Sharpening our sales skills in South America

What?  Did that guy really put a set of pliers on my leg in the metro of Buenos Aires....fully packaged in plastic?  Or did that guy on the beach really think I was going to buy a neon pink biquini (spelled this way in Portugese).

Amy and I have each been selling professionally for some time now. We have seen a lot of ways of approaching a sales cycle.....but this?

Our first taste of this “New selling” approach was in the subway of Buenos Aires. It is common for a vendor to simply place his product of choice (whatever fell off the truck that week) on to the unsuspecting lap of the commuters. Everyone simply accepts the “gift” as he moves swiftly through the car between stops. Then as train begins to slow down, he picks it back up. If this is the day you simply could not live without that 3-pack of kleenex, or pair of scissors, or..... then you simply pay up. If you can live another day without this said product....you graciously offer it back to the vendor. Simple. Everyone understands. We were fascinated.

Anyone who has visited a beach in Mexico understands that you are the next prospect for the sand dwellers hawking their wares. These guys have nothing on the Sand Sales Gods of Rio! If you choose to walk the beaches of Copacabana or Ipanema (which I highly advise), you are a prospect! Take your pick......Tshirts, hats, sunglasses, hammocks, cold beer (YES!!!!!!!!!), watermelon, shrimp kabobs, assorted other food items, Futbols, biquinis, beach chairs, things with “Brasil” printed on them, and more. Make eye contact and you are a prospect. Stop for a minute to enjoy the view...you are a prospect. Bring out a camera.....be prepared for the entire population of Rio to try to sell you something. We counted – less than 30 seconds between each sales effort directed at us, and it NEVER ends. Yes.....these are the true sand gods of selling!

Mi Amigo....I have EVERYTHING you need. Well, you can probably guess where this one could go.

Children selling socks, religious artifacts, and looking way too cute. One came up and hugged us and wouldn't let go. As much as you want to give something to these sales Prince and Princesses, you are advised not to. Some adult is putting them up to it, and buying from them encourages continued bad behavior. Of course we couldn't resist all of them. What we found most interesting is the parents of the children are usually close by. One man followed up his child's attempt to sell us an extension chord (you read that correctly!) by offering us Coca leaves. Now that is a completely different story for another blog.....hint, hint.