I have been able to watch a fair amount of the French Open...I'm not a Nadal fan, I am a Federer fan... I didn't have to work yesterday, yet woke up at my regular time of 7 AM. I couldn't immediately fall back asleep so I turned on the Tennis Channel and there was the Federer-Haas match underway...at this point, Federer was down 2 sets...I thought to myself I'll unfortunately watch Rog lose and then go back to sleep...but of course Rog didn't lose, he rallied back and won the match and I didn't even bother trying to go back to sleep then because I had became so involved in watching the match. Although I don't think Roddick has enough of 'it' anymore to win a major, but for some reason I feel sad when he loses. To me, I think Roddick is a guy that you can tell just has a good work ethic and every major he comes out and tells how he is ready...but then you watch him play... He has the huge serve, but so does everyone and now they can return his serve and he seems to struggle to break players. But I also cheer for American players and he is probably our best American player right now... I have zero faith or confidence in James Blake, I am hoping a younger American player can quickly ascend the ranks and take over the world #1 rating.

I better not forget to include a Favre mention...I can't find the speculative link, but I do believe 2 weeks ago there was a story that said the Vikes were giving Favre an ultimatum, that they needed to know by Friday if he would be having the surgery or not on his arm or else they weren't going to offer him a contract...of course Favre hasn't said jack-squat because he will come and play for the Vikes on his schedule... I mean, don't they know who he is? I just kind of chuckle at reading the article because it had that language of the Vikes trying to leverage Favre...haven't they seen the bullshit this guy does every offseason? You will not push him around and if you try he will instantly contact the media and make sure you are set up as the bad guys ala Green Bay Packers.

Some quick Charger notes:
- A developer's plan to build a new stadium for the Chargers in Mission Valley was rejected by the Chargers. They say it is too unrealistic.

- The Chargers announce their plans to commemorate their 50th anniversary. Lots of special activities going on...fans will get to select the 50 greatest Chargers, 20 greatest Charger moments and much, much more....should make the season a fun one at the very least with all the 50th Anniversary stuff surrounding the team.

Well, that's about all I have for now... I hope to get on when I can....

I also hope everyone has a safe and pleasant summer!