Lost sales rep

Hey just lost my sales rep. He bought a small rest. about 15miles N of here. Seen it coming. Tried to do both for about a month, now into restuarant only. The new salesperson really a young new to industry type wants to override everything had set up. Probally have to change product. People really loved the product, hate to change but have tried everything, even over sales person head,but to no avail. Just venting here sorry. Still have some product left but have to try other stuff now.

Ok, venting is good.

I have no idea if you are looking for a solution to the matter. If so, you will need to be a little more specific to the details of the situation. I am having a difficult time reading the context of the post with 'the product, product product" general mentions.

Why would you have to change a thing? I went thru a ton of reps over the years and the new guy would get up to speed quick or id just deal w/ his boss. Those guys do have a commission built into their pay so they need to keep you ordering but might try to BBD you on a more expensive product or one he gets an additional incentive on.
britt

Sorry just venting and maybe can work this out. Since cart cannot receive orders directly. Well they have up'd the min. to deliver at an est. brick establishment this is always fine with reps and rest. Min order fine. Restaurant does not have a problem with it. Truck does not move and gets two orders off one place. The problem is increased min. that I cannot do, do to storage problems. Already have so many freezers cannot add more.

Sorry only order meat and frozen buns. Everything else I get local.

Ay, Dios Mio!!

Did the policy change, or was this a policy that your (now former) sales rep. "worked around"?

I am still trying to crack the code. Your sales rep. is no longer your sales rep. and the minimum order policy has increased to an amount that is too much for you to store. The new sales rep. and/or his/her supervisor are not willing to make an exception (of a smaller minimum) for you. So, now you cannot continue carrying the same hot dogs and buns (product product product) that you and your customers both love. Correct?

Wont they allow you to do a "Will Call" and pick it up yoursef? Also I used to buy everything froma produce dist in Denver. They also carried a full line of foods(meats annd canned goods)and if I needed a small order my rep would stop by after work and have a few comp. cocktails in the bar.
britt

was the last rep an old guy? Old guys know the game and will shave a few bucks off their commission and bend a few rules to make the customer happy and keep you ordering.

Young guys want to come in like a ball of fire and not give up a thing. To them youre just an account number.

sigh...

If you work completely through your existing inventory, you cannot handle the storage of a minimum order?

Give it some time. Young guns blaze in, with pi$$ & vinegar. They look to impress the world with NOTHING but the biggest accounts.

However, there is a certain time (of every month) when the dreaded word for every new (pain in the behind) sales rep. starts to echo. Quota!! Try to catch the kid, when he NEEDS you.

Or, another idea. You just lost a sales rep. but gained a friend who owns a restaurant, with ties to the company. If he left the company on good terms, see if you can order through him, and throw him a few bucks.

Good thread:

I'm a small operation. Now ordering 160 dogs and buns per week. I honestly haven't gotten great service from my food broker rep. He even forgot to order my stuff afer a phone call and a follow up email. I drove 120 miles round trip to pick up the stuff and it wasn't there. The lady that works at the shipping place felt bad and said to call her when I need an order. She seems like the nuts and bolts of the operation anyway. I could have gotten pissed of and demanded compensation but I decided that in the scope of this business, I may be more of a hassle to them then what I am worth at this time. I need these guys more than they need me. I'm new to the biz, so I'll soak up a few punches to learn. I'll keep that event in my back pocket and pull it as a favor someday.

Now my Vienna rep - He is awesome. He has delivered on every level. He's a hunter like me and I just happen to have place for him to quail hunt if he so desires. He takes care of me and I'll take care of him.

Arnie

Ok thanks for some input Might haved solved the problem. No way can I use the Will Call route. They are over 100 miles one way. Live in rural TN. They are in N. Nashville. Get at least 2 min. orders per month sometimes 3. The truck is here 3 (m,w,r) times a week. Well a couple times a month use to top off everything for small festivals and have product to go on. Well small order was approx. $300.00. My old rep. did not have problem with this since the truck was already at a stop that was one of his biggest acct.'s and already had a full order before from me. He knew my situation and we worked around that Now have to have minimum order regardless. The new rep. is really holding to her guns on this one. Already have two 25 cu. ft. chest freezers(2/3 of one for just buns). and big refrig. small freezer for holding everyday(nite) stuff that I unload from cart. Or meat cooler. Just have two more months of this and my festivals go by-by for the season. Love these small festivals. Can do her min. thru the winter but next spring when things get cranked up again we will see. Just going to have to do a reajustment on ordering. Well going to have to drop the buns and just store meat products. Have got a new line on buns, they are not frozen but can work around for a couple months.

Take her to lunch.

Arnie

Oh, damn. You KNOW I will be the last person here to be sexist (since I am a woman) but I have such a hard time with female sales reps. Give me a young guy, and I can close a new deal in a minute.

Arnie she is new to the food business. Going to have to let her do here thing for awhile. Her company has certain things that she has to learn to get around. Min. orders is the one I have a problem with at this point. Everything else is great. With the cost of fuel, manpower, and everything else going up, can see why min. orders are required. I am not a big account by no means. My big months are Apr-Oct. Then just do lunch thru the fall and try and work winters. Last winter was to wet to work. Rain,rain,rain.

CC

Take them to lunch.



LOL

Arnie

Is Fed-Ex or UPS out of the question? I assume in Nashville it's either Sysco or Gordon Foods you're dealing with. I don't even know if Gordon delivers.

quote:

Originally posted by ArnieTX

CC

Take them to lunch.



LOL

Arnie

Nay! Let them take me to lunch. It is like poker. Gotta know how to play any/every hand you are dealt. The winning hand, does not always consist of the best cards in the deck. You win with attitude, charm, and a good set of something.

Arnie I understand, but give her time. Wait till one of her big accounts need below min. and see how she does. Just have to adjust. did not know about the other buns until this evening. Not frozen just many small orders and they are only 1/2 mile from the house. Liked dealing with one company, now have to deal with two. Have to learn to adjust. This is a bun that is bigger than a regular hot dog bun but is not as big as a deli style. Really does well with the sausage 5/1 and can hold onions and peppers as well. Really does well with chili will not get soggy as they say. Fully baked but can steam them just as you do with no problem. Hard bun to find. Reg. dog buns do not steam well. And I do not do Viennas here. Love them but they do not sell well. Have a small donut shop working on a cheddar cheese and jalapeno bun. Trying to get the cost there. Tried on customers they loved it. Not hot but just right.

Relient and CC have worked things out 99%. Just have to adjust for the buns. Yes gordons does deliver here. Seen there trucks. Get my paper goods from small company in AL. Food (meat) from Nashville and really trying to up the anti with bread distributor.

CC loved that about poker. Reminded me of old Bette Midler song.
Pretty Legs

I am happy to hear that everything will work out. You did not just vent and put your head down. You proved that the world does not have to come to an end, because things change. Great job!!

email me if you get a good independent bread distributor. been looking for that ourselves

Just a very hard bun to find. Believe only two companies make it. With limited storage and such just have to work to find product.