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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask would you work on a commission only basis?

25 replies

BadEducation · 04/09/2012 20:24

I have been offered a telesales job, it's home based and part time. But it's commission only. I did years of telesales and other sales pre-children.

I don't know whether to give it a go or not. They seem a decent company, however in the past I have tried this before a few years ago for a different company and to put it in a nutshell they wouldn't pay me my commission after a month of calls and were very dishonest.

Has anyone else worked on a commission only basis? Or is it a total waste of time?

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 04/09/2012 20:25

No.

DowagersHump · 04/09/2012 20:27

No way. You're too reliant on their leads which might be completely crap. You're taking all the risk, they're taking none

Original poster
BadEducation · 04/09/2012 20:28

I have to source the leads myself, Dowagers.

OP posts:
ladygoldenlion · 04/09/2012 20:41

Well, I woudn't tar all companies with the same brush but there are other considerations...

Is the commission good?
Do you think sourcing the leads yourself is doable?
Are you motivated by money?

If the answer is yes to all the above, then you could do well.

ladygoldenlion · 04/09/2012 20:41

wouldn't Blush

Bluegingham · 04/09/2012 20:41

So it's cold as cold telesales from home, no leads, no office buzz to keep you going? How is the commission structured?
My first job was commission only sales from cold, and it was v hard and that was with lots of support. Unless its an amazing package I'd say no. If you can sell, there are LOADS of companies who would look after you properly for your talent and efforts.

olibeansmummy · 04/09/2012 20:42

No not working from home I wouldn't. It's too isolated and there's no encouragement from others or anyone to immediately turn to if you need anything.

charlottehere · 04/09/2012 20:43

Big NO.

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 04/09/2012 20:43

What dowager said - absolutely not, you are shouldering 100% of the risk. i wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.

ThreeWheelsGood · 04/09/2012 20:43

No way. I work in telesales on basic salary with modest commission. It's more motivating knowing the company respects my time/efforts building leads and pays me my basic rate even if I don't make many sales. If you work just for commission you'll get desperate and pushy, no good for you or the image of the company.

SpottedGurnard · 04/09/2012 20:49

Hell no.

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 04/09/2012 21:00

I wouldn't in this position, but if it's that or be unemployed, then you should o for it. You don't have anything to lose, you coudk still be looking for another job at ate same time.

RuleBritannia · 04/09/2012 21:03

Would the company pay for your telephone calls?

BiscuitNibbler · 04/09/2012 21:31

I worked (salaried) for a company that "employed" someone on this basis. Part of my role was dealing with the commission.

I never had to pay him more than £40 a week, and often it was nothing. It was embarrassing for me giving him his payslip and soul destroying for him.

plutocrap · 04/09/2012 21:40

No.

larks35 · 04/09/2012 21:57

No. If they were reputable they would offer a basic plus commission based on targets. No way will you earn enough for your time on commission-only. I'd clean public loos before doing commission-only telesales.

OneOfMyTurnsComingOn · 04/09/2012 21:58

No. Only the dishonest do well in this type of job IMO.

Tried doing similar once. I didn't last too long as I'm too straight with folk.

thecatsminion · 04/09/2012 22:04

I wouldn't. But, if you've done sales before, couldn't you start your own business instead? Obviously you'd need to think of something to sell, but it's a transferable skill and all that.

nolembit · 04/09/2012 23:09

They still have to pay you the National Minimum Wage - if you are employed. Otherwise you are basically self employed in which case I would suggest that you set up your own business and make your own rules.

Helltotheno · 04/09/2012 23:19

See user name .... Grin

Original poster
BadEducation · 05/09/2012 09:22

I think I'm going to turn the job down. I've been waiting two days for them to email some information about the job over when it was going to be done instantly. Also they never answer their phones; you have to leave a message and they call you back.

If they're this unreliable/hard to get hold of at this stage, it makes me think it would be extremely hard to get commission out of them or to chase payment if it was late.

Thanks for the advice everybody.

OP posts:
Original poster
BadEducation · 05/09/2012 13:42

I've told them thanks but no thanks, and said I'm not prepared to work without at least national minimum wage as a basic. I left it in an answerphone message as they never answer their phones. Will be interesting to see if they get back to me

OP posts:
porcamiseria · 05/09/2012 14:15

NOOOOOOOOOOO

no

no

and NO

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 05/09/2012 15:38

I think that is the best decision - especially in light of their being hard to get hold of.

Moominsarescary · 05/09/2012 15:46

I did for a few weeks out of desperation while waiting for my crb check to come through so I could start another job.

I did it to be able to buy electric, if I hadn't been so desperate I wouldn't have done it. Complete rip off.

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