Surviving Restructuring

Chapter 151. Sales, Sales, Sales (3)

“Kids these days have no grit. No grit at all.”

It was the kind of line older seniors always said.

Sun-Sik of the Customer Satisfaction Center was, without a doubt, part of those so-called “kids these days.” Even so, he held a strange confidence in himself as a salesman.

He was leisurely, to the point of refusing to run unless his life was on the line. No matter who was talking, he shamelessly ignored anything he did not want to hear. No matter how generously one judged him, he was far from a diligent employee. However, sales was not a job where one succeeded just by brute-forcing their face into customers’ lives.

People who want to buy will buy. Sales should be done smartly.

Maximum efficiency with minimal effort was Sun-Sik’s philosophy. Hence why he never targeted customers like the Cane Elder.

“You bunch of punks only show up to pick people’s pockets!” barked the old man.

The man wasn’t just difficult, but his affection level was subzero. One couldn’t even hope to start a conversation with him. If he was in a bad mood, he’d even warn other seniors to keep salespeople away entirely, making him one of the worst customers to deal with.

He’s not worth the effort.

If it were Sun-Sik, he would’ve given up instantly. Even if the old man were a key target customer, Sun-Sik would count today’s brief interaction as progress, and come back another time.

However, the rookie stepped forward without hesitation.

“Huh?” uttered Sun-Sik.

He watched, fully expecting to laugh when the rookie crashed and burned, when Eun-Ho suddenly pulled out a blue can. “Summon.”

“Isn’t that from my office?”

“Pigsty, cowshed, whatever it is, the person who lives here is definitely addicted to coffee.”

It was one of the coffee cans that had been piled all over his messy office.

He brought those?

“Wait. When did you grab those? I mean why?” Sun-Sik asked in disbelief.

The rookie answered calmly, “It’s a promotional item.”

“Promotional item?”

“Sales promotion goods. It’s a little gift for customers, basically a tiny bribe.”

A bribe?

Sun-Sik was floored.

Shouldn’t you pick something more decent to bribe a customer? What kind of idiot would budge over a cheap can of coffee, especially when the target is the infamously ill-tempered Cane Elder?

“Jae-Hyuk, hold on,” said Eun-Ho.

Jae-Hyuk was confused. “H-Hyungnim?”

“What now?! You want to get hit first?!” roared the Cane Elder.

Whenever rookies approached him, Cane Elder smashed their skulls with a cane forged from top-grade meteoric-iron. There was no way a measly can of coffee would affect him!

“... Eh?”

“It’s hot out, sir. How about a cold coffee first?” Eun-Ho said gently, giving Cane Elder a soft smile. He was the poster boy of a harmless, sincere young man.

“What is this? Is this free?”

“Of course. You reminded me of my grandfather, so I wanted to offer you one. Please don’t feel burdened.”

Free? He’s really giving it for free?

Sun-Sik was stunned all over again.

The Cane Elder had a notorious reputation even inside the Customer Satisfaction Center. He was wealthy but stingy, demanding and distrustful. Even when he absolutely had to buy something, he tried to haggle endlessly. Of course, there was no way a brand-new rookie could have known all that.

“You’re here to rob me again, aren’t you? You thieves! Get out of my sight!”

“Did he figure that out from that first sentence...?” Sun-Sik wondered.

No, that’s impossible.

Sun-Sik shook his head with a faint laugh. However, in that brief moment, the conversation between the rookie and the old man had already begun.

“I’ll open it for you. I’ve got pretty strong fingers.”

“Hah! Strong fingers? How strong could they be?”

“I might even be able to handle your cane, sir.”

“You brat! What nonsense are you spouting?”

“The scenery here is nice with lots of shade.”

“Scenery? It’s just a backwater with nothing in it!”

“It reminds me of my grandfather’s home. There was a tree just like this at the village entrance. What was the village name again?”

From the coffee can to a small comment about the weather, to talk of villages, to self-introduction, less than a minute had passed.

“Oh right, I didn’t even introduce myself. My name is Lee Eun-Ho.”

“Tck! Who asked?!”

Ding!

Suddenly, a message popped up with a cheerful sound.

[OJT’s Special Orders]

[1. Greet a customer: 1/20]

The first special order, greeting the customer, was complete all thanks to a single can of cheap coffee. Meanwhile, the conversation continued on smoothly.

“Hmph. This tastes awful.”

“Is it too sweet?”

“Bah. It’s not bad enough to spit out.”

“Oh, good. If you’d just exercised, your mouth might’ve felt dry. Do you work out often?”

“Work out?! With this body? I’d break something the moment I start running!”

“I see. Then what do you usually do when you get bored?”

“I stack stones and play around.”

“Aaah.” Eun-Ho nodded lightly, the corner of his mouth lifting. “So I guess your hobby is something like playing Janggi or Go.”

Ding!

[2. Learn their hobby: 1/20]

The second special order was cleared just as quickly.

