Need some advice/insight

[DotKritic]

If I want to work in a Audio/Video department selling car stereos, televisions, home theater systems, what should I know and how should I go about learning?

[I like it]

You should know about how to hook everything up correctly first. It's really simple to learn everything you need to know.

[Mans0n]

Learn and practice a good sales pitch to nab the customer!

[Patricoo]

You apply for it saying you're great at sales and a "self starter." Then you watch the company's training video.

I've been at two department stores and found that they seem to care very little about the product and more about you meeting quotas. Maybe you've found something different.

[DotKritic]

Where I was hired, they threw me at computers - which I knew very little in the way of specs. I'm thinking of sticking there for about 6 months (cause new hires are on a 90-day probation - not related to the department I was hired to, but to the company) then making a request to move to Audio/Video.

I would be working mainly in stocking then sales so I wouldn't necessarily need to know about hooking stuff up, but it would be nice to know.

edit: Just realized I spelled "advice" wrong :/

[Mr. Dorbs]

Basically, you'd want to be familiar with the products you are dealing with. Customers are going to want your input on the products, whether they are curious about the functionality of a specified item or whether it would be a good fit for the desired situation. You should be willing and able to assist them and, with any luck, reel in a sale on your behalf and gain more experience in the field of customer service. Hope this helps.

[Stewie7Griffin]

Originally Posted by DotKritic

edit: Just realized I spelled "advice" wrong :/

Wow, shows you how much I pay attention. I totally thought it said advice until you said this.

[nestlekwik]

Today, sales are customer-driven compared to 20 to 30 years ago where the market was company-centric. In a nutshell, any sales training you receive today will focus wholly on identifying customer needs and your ability to accomodate those needs. This remains true no matter what it is you are selling. It is important to know what you are selling, what is going on in that particular industry and how to follow through in the event the customer has an issue with what they purchased or come back to you to purchase further items.

Unfortunately, in most instances, especially in larger retailers, what Patricoo said is true. The company will most likely only care that you can meet quotas. However, if you know what you are doing, this should come naturally. If you put effort into making the customer a repeat customer, you don't even have to try in meeting quotas as they will do all of that for you (and I mean this in a good way, as opposed to "using" customers). Keeping your customers lessens the Ferris Wheel Effect, where people scramble to pull in new customers to replace ones that don't come back.

Lastly, it might be obvious, but don't underestimate factors such as friendliness, empathy and other such common sense items involved in making people want to shop with you.

[rushyrulz]

kwik outta nowhar