job interview/sell a movie

whatdude

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ok i have a job interview on monday at a video store and word has it that i have to 'sell the manager' a movie of my choice. I kind of have an idea of what movie, but could any of you help me out with some 'selling tips' and some easy movies to sell? I really need this job, so please... I would really appreciate any help. No sarcastic responses please. Thank you very much.


Later
 

diablo

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To be honest, they aren't going to expect you to be a perfect salesman your first time up - after all, it's a minimum wage job in which the skilled labor quotient is roughly equivalent to a trained chimpanzee. That being said, I've worked at a video store before briefly back in high school.

Think of your favorite movie, then read a few online reviews of the movie. Notice how they catch your interest and tell you interesting things about the plot and acting without giving away any surprises. Go up to your manager, ask if he needs any help, then when he says "Yes, can you recommend a movie" start in with your pitch. Walk him over to the spot the movie is located at while talking about how great the movie is. Oh, and at the end you might want to recommend another as well "You know, if you enjoy that one, you'll really like XXXXX".
 

Bible_Belt

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Sales is mostly telling about a feature of the product, and then giving the benefit of that feature to the consumer. You repeat this with a few different features and their specific benefits to the prospect. You also can soften them up with "yes" questions. Then you ask a closing question, stare them in the eye, and wait.

"Mr. Prospect, considering the many features of this product, and their benefits to you, do you think we go should go ahead and get started?"

Stare them in the eye and wait. The first person to speak loses. Time will pass more slowly than it ever has in your life. I have worked with people who can maintain this awkwardness for periods of over a minute. It's amazing.

When the prospect says "no," don't take it personally, just start the feature/benefit process over, and then go into another close.

"Now that we have seen what this product can do for you, would you like to own one today, or can I put you down for two?"

Then they say no, and you repeat this process again. I was taught that if they don't say no seven times, then they haven't said no yet. Most people crack after the third or fourth close if not the first if you have done your job pointing out the benefits.

So think up the features that your movie of choice has to offer and a corresponding benefit for each one. A funny movie makes you have a better sense of humor, a romantic movie puts your woman in the mood, entertain, distract, educate, etc.

If you want to learn more about sales, I recommend the authors Zig Ziglar and Tom Hopkins. Dale Carnegie's old book "How to Win Friends and Influence People" is very helpful as well.
 

dannowillbookem

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Bible_Belt said:
Sales is mostly telling about a feature of the product, and then giving the benefit of that feature to the consumer. You repeat this with a few different features and their specific benefits to the prospect. You also can soften them up with "yes" questions. Then you ask a closing question, stare them in the eye, and wait.

"Mr. Prospect, considering the many features of this product, and their benefits to you, do you think we go should go ahead and get started?"

Stare them in the eye and wait. The first person to speak loses. Time will pass more slowly than it ever has in your life. I have worked with people who can maintain this awkwardness for periods of over a minute. It's amazing.

When the prospect says "no," don't take it personally, just start the feature/benefit process over, and then go into another close.

"Now that we have seen what this product can do for you, would you like to own one today, or can I put you down for two?"

Then they say no, and you repeat this process again. I was taught that if they don't say no seven times, then they haven't said no yet. Most people crack after the third or fourth close if not the first if you have done your job pointing out the benefits.

So think up the features that your movie of choice has to offer and a corresponding benefit for each one. A funny movie makes you have a better sense of humor, a romantic movie puts your woman in the mood, entertain, distract, educate, etc.
you sound like the kinda salesman i would shoot at to get off my front porch
 

cant think of a user name

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I don't think the employer of a video store is looking for you to have comprehensive knowledge of films or be that good at selling stuff.

The video store I've worked in had a fairly high rotation of employees and required you to be friendly and efficient in serving customers, returning DVDs to their right place on the shelf, writing down bookings, calling up to chase overdues, sorting/cleaning shelves, vacuuming the carpet, taking out the trash.... etc.

So I guess you could say there wasn't a real "salesman" aspect to it.

I think what they usually look for is someone who is friendly, polite and honest, which are all very generic qualities that can be applied to a lot of similar jobs.
 

dannowillbookem

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infact, dont tell the guy what you like. ask him his favorite kind of movie. dont bother reading up a bunch on one movie, but disperse and have a few sentences to offer on movies in any particular genre. and dont be a vacuum salesman and make him want to kill you. thats a lil overboard in this situation.
 

Latinoman

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Dude...don't sweat it.

But, use this as something to gain skills. First, tell us a little about the manager:

1- Age
2- Race (including color and ethnicity)
3- Male/Female
4- Were do you work (State)?
5- Is he from NY or KT or Florida?

Information is power. If you know 3 of the 5 questions above, then you have reached a clear understanding of knowing your customer. Then you can pick a movie (not necesary your favorite, but one that he/she might like) and sell it to him/her.

Another thing...it is a minimum wage job. So, don't sweat it. Just view it as a skill and as practice.
 
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