You've Just Lost A Sale

I tell people over and over how engineering is more than  just running a recording a session, its also about personal communication. I've met millionaire's in this industry andwhile there are some assholes out there, the majority I've met are humble, down to earth, and the nicest people you will ever meet. Keep being a douche and see how many clients you attract. I bring this up because I had emailing a pro audio sales rep back and forth a while  about 500 series gear. I've been interested in it but not fully committed to it yet, and of course I won't spend my money until I'm 100% sure thats what I want. I have been strongly considering the API 6 slot lunchbox, but after attending Nashville Recording Workshop few months ago I became drawn to the Tonelux brand. So I emailed the rep about his thoughts about the Tonelux gear and this was his reply. 

" Thanks for your email. It's been a bit over a year now that we've been going back and forth over and I've been offering insight and advice to you. Are you nearing readiness to make a purchase with us? "

There are 3 things I took from this. 

1. He's annoyed with me
2. I'm wasting his time if I'm not spending any money
3. He didn't answer my question in the reply therefore he is done answering until I spend some money

Now I understand his point, but back to what I was saying there are ways to talking to people. There are better ways to get his point across. For example he could of said

 "I think Tonelux stuff is great etc, etc. We've been going back and forth about a lot of 500 series gear foe awhile, have you narrowed them down to any? We still have some deals going on."

I think you would agree that sounds better then the "your wasting my time" attitude he gave off. And to answer his question yes I am ready to make to a purchase now, but because of this I won't be making it with him and his company. I'll take my money to Sweetwater, who is my usual dealer who sells the same gear and has never me feel like I was wasting their time. If you help I will gladly spend money with you because I know most of these sales people get commission. I don't blame the company for this but the person, and that's why he will not be getting this sale. I'm curious to know if he would of known I've spent over $10,000 with Sweetwater would he still come at me like that. I understand we are all out to make money, but one thing I realized about being in audio is that people won't spend money until they are ready to. That goes from booking studio time, to mixing fees, to gear. So don't ever treat someone like they are wasting your time. Because most times when that happens, just like in this case, thats the time that person is ready to spend money. Again, personal communication and how you talk to people is huge in this business. And thats why this sales rep has lost a sale.