So I contact a regional sales manager (via email) of a popular camera manufacturer to inquire about proper part numbers and mounting hardware etc.... He couldn't help me at the moment but requested the the clients name.
Is this common practice?
If I don't hear back from this person after divulging client info, is it fair to assume he was already helping a competitor?
Im curious if IPVM subscribers have similar experiences, and would share them.
Thanks
I personally don't like to give out information either unless I'm going to register the project for better pricing. Glad to hear someone else questioning it because I just thought I wasn't trusting lol.
Nope never have had that experience. No manufacturers' rep has ever said they couldn't help me and then asked for the clients name. When they can help me and when we have reached a point where I am comfortable that the rep has my best interest along with his but not just his then I may give him the name of the client. Or was he asking you to resister the deal perhaps?
Honestly, if you don’t trust your rep enough to share information, why are you doing business with them? There are plenty of trustworthy sales people in the industry
There have been times the end user has to stay confidential or we’ve signed NDAs to ensure privacy. When registering a project most companies require the und user info
At the end of the day, any rep or regional sales manager that betrays your trust will be short-lived in the industry. Word travels fast.
At the end of the day, any rep or regional sales manager that betrays your trust will be short-lived in the industry. Word travels fast.
Really? Word may travel but is the rep really going to get fired over that? I've seen plenty of cases where a certain partner was preferred and the rep would help the preferred partner with info on potential projects for their rival. The other dealers were obviously angry but it did not stop the rep from continuing.
They may not lose their job but a damaged reputation and trustworthiness is hard to regain.
Also depends on the ethical practices and culture of the company. I’ve been on both sides of that coin. There are companies and managers that are all about numbers. There are also good companies and people that are about doing what’s right.
Perhaps not fired, but I've seen where the integrator complained to management, leading to the rep getting taken off that account. This creates an issue of mis-trust within the manufacturer's company and potentially damaging their integrity. That does not bode well for that rep's career path.
Ask the rep why he asked and let us know what his reason is.
That is really a strange response to the question you posed.
I worked as a rep, and often we were under pressure from management to load up the CRM with info. I would say you could trust most reps, especially if you have established a good working relationship.
If an integrator that wouldn't give me the time of the day called, asking for info that may be related to a project I was working on with a true partner, yeah, go pound sand. I wouldn't do anything unethical, but I wouldn't do you any favors...
never , found it to be bad for business
and have heard case's where it cost the customer to others
Give as little as possible , enough to get the best quotes, advice, solutions
NO more
It was a little weird IMO as you described it. It could be that there is a project rumor on the street and lots of folks are asking about it. From their point of view more often than not is about pipline reporting, at least in my area. Everyone wants metrics and projections. So they may have been wanting to validate if this was a new project or already something they knew about.
With that said it is all about the relationship I have with the vendor or manufacturer rep. There have been a few that I wouldn't be comfortable discussing any specifics with at all. Trust has to be built up. It depends on the project, competitiveness, confidentiality, ect on what details I will provide. If I am looking at project discount then at some point the end user information is going to come up. If it isn't someone I'm comfortable dealing with then odds are I'm not registering any projects with that manufacturer in the first place. It is a partnership and I have to have confidence in the confidentiality of our business transactions or I don't do business with them.
On this one believe it or not I agree with John...... Well to an extent.
I think if you have not worked with or talked to the RSM enough to trust them then what are you doing? I trust the guys I work direct with and have given him inside info plenty of times, never been screwed. Now Distribution, Hell NO... That is a different story...been suckered there twice and wont do that again, ever..
On this one believe it or not I agree with John......
Thanks? :)
I created a new discussion/poll here: Would Your Company Fire A Top Sales Performer For Sharing Integrator Information With Rivals?
Ask questions and get answers to your physical security questions from IPVM team members and fellow subscribers.
