Here, experts from across the industry will discuss issues that are top-of-mind, share technical advancements, talk about tips for success and provide perspective on policy. THE WORD “SALESPERSON” often carries with it a stigma, and I know why. There are big differences between a good salesman and a bad one. The hallmarks of a bad one, in my experience, can be broken down into the following 2 Qualities of a Bad Salesperson: They’re pushy. They love to “hawk their wares.” They really want to get your money — to the point where they feel they have to be aggressive. They talk AT you, not WITH you. They’ll try and sell you something you might not need because it means more profit for them. They lack integrity. If you do buy from them, they won’t be there when you need them in the event of a problem or if you have a question. And heaven forbid they make a mistake, because instead of being honest with you and facing the music, they’ll just engage in the old “CYA” tech- nique. The result? You become a very dissatisfied customer. PROCESSING EQUIPMENT CAN YOU TELL A GOOD FROM A BAD SALESPERSON? Jeff Young, Sales, Saskatchewan West, Can-Seed Equipment jyoung@canseedequip.com • canseedequip.com Thankfully, you need not paint all of us salespeople with the same brush. Some of us exhibit the 2 Qualities of a Good Salesperson: We listen. Our focus is on developing a long-term relationship with you. We want to know what you need, and how we can best fulfill those needs. Making a sale is only the first part of the process. We talk WITH you, and not AT you. We’re trustworthy. We want to work with you, the customer, to give you what you need. Sometimes you may not know exactly what you need, and we will help edu- cate you so you end up with a product you’re truly happy with. We won’t sell you something you don’t need — we’ll provide you with something that will serve you for many years. And, in the end, we’re there for you if you have a problem or question. If we make a mistake, we tell you, and we do what we need to do to make it right (as Mike Holmes would say). Next time you’re in the market for a piece of equip- ment, using the above criteria will help you to ensure your buying experience is ultimately a good one. 48 GERMINATION.CA MARCH 2018