Thursday, October 29, 2009

Listening to the Buyers: You get a say with Group Buy



OfferMe's BDM explains how listening to customers increases Group Buy demand.

Ernest Hemingway once said:


“I like to listen. I have learned a great deal from listening carefully. Most people never listen.”


It's amazing that in today's world of new age relationships and hi-tech communications that his quote would still ring true. I mean, listening is such a simple way to let someone connect with you. Yet no one really seems to do it. Failing to apply this fundamental principle creates frustration, annoyance and just plain disappointment. No one enjoys the thought of being unheard. Especially in retail. When you're trying to get a cheap buy and no one wants to listen to you, what's to stop you from just giving up. You feel deterred and just want move onto something else. It's the same for everybody.


I've been there. And, in my job, I see it every single day. Last year my wife and I visited one of the big electronics retailers (name withheld to protect the innocent ie me). We were looking for a good deal on a laptop. After fiddling my thumbs waiting to be served for over 20 minutes, a staff member finally made their way into our aisle and faintly introduced themselves. We already knew what features we were after and simply asked the Sales Assistant to tell us what deals they had. Instead of actively listening to our needs, the Sales Assistant pretty much cut us off and introduced us to products that we neither wanted, nor could afford. We walked out empty-handed and feeling like we had wasted our time.


As a consumer I have the belief that this should be easier. It's the nature of commerce: supply exists due to demand. Therefore, actively listening to your buyers allows you to find the right products to sell. For us at OfferMe, listening to our buyers helps us determine which products we need to negotiate the best deals on. This also has the direct benefit of increasing buyer confidence and retention, by continuing to provide the right product for your buyer. This is exactly what they're referring to when they're talking about 'good service'.


As a Business Development Manager, listening to our buyers and understanding their needs is essential for me to do my job. This is the first step before I can search for the best deals on the market. It's even more important when you consider that I do it for OfferMe, a buyer focused community. After all, that's our biggest differentiator, setting us apart from our competition. At Offerme, your voice needs to be heard loud and clear. As a member within the sales team, I have to make myself available to actively listen to your needs and requirements.


Which brings me to Christmas...


Chances are you'll spend countless hours during November & December searching for a wide variety of gifts. That meaningful item for someone that made your year special. Or that Kris Kringle gift for a random at work. At OfferMe, we appreciate that Christmas is really meant to be about spending cherished quality time together. That's why you should let us handle all the searching for you. Let us waste our days finding that perfect item at the best price. All you need to do is tell us what you want.


We're always here, we're always searching and we're ready to listen. What deal can we find for you?

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