Do pharma reps target you??

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I was wondering if pharma reps target nurse practitioners and physician assistants in private clinics or family practices? Do they also use the same tactics they employ on the doctors by leaving breakfast and lunches everyday, and inviting people to fancy dinners and shows? If so, how do you deal with them? What is your clinic's policy on these drug reps?

Specializes in Outpatient Psychiatry.
It depends on what you are selling. Selling low priced, low ticket items makes for a meager and grinding career in sales, for sure. But, sales actually can be one of the highest paying professions if you sell the right product. I know real estate sales agents in Greenwich, CT who make almost a million per year. I know another salesman who sells boilers to huge, 1,000+ unit, apartment building owners and he earns over $300k per year (I saw his pay stub with my own eyes). Some financial product sales people also earn a great living due to residual commissions.

I'm aware. I grew up amongst the petrochemical industry. My wife's stepdad was the CEO of a national gas station chain and previously a VP of a multinational petrochemical company we all use. Now that he's retired he oversees a start up conglomerate of allied petrochemical refining and sales. The guy that grew up behind me when we were kids sells pipe, and he makes at least what I do if not a little more, and I make a lot. I read the business books, leadership books, etc., but still sales has got to be awful. It's totally counter to my personality. Heck, my life insurance guy would've made 12k for writing me a million dollar whole life policy. My wife's friend (a PhD, CFP) and I went round for round until he finally conviced (sold) me on the idea that whole life policies suck. I still feel bad for most of them because they have to appease so many.

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Specializes in Urology.

I never understood the concept of "sales". I used to work in retail while I was in college and they would get upset when a person would only buy one item. How are you supposed to sell someone clothing? I mean even if I reverse the role, would I want someone selling me clothing? Do I need a person to tell me that my pants fit correctly? The whole thing seemed really confusing. The same goes for a lot of "sales" related markets. Real estate is the biggest sham ever for sales! Maybe its just me but I dont need people telling me about things "I should have" or that "I cant live without". I never liked the personality in those types of people, to pushy. I'm ok with people guiding and using factual evidence to help me make an informed decision but this whole song and dance a lot of people go through to make a sale just makes me laugh.

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Specializes in Cardiac, Home Health, Primary Care.

A little off topic but not really:

Those of you who hate sales how do you go car shopping? I want to just go and get in different models and look at everything. If I want to test drive I know someone has to go with me.

How do you make them not hover around you and get in and out of every car with you?? I do my homework. I know what models I want to look at. Which trims. The MPG's. Etc.

Again, off topic but maybe some of y'all can give some pointers lol

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Specializes in critical care.
I never understood the concept of "sales". I used to work in retail while I was in college and they would get upset when a person would only buy one item. How are you supposed to sell someone clothing? I mean even if I reverse the role, would I want someone selling me clothing? Do I need a person to tell me that my pants fit correctly? The whole thing seemed really confusing. The same goes for a lot of "sales" related markets. Real estate is the biggest sham ever for sales! Maybe its just me but I dont need people telling me about things "I should have" or that "I cant live without". I never liked the personality in those types of people, to pushy. I'm ok with people guiding and using factual evidence to help me make an informed decision but this whole song and dance a lot of people go through to make a sale just makes me laugh.

I have never thought of this quite this way before, but my god, you are so incredibly right. It's nice having a person guide you to things you're looking for, but yeah, I know what I need and my pants fit like crap, thank you very much. [emoji23]

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Specializes in critical care.
A little off topic but not really:

Those of you who hate sales how do you go car shopping? I want to just go and get in different models and look at everything. If I want to test drive I know someone has to go with me.

How do you make them not hover around you and get in and out of every car with you?? I do my homework. I know what models I want to look at. Which trims. The MPG's. Etc.

Again, off topic but maybe some of y'all can give some pointers lol

"Don't upsell me and don't hover. I intend to buy today. I'll buy from you if you can stick to those two things."

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Specializes in critical care.

I'm utterly disgusted at the concept of "sex sells" when discussing pharmaceutical reps.

I'm also utterly disgusted that on top of costs for research, development, production and distribution, we're paying for lavish dinners, company cars, and whatever else these sexy reps are bringing along with them when we're picking up pills for grandma at the pharmacy.

I really hate the way we do things, in this regard.

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