Why don't ad salespeople work when it rains?

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Inky_Wretch

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Sitting behind an iMac. Why?
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?
 
Inky_Wretch said:
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.
 
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?
 
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.
 
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Frank_Ridgeway said:
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?

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.
 
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.
 
rtse11 said:
We (editorial) came up with a new product that advertising used to acquire new revenue. Advertising got bonuses. Editorial got ****ed.

Fixed.
 
Inky_Wretch said:
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?

My take: It's kind of like mail carriers. They will make their presence known during sunny days (or when it's near holiday season so they can score gifts from residents they deliver mail too), but once it rains, they can only be found at John's Snack Shop eating club house sandwiches or the local Tim's guzzling all the double doubles they can.
 
If the rain comes, they run and hide their heads.
They might as well be dead.
If the rain comes, if the rain comes.
 
Cansportschick said:
Inky_Wretch said:
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?

My take: It's kind of like mail carriers. They will make their presence known during sunny days (or when it's near holiday season so they can score gifts from residents they deliver mail too), but once it rains, they can only be found at John's Snack Shop eating club house sandwiches or the local Tim's guzzling all the double doubles they can.

200px-Seinfeld_s9e5.jpg


I have no idea what you're talking about.
 

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