Write Stuff

To the Editor:

At last, someone that tells it like it really is! Richard Gottlieb's piece, "The Abusive Buyer II" (March 2007 Playthings), was great! I make my living out of a territory where miles are great and buyers are few. I can't tell you how many times a buyer will say "next time you're close by, swing by 'anytime' and I'll see you." Well, close is 100 miles and "a swing by" is two hours away, so I always call to make sure coming in is a good thing.

Most times, and most customers, are more than accomodating and make room in their schedules, but invariably there is that one customer who just can't do it and wants you to stay over and see them the next day, all to buy an amount of goods that won't even cover your overnite motel stay, much less compensate you for your time and gas to be there nor the total disruption of a finely tuned schedule that may run out for 10 days or more.

This is usually the same buyer who whines to a sales manager at a show that "your rep never comes to see me" and loves to stir that pot. Add in the buyers that are never prepared to meet (even though you have been on their calendar for weeks) or the ones who want to talk about everything but product and then ask you to make another appointment so "we can finish up the orders," and it's enough to wonder why I have been in this business for the last 25 years!

Thanks for carrying the flag for the reps in the field!

— [Name withheld at the writer's request]