MovieChat Forums > Salesman (2021) Discussion > 'Are you helping me?'

'Are you helping me?'

posted 10 years ago by jwalsh67
5 replies | jump to latest

"Because if you are, I could do with a little less help". Did anyone else want to lynch that obese sales director who tried to sell one of those overpriced bibles to one of his own salesman? He used the aforementioned line to interrupt one of the other salesman who warned the "mark" that he should consult with his wife before making such a hefty purchase. The pig couldn't put two kind words together to save his life! I won't even use the, "he was just doing his job" line to justify his obnoxious behavior, because it was completely ineffective. As a manager myself, I know first-hand that leading with the "stick" instead of the "carrot" leads only to resentment, fear, and ultimately lower productivity. The sales world does not HAVE to be so ugly; it tends to end up like that when egomaniacs fail to appreciate the work of their direct-reports.

He who conquers himself is mightier than he who conquers a city.

[–] equalthree 10 years ago

"Did anyone else want to lynch that obese sales director"

He wasn't very good or convincing. Lucky for him he was the director and wasn't selling for a living anymore.

[–] Brennan-8 10 years ago

They were rehearsing their sales pitch, and what they would do in certain scenarios where people resist and raise objections.

[–] jwalsh67 10 years ago

No, he actually made a sale.

He who conquers himself is mightier than he who conquers a city.

[–] JacintoCupboard 9 years ago

He didn't make a sale. The sales guys have presumably been raising the sorts of objections they meet in the field and this manager goes thru a rehearsal to 'show' the guys how to deal with them. Obviously the way he deals with it is so offensive and absurd, the sales guys must realise there is no point continuing with the play acting and just 'buy' the bible so it ends.

Sales managers in that field aren't usually chosen for their own selling abilities, they are chosen for their ability to bully, intimidate and deflect any criticism of the company or its product. This film captures it well.

[–] raymondunc 9 years ago

Sales managers in that field aren't usually chosen for their own selling abilities, they are chosen for their ability to bully, intimidate and deflect any criticism of the company or its product.

I think you might be guessing just a little here. They all went by numbers. And the only numbers that mattered was the ones that counted how many sales the person had. They might have needed those abilities, but if they didn't translate into sales, I doubt it mattered very much.

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