i DEFINATELY agree with that. ALL of our sales staff are on straight commission and they dont get paid untill the equipment is paid for, either by leaing companies, banks or "cash or charge" MC VISA AMEX (etc)

The way I see it salesmen should be on commission only. You dont sell then you dont get paid. In the current climate they are not selling flts. They need to get off there back sides and start selling. They are scum allways got there hand in the cash tin for there share when they have not ernt a bean for the firm in the last 3 years.

I wonder if the internet will start to play a bigger part in sales with the rising cost of fuel and cost of reps will companies now look to the internet for a more efficient way to rent or sell equipment. A sales rep might add up to
$ 3500 per truck sale with wages and running cost taken into account

Snapman, U.S. market is just as bad or worse. Not just techs but parts, sales, CSR's and management. Service departments that had 25 techs at the beginning of 2007 are now only carrying 7 or 8. Only one parts person where there used to be 4. Dealerships with only a branch managers and no parts, service, rental or sales managers. I personally have been out of work since January 2009, I worked for about two months this year and was laid off again and that was as a service writer in the automotive field, not enough work volume to support the additional position.

I'm thankful my wife has a good job and my mortgage company has been very understanding.

Thanks, rick c,
It does take a full team effort to be sucessful in business, each function doing their job professionally & to the best of their abililities within teh guidelines set out.. No one function is more important than the other. Often people become critical of others but they need to remember the adage "Just walk a mile in their shoes first" or something to that effect.

What part of Texas you from? Used to live in Katy & Waco, when I worked for MCFA & KD Manitou (now Manitou, North America) respectfully.

bullseye johnr j. and parasites is the perfect term.
just for the record i am in "service" NOT in sales.

snapman,
When you look at the basic elements of any business there are only two essentional elements to them - someone to produce the product or service and someone to sell the product or service and if someone didn't sell the product or service you really don't need someone to produce them. All other functions fit into the area of what you call "parasites"

unfortunately sales people are an essential part of our business. and even more unfortunately the more ruthless, greedy, power hungry type A personality they have...... the better they are (morality is optional). i dont know much about the UK economy but i do know that until the governments of all civilized countries back off and let free enterprise do its thing there will be problems. the closer we get to socialism here the worse the economy gets and the proof of that is all over europe. God bless you guys.