Can you share some sales horror stories?

One horror story is when a customer ordered a custom - made sofa. They were promised delivery in 4 weeks. After 6 weeks, there was no sign of the sofa. When they called the store, the salesperson kept giving excuses like production delays and shipping issues. Finally, when the sofa arrived, it was the wrong color.

One horror story is when a medical sales rep was promised a big bonus if they closed a deal with a major hospital. But the hospital's procurement process was a nightmare. They kept asking for new product demos, changing requirements, and delaying decisions. In the end, the rep spent months on it, sacrificed time with family, and still didn't get the deal. All that effort for nothing.

One horror story is when a customer bought a so - called 'imported luxury car' overseas. When it arrived, it had major mechanical issues that the seller had not disclosed. The engine made strange noises and the brakes were faulty. The customer had to spend a fortune on repairs.

One horror story is when a couple was lured with the promise of a free vacation. But during the sales pitch, they were held for hours in a small room with high - pressure tactics. The salespeople wouldn't let them leave, even when they said they were not interested. They kept pushing different offers and raising their voices, making the couple feel extremely uncomfortable and intimidated.

There was a restaurant that got audited for sales tax. They were used to a simple way of calculating sales tax based on their total sales. But the auditor dug deeper and found that they were not charging sales tax correctly on some add - on items like special sauces or premium toppings. This led to a long and drawn - out audit process. They had to pay back taxes, and it also damaged their reputation a bit as customers heard about the audit and were worried about the restaurant's financial stability.

Sure. I once had a day where I had back - to - back appointments all over the city. I started early in the morning, but my car broke down on the highway. I was late for my first appointment and the client was furious. Then, trying to get to the next one by public transport was a nightmare. I got lost, my samples got damaged, and I ended up losing three potential big deals that day.

There was a clothing brand that had a great success sales story. They used social media influencers effectively. These influencers not only wore their clothes but also shared their genuine experiences. The brand also offered exclusive discounts to the followers of these influencers. As a result, their online sales skyrocketed and they expanded their customer base globally.

There was a software company. Their sales team focused on understanding the pain points of potential clients. They found that many businesses were struggling with data management. So, they developed a software specifically for efficient data management. They offered free trials to a select group of companies. These companies saw great results during the trial period. After that, positive reviews led to more and more sales, and the company became a major player in the software market.

Sure. There was a salesperson who tried to sell a vacuum cleaner to an old lady. He was so enthusiastic in demonstrating how powerful it was that he accidentally sucked up the lady's cat's tail. The cat went wild and the lady was shocked at first but then burst into laughter.

Yes, some people have reported pushy sales tactics. Salespeople would be overly aggressive in trying to get them to sign up for the vacation club. They might not give enough time to think about the decision or fully explain all the terms and conditions.