To wonder if all sales work environments are like this?

[HeyCattyBoomBoom]

I work in sales for a small company, and am the only female there. There are 7 men employees.

Lately things have been getting more and more cut throat. Two new men have joined the team and they keep pinching sales off others, mainly me. By pinching I mean the customer is mine and I've done all the groundwork of the sale and taken the order, but these men might speak to this customer on the phone when the customer phones in with a question, so they will then remove my name from the paperwork and put their name(s) on it.

I have spoken to my boss about this but he is very friendly with these men and has effectively said if I don't like it then leave.

I am good at my job, and am thick skinned, but I am not happy about having sales taken away from me. These men would go absolutely batshit crazy if anyone was to do it to them! They kick off over anything and everything and the boss bends over backwards to keep them happy.

Do you get commission on these sales?

I've worked in quite a few sales environments and yes, this sounds quite typical and as long as these men get ( or are perceived to get) sales their behaviour will be tolerated.
The behaviour has to come from the top though so if your boss won't deal with it then I suggest you need to leave. It's not fair bit believe me I've been there no done that and it's not worth it.
Try raising with your line manager but if he won't tackle it then yiu haven't got much chance
Sorry

Yes we get commission on the sales.

My commission amounts have really dropped since these blokes started. Also the commission system isn't overly transparent, ie we have to rely to an extent on our boss being honest with us.

I actually realised the name changing thing was happening when I came across a load of paperwork from recent sales in the office.

You'll have to leave, I'm afraid.

Set up your own sales business if you're good at it :) you can take your customers with you!

YANBU at all, but I don't know what to suggest.

I work in sales on commission too and after years of bitching & arguing (all female team) the decision was made to combine & split commission on the particular 'product' that was causing the biggest issue. It's quite a complicated system; if you have more than 5 days leave in a month, you only get your 'own' commission for that month so you're not soaking up loads that others have earned in your absence.

We're lucky I guess in that ours is very transparent - we're given a copy of the sales reports that are run to work it all out so can check for ourselves.

It seems like you have a bit of a 'boys club' situation going on, which isn't cool. Is there a higher level of management you could speak to confidentially?

Don't put up with it!

Speak to them directly and tell them not to speak to your customers on your behalf, tell them to take a message for you.

Keep a clear log of who you have spoken to customer wise, follow them up and don't let them steal your customers.

Make sure you update your customers whilst the sales process is in place. Then they won't have to call and ask questions which avoids them talking to others.

Make sure when you close a sale you log it, take a copy for your own file and make sure you are being paid for it in the next month.

Keep a record of when you speak to your manager and those involved and keep pushing at it.