Thingummyjig sales technique

I love going in to shops and chatting with members of staff about products that they clearly know nothing about.

When sales people make stuff up, that's the best.

For example this morning I went into a shop at the local mall. It's one of those "convergence" stores where they sell mobile phones, iPods, Notebook computers and all manner of accessories for these kinds of products. (btw I'm on vacation hence the swanning around the mall in the morning time)

It's clear to me that most people these days do a bit of homework for stuff like this. You just don't hear people walking in to stores any more saying things like "so what are these mobile phone things that I keep hearing about?"

So true to type I went on to the Apple online store a few weeks ago and did a search for some options for replacement headphones for my iPod. The earbuds that came with it are grand but are very uncomfortable on an airplane.

I searched and came across a nice set of headphones from AKG.

So I went in to this shop and asked this guy if he carried this brand of headphones.

He told me that they sell the apple earbuds and they also sell Sennheiser which he proclaimed to be "the best".

Now call me dogged or maybe even tell me that I was asking for it but I just had to know why he thought these Sennheiser earphones were the best.

Before I go on to regale you with what he said I have to admit something.

I like the world of audio technology. I always have been interested in it, from a very early age. I remember blowing all the fuses in the house as a child when I stuck some bare wires into a wall socket that I had opened with a pen, in an attempts to get a tape recorder working when the batteries were dead.

I remember getting my first chance to open up a boombox with a screwdriver and having a look inside, removing motors and loudspeakers and all that.

I also went through a phase of buying audio equipment and going around Hi-Fi stores comparing the various items. Granted this was in the days before the internet.

I also studied in this area, spent years selling this stuff and even worked for what was at the time the world's largest company in the computer audio area.

I know a bit about it and know when someone is telling me rubbish.

So anyway I asked him why these Sennheiser earphones were better. I think if I'm honest I just wanted to see what he would say.

He looked at me and said "you know these earphones are really good. For example you know the way when you are using your iPod on a windy day and the wires are outside of your jacket you can hear the wind".

Right.

I discussed this with my wife and she and I both had different interpretations of what he "could" have meant.

I mean what the hell is that all about?

What happened to answering a question with a question when you don't have an answer? Here's how it should be done.