Why don't ad salespeople work when it rains?

Every time it's raining, the parking lot is filled with their cars. When it's 75 and sunny, you can't find a sales rep in the building. But when it's raining, they won't even leave for lunch and instead order in.

Is it like that at every shop? Is there some unwritten ad rule that prevents them from calling on customers when it's drizzling?

 

They're probably on the phone.

 

Or playing fantasy football.

 

Really, do you think ad salespeople just drop in on clients and potential clients, expecting them to put aside whatever they're working on so they can buy space in the paper from their uninvited and unexpected guest? Or do you think they phone ahead a few days in advance and make an appointment, and visit at the convenience of the customer or potential customer? So on rainy days they just decide, oh, it's too wet to make a complete pest of myself and, by the way, earn a commission?

 

Because they're made of sugar?

 

We had one get angry with a client on the phone, scream, "I'll get you! And your little dog, too!" and storm out into the rain.


"I's meeeelting! I'm meeeeeeeeelting!" was the last that we heard.

 

Frank, my father runs a large auto dealership. And my first newspaper gig was in an ad department. So I've seen sales from both sides. And I'm not one of the newsroom types who despise the ad reps. Their efforts pay my salary, so I love them for that.

But on nice, sunny days they aren't in the office. On rainy days, they are.

 

Hey, rainy days and Mondays always get me down....

 

They're playing golf on the sunny days.

 

As long as they sell an ad while they are there, it's all good.

 

Ad sales are down! Revenue is dwindling! Clients are leaving!

So, the better question is: Why don't sales people get axed for not selling enough? Or not generating new ideas/clients/revenue?

They're sitting on their asses in the rain. And we get laid off and get offered buyouts.

 

We (editorial) came up with a new product that advertising used to acquire new revenue. Advertising got bonuses. Editorial got more work.