Nam's idea for hiring a locator.

[nam]

I'm relatively new to this section as I have no need for a locator but have a suggestion or two for those of you that do.  My first suggestion of course is to learn to do it yourself but that's not the purpose of this post.

You can read and read about all the woes of hiring a locator.  The results you guys get from these locators would be mixed at best.  The main problem as I see it is working with a long distance locator.  You have to pay upfront money and hope you get your moneys worth.  The locator is working on the phone long distance and can't see where he is trying to place a machine.  The results of working that way just can't be as good as working face to face.  Sure, some locations may be alright - not saying it doesn't work - just the percentages you're wanting don't seem to be there.  You're waiting on them to give you a replacement location or a refund.  It just doesn't make sense to me.

No matter what section of the country you are in, you can hire a local person to do your locating on a straight commission basis.  We have all kinds of sales people out of work everywhere.  In my own area new car dealerships are closing, furniture stores are closing, advertising sales are in the dump, cash register sales are hurting.  lol  Most all these people can do locating.  It's no big deal if you walk in a business trying to sell advertising or place a candy machine.  All you gotta do is give these guys a little product knowledge and info on what it is that you want and tell them what you'll pay.  Any salesman worth their salt can sell different products.  If they can sell cars they can locate a candy machine.  No big deal. 

So just run a free ad in your local craigslist for sales people to locate your machines.  You can easily keep them as a 1099 independent contractor.  You don't have to pay them expenses or salary.  You don't have to pay them up front and don't do it!!!  Tell them you'll pay them when the machine is located.  This way you can back out before you even place the machine.  He'll also know he better do a good job and not have you show up with the machine and the owners look at you like your crazy.  :shock:  He'll also know if this is a sucky location he may as well pass on it as you're going to charge him back for it out of his future commission if it doesn't make any money.  You will have control.

Now, pay the locator well and quickly.  Immediately after locating the machine if they need it but not before.  If they need money they'll go out and make it by locating more machines but they'll be careful as well because they know you'll be there seeing that owner and location in a day or two.  Your percentage of good locations will increase over someone working on a phone in another state.  You will be in control.  If you get someone good you're problem will be running out of machines.  No one does great in the learning process so allow for a learning curve but if they can't do it run your ad again until you have someone you like.  Look for someone that has a good appearance and you like.  If you're not very impressed then neither will be the owner of a business.

This way you are dealing face to face with the person doing the locating.  The locator is dealing face to face with the owner of the location.  You'll get much better results and if not you hired the wrong person and try it again.  Hire more than one anyway if you have plenty of machines and the money to get the ball rolling.  A good locator should be able to place 2 to 4 machines if they work all day and not half a day.  On a good day you may be blown away with what a good locator can do.  If you have 10 machines to locate I wouldn't be suprised if they had them located by the middle of the week. 

I say put yourself in the drivers seat and take control of locating your own machines.  Cut the strings from these long distance locators.

nam

[BudLeiser]

I've used craigslist to post multiple ads, some very descriptive, some not. One in spanish. Only the spanish one generated a response, and then I never heard from her again.

How many "door to door" locators/salesman have you hired and used?

[nam]

Kelly,

Don't read this post as it may be too long for you buddy! 

Bud,

I've never hired a locator and wouldn't run a ad to hire one. Maybe if I were not able to walk and talk I would reconsider. lol

I have run alot of ads to hire sales people but never on craigslist. I've usually done mass hiring 10 - 25 at a time if I could get that many. lol Always straight commission - no salary or expenses and always cold call. Since I paid no salary or expenses the more I could get to come back for training the better. Sometimes only 3 or 4 which was really a waste of time knowing in most cases by the second week I'd have no one left. Even hiring 12 people, I'd be lucky to have 2 left a month later. Most people can't do direct sales. They may be able to sell appliances, furniture, cars or whatever but not on straight commission working independently.

Now, with the economy the way it is this should be a great time to be looking for salesman. Locating these little bulk candy machines isn't exactly something that takes a strong closer. lol This is something a mom could do part time while the kids are in school or a college student. Since again you aren't paying them unless they get a machine located hire 3 at a time if you have plenty of machines to get located. Print up some pictures and send them on their way. The more people you hire the more locations you will get even if they are terrible salesman. Each one you hire has a different circle of people they know. They will all be able to go to a few or even quite a few locations and use their contact with the owner they know to get you the location. In other words they all go to different churchs, beauty salons, restaurants, etc.. If each one only does the easy sales to their friends, family and businesses they use, you will get alot of locations. No experience required! When they have run out of people they know and quit - great. Run another ad and get someone new to do the same thing again. Just keep repeating this process until maybe you'll run into one good person you can keep and work with.

nam

[Rustinm]

Wow, what is up with nam and kelly? Did you guys get in a barfight somewhere? lol, every post i see from nam that kelly responds to is some kind of put down or insult, do i need to put you two in separate corners? by the way nam, i think that you have a good idea there. There are a ton of out of work salespeople.

[nam]

Rustinm,

What you've noticed is probably noticed by others as well. We're not all going to agree but the posts are a bit over the top of friendly disagreement.

nam

[rogersmith]

I recently tried this exact method of getting people to locate for you on commission only upon machine installation. I went through craigslist and Indeed looking for basically anyone who spoke Spanish, including sales people, customer service people, students, etc. (both people out of work and people looking for extra income). Multiple people responded. I was offering $30 per location plus an additional $5 per location where the machines remained in place for 60 days. I made it clear, that a full orientation as to how to go about it was provided. I got many inquires (15 or so), but not one ever showed for orientation to get started. Has anyone had any experience with this and if so, does anyone have any insight (e.g., different terms, type of people, advertising venue, etc.) as to how I might do this differently (within reason) to get these people showing up for training and locating. I would really appreciate any insight at this point. Thanks in advance!

[dogcow]

I recently tried this exact method of getting people to locate for you on commission only upon machine installation. I went through craigslist and Indeed looking for basically anyone who spoke Spanish, including sales people, customer service people, students, etc. (both people out of work and people looking for extra income). Multiple people responded. I was offering $30 per location plus an additional $5 per location where the machines remained in place for 60 days. I made it clear, that a full orientation as to how to go about it was provided. I got many inquires (15 or so), but not one ever showed for orientation to get started. Has anyone had any experience with this and if so, does anyone have any insight (e.g., different terms, type of people, advertising venue, etc.) as to how I might do this differently (within reason) to get these people showing up for training and locating. I would really appreciate any insight at this point. Thanks in advance!

i hired a sales guy off craigs list he is very good, i pay him a retainer plus bonus on placement, this is for big locations requiring a lot of follow up he does very good work but its expensive. he was a regional sales mgr for cocacola . you get what you pay for.

[bulkjake]

I have 3 part timers currently who I hired using this method. They are independent contractors (10-99). I have been using this method for over 6 months. Make sure and place the ad in the right section to get the right number of responses: Craigslist>Jobs> Sales / Biz dev

[rogersmith]

I have 3 part timers currently who I hired using this method. They are independent contractors (10-99). I have been using this method for over 6 months. Make sure and place the ad in the right section to get the right number of responses: Craigslist>Jobs> Sales / Biz dev

Are they placing racks for you? What rate are you paying them if you don't mind my asking? If you want to PM it to me that would be fine. I'm just curious because I'm getting way too many flakes (I'm thinking about raising the rate to $60/location, but since they're not professionals, it seems kind of high).

[bulkjake]

PM sent