Sat 26th Apr 2008 02:05AM
We all love being sold to when we are looking to buy a product. Think about the last time you went to buy something. Some of us had some pleasant experiences and some not so good. Now, when you go to the register or when you pick out a product, does the sales person or the cashier try to get you to purchase other items as well? Do they pressure you to get their store credit card or a savings off your product if you buy more? That is annoying. Wait, we do that do some of our customers in mini storage? Some of us are hardcore sales people that need to ease off the gas a little and drive the customer to renting, not being repelled by us.
Let us explain what we mean by the last line above. Some of us decide not to tell the caller about any additional costs there are to rent such as a lock, admin costs, etc, until they come down to the facility. The customer does not deserve that. If they come down ready to move all of their belongings and bring enough money to cover their unit and tax, they will not be too pleased to pay more than what was quoted on the phone. It is our job as mini storage sales representatives to ensure the caller knows what they are paying for, or any extras they need, before they rent with you. You can maintain that great relationship with the caller if you do so and potentially more units sold.
Trying to get the caller to reserve a space with a credit card, could be handled differently than most property owners hear. Instead of just offering to have the space held, tell the caller why they benefit from giving you their credit card. With mini storage, a customer can understand limited availability or ensuring that they get the great special that was offered. They will not enjoy the fact that you are pressuring them to give you their credit card with no tie in as to why they should give it to you. Would you just give you credit card to a person that says you can hold this space if you give me your credit card? In that statement, it is believed that you have many spaces so we do not need to give them our credit card over the phone. Now saying something like, We are limited in our space that we have. It would benefit you have a space reserved in order guarantee the space will be here when arrive to store. The way to do that is to use your credit card to hold it. The second way did not pressure the customer at all. It simply explained to the caller that it would benefit them to have a space held. In mini storage, show the caller some value when asking for their credit card. For some people, their credit card is their identity.
In mini storage, we are here to help the customers that call or come into our building. Take the time to treat them, as you want to be treated. Ease off the gas a little, do not pressure them and develop a relationship to take care of their needs. Do not surprise them with extra costs, as you would not like to be. Take care of them now and they will refer people to your facility or rent with you for a long time.
July 2006 Total Quality Assurance Service Blog Archive
Self Storage Article Directory - Furniture Storage
The original article is located at: Ease Off The Gas