POL want staff to be "PROUD"

[goggins69]

Today's WTL was the most unproductive I have ever attended.How much did it cost I wonder. No one seemed proud in our office

[Blue8]

What was it about then?

[PostalOfficer]

I don't know how this bulletin board system selects adverts, but this:

"How to Motivate Staff Happy Staff Work Better Read Free Case Studies http://www.smarta.com/--StaffMotivation" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; "

..appeared on my screen at the end of this topic

[kathleen1]

I am utterly devastated today, my ABM give me the list of Crown Offices in sales performance and income targets, i eagerly
scrolled up and down with my eyes trying to find out my bonus figure it was like looking at the eurovision board only to find i had £0.00 points.Then another bitter blow we were actually LAST on the list, i felt like i had been relegated out of the premier league. So because we are in a deprived area we suffer and get no BONUS, that can't be right.Oh well never mind i'm sure it will give me inspiration to sell more and get a bonus next time............not!!!!

[Super]

In all seriousness Kathleen1 that must be so demotivating.

[PO1]

In all seriousness Kathleen1 that must be so demotivating.

It's been the same story throughout our time in the Post Office. You can't make money out of people on benefits and that's all we have coming through the door.

[billyhayes]

...You can't make money out of people on benefits and that's all we have coming through the door.

Not true

In our office we are successfully trialling;

Tena (for the golden 'oldies)
Suboxone (for the junkies)
Mcdonalds Happy Meal vouchers (for the kids of young mums)
Cans of Tennent's Super (for all of the above)

SO DON'T TELL ME YOU CAN'T SELL TO BENEFITS, SONNY!!!

[FinancialSpecialist]

I wonder will the prepaid debit card they are thinking of introducing be a fix to customers with no bank accounts? It would be brilliant if we could sell life insurance, etc. using those little cards which a lot of other companies use, and which their customers can in fact pay in the Post Office! Based on the explanation of customer need and finding the right product for customers, benefits customers have a much greater need for life cover. Quite a few have no savings at all, and although benefits may pay for the funeral, they will have nothing to leave behind to a loved one.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

I wonder will the prepaid debit card they are thinking of introducing be a fix to customers with no bank accounts?

Just jumping in as a Postie delivering to the ubiquitous sink estate I would say NO. Most people who don't have bank accounts on my estate tend to live in Debt with CCJs, court summons, prudential and Mickey the local pusher fighting for attention. They won't have any spare cash to pre-pay into a debit card as any money they do get is spent in the local offie or grabbed by the local lender of most malice.

[fishtank]

I wonder will the prepaid debit card they are thinking of introducing be a fix to customers with no bank accounts? It would be brilliant if we could sell life insurance, etc. using those little cards which a lot of other companies use, and which their customers can in fact pay in the Post Office! Based on the explanation of customer need and finding the right product for customers, benefits customers have a much greater need for life cover. Quite a few have no savings at all, and although benefits may pay for the funeral, they will have nothing to leave behind to a loved one.

Wouldn't you have any moral issues selling life cover to people already living well below the poverty line?
When you spend your life living from hand to mouth i'm afraid that the here and now is more important than the hereafter.

[FinancialSpecialist]

The assumption here seems to be that everyone is the same. Just because someone is on benefits doesn't mean that a) they are drinking it all away or b) that they spend all their money on debts and CCJs. A lot of our benefits customers have either fallen on hard times, are unable to work, or have become institutionally unemployed (or something altogether different). This doesn't mean that they are helpless, hopeless alcoholics. Of course some of these do exist, but not all of them are... nice to see how much some of you think of our customers, it is a wonder that you find them hard to sell to

As for moral issues re a pre-paid debit card - these are a great opportunity for people to be able to get the best deals with us and other companies, using money that they decide should be used for debit transactions. This could save them money through not having to use transcash, etc.

In addition, do you really think that we are to judge whether or not a customer should take life cover? There are many customers who want it, but don't have a bank account and don't feel comfortable with or welcomed by the banks.

[fishtank]

The assumption here seems to be that everyone is the same. Just because someone is on benefits doesn't mean that a) they are drinking it all away or b) that they spend all their money on debts and CCJs. A lot of our benefits customers have either fallen on hard times, are unable to work, or have become institutionally unemployed (or something altogether different). This doesn't mean that they are helpless, hopeless alcoholics. Of course some of these do exist, but not all of them are... nice to see how much some of you think of our customers, it is a wonder that you find them hard to sell to

I didn't accuse anybody of any of that.
I asked you if you have any moral issues selling life cover to people already living well below the poverty line?

[fishtank]

In addition, do you really think that we are to judge whether or not a customer should take life cover?

Yes...it's called a moral compass.
Many people are sold financial products they don't want or need or more importantly...can afford.
A moral compass is what separates decent people from shysters and con-artists.
Yours,it would appear....needs a little realignment.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The assumption here seems to be that everyone is the same. Just because someone is on benefits doesn't mean that a) they are drinking it all away or b) that they spend all their money on debts and CCJs. A lot of our benefits customers have either fallen on hard times, are unable to work, or have become institutionally unemployed (or something altogether different). This doesn't mean that they are helpless, hopeless alcoholics. Of course some of these do exist, but not all of them are... nice to see how much some of you think of our customers, it is a wonder that you find them hard to sell to .

3 things -

1. Most does not mean ALL it means more than half so I made no assumption - in fact you made an assumption in thinking I meant all.
2. I am a Postie - I deliver mail I don't sell anything - I used to in a different line of work but no longer - its just not in me to sell things.
3. Its not what I think of our Customers - Its what they tell me, and what I see as I walk round. Doors kicked in, cans lying all over the place, pru man and local loan shark knocking on door and getting no answer, yet me 10 minutes later getting a signature. Discarded needles and dog faeces all over the place. Garden ornaments by Zanussi and Indisit, Old women and young men begging for 20p - Ok not everyone is like this but these places do exist and I know that because I am face to face with it every working day.

If you feel its okay to sell financial products to these customers, fill your boots, I couldn't.

[FinancialSpecialist]

Hmm I don't think the majority in my area are like that. I accept that a small proportion are, but I think the majority of benefits customer aren't.

I don't think my moral compass needs aligned at all - I would never in a million years sell someone something that they didn't need. It can become very clear during a customer meeting that a customer either a) doesn't have the means to pay for life cover or b) doesn't have a need for it. If this happens they are left well alone as the most important thing is that the customer is able to keep up the payments and that it is affordable, as if they stop paying they get nothing. £5-£7 a month is more than affordable cover, especially when you consider that a large proportion of our customers spend that on a pack of fags.

We also try to encourage customers to save from their card accounts, and help them out as much as we can in opening and getting ID for accounts so that they can put aside a bit each month. This is something which a lot of our customers have never done because they avoid banks and some may have been more used to credit.

There are branches who were well known for getting benefits customers to sign up for credit cards that they most likely weren't going to get, which is not a practice that goes on where I am based.

It is impossible to judge a whole "type" of customer however talking to them, as you say, helps you both realise if they need a product or not.