Baffled, no, frustrated and a little confused

Sometimes sales feel like you are sticking your finger in a dike. As soon as you plug one hole another one appears and then another and then another.

I had been trying to get into an account for a couple of months when suddenly last month there was an opening. This company's current printer had disappointed them with the final product, bad colors, wrong paper. Another printer had refused to help them adjust their proofs and charged them exorbitantly for it. I suddenly have a chance! Of all the prospective new printers I was the only one who took the time to travel to see them. I provided references, I provided a variety of sales samples, I even had one of if not the very lowest price. And? They decided to go back to one of the printers that had screwed them over for their current project.

Sometimes it just takes a lot to make a change, even if it is going back to the person that has caused you problems.

I did pose the question what would make them think that after all I had done to earn their business what would ever make them think I would give them anything less than superior service and an excellent product. Probably ticked them off, but oh well, I wasn't getting anything out of them any way.

Three more thoughts.
1 This was a government agency, it is nice to know our tax dollars are at work, and it is easy to jack people that are on commission around when you are on a government salary.
2. No wonder some printers have jacked them around a little, if they jack printers around like this.
3. Once again, there was one more person I should have met and sold to that I did not and that person held enough power to cost me.

Live and learn. I just wish it was all easier and I was better.