“What the hell? What kind of conversation is that supposed to be?” Sun-Sik asked.

“Eun-Ho is really good at talking. Don’t you think so?” Ji-Eun asked.

Every exchange flowed like a clean river, effortless and natural. Everything headed exactly where Lee Eun-Ho wanted, as if he’d dug the riverbed ahead of time.

“No... This isn’t just good at talking. Someone watching would think he planned every line in advance,” said the youngest rookie. The boy’s expression was blank as always, but his eyes, which were fixed on Eun-Ho, were oddly bright. “He is planning everything.”

“Huh? Planning what?” Sun-Sik asked.

“What the old man’s next move will be and what to say so the next answer comes out,” the kid replied.

What?

Sun-Sik shook his head at the kid’s exaggeration. “That’s a stretch.”

“... No, it’s not,” the tiny kid insisted.

The bob-cut woman, Ji-Eun, also backed the boy. “Wei’s right.”

Who is this Lee Eun-Ho guy, exactly? What kind of man earned this kind of absolute trust?

The question lingered as Sun-Sik refocused on their conversation.

“Oh, actually, one of our people is an incredible player,” said Eun-Ho.

“A player?” asked Cane Elder, his brows lifting in interest.

The boy’s shoulders twitched as he flinched.

Sensing the shift, Eun-Ho lowered his voice as if about to share a secret. “Yes. He claims there’s not a single opponent in the world he can’t beat. His arrogance could poke a hole in the sky.”

“What a brat! Young punk bragging through their teeth!”

Huh? What is this nonsense now? And why does the little one suddenly look devastated?

“My arrogance is reaching the sky?” the boy muttered quietly.

“That’s exactly what I thought too. Cocky kid. Would you teach him a lesson?”

“Bring him! I’ll knock him down a peg!”

Eun-Ho’s lips curved slightly as if that was the line he’d been waiting for.

Ding!

[3. Get invited inside: 1/10]

“... No way.”

It was a terrifying momentum, and only two special orders remained.

[4. Become friends 0/10]

[5. Make a sale 0/10]

The last peak required genuine intimacy and recognition from the customer.

Sun-Sik thought this was the end of beginner’s luck. “Hmph. That won’t be easy.”

The earlier streak had been a miracle, but this part was different. Becoming friends required a lot of time, perhaps months of repeated visits. Hence why no trainee had ever cleared the Sales Department OJT trial.

It will require a minimum of four months.

It would take a month just to become a familiar face, another couple of months to build trust, and then another month or two to learn the customer’s tastes.

He’ll hit the wall now, Sun-Sik thought. He watched, expecting the rookie’s face to crumble.

However, instead, Eun-Ho suddenly ended the conversation. “Ah, look at the time.”

What? Why is he getting up now?

“I should get going. I only stopped by to greet you while I was on duty...”

The old man blinked in surprise. “Huh? Weren’t you here to sell something?”

Did he finally realize it was hopeless? Honestly, that’s the rational choice. If he pushes too hard before the customer is ready, he’ll destroy even the goodwill he had built, Sun-Sik thought. Part of him wanted to see how far the kid could go.

“Well, I’m just a trainee who arrived today. It doesn’t matter much whether I sell or not. Besides...” Eun-Ho smiled gently. “I can’t strong-arm a new friend.”

“Hmph! Friend?”

“This place is unfamiliar, so I was a little nervous. But chatting with you made me feel much more at ease. I enjoyed it.”

Unfamiliar and nervous? That’s absolute nonsense. No way that story would work.

“... Bah. What’s fun about talking to an old man.” The elder grumbled, clearly not buying it. Just then, he lowered his cane quietly.

Ding!

[4: Become friends (1/10)]

“Well... Fine. Show me what you’ve got.”

Sun-Sik’s jaw dropped open. “What?! Is this how you’re supposed to do it?”

***

“Eun-Ho, you really are strange sometimes.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your body gives you trouble, but you’re still so good at sales. How is that even possible?”

It was something Eun-Ho had heard countless times back when he worked in the sales department. Since he was contract temporary staff and physically limited, he was never assigned major accounts. However, every time he went into the field, he brought results and people naturally found that baffling.

“Honestly, it’s an advantage for me,” he had answered back then.

“What?”

“People feel sorry for me, so they’ll at least hear why I came. After that, the rest is just my skill.”

Aside from the initial difficulty of opening a conversation, his approach worked the same on bosses and customers alike.

First, he observed people and figured out what they wanted. Then he solved it for them. In fact, if he could scratch the itch they didn’t even know they had, that was even better.

Sun-Sik was practically hopping in place. “Hey! Lee Eun-Ho!”

“Didn’t you say you’ll call me Hyungnim?” Eun-Ho asked.

“You haven’t sold anything yet! Look, the old man is inviting you. That will never happen again, so sell him the most expensive one!”

Eun-Ho returned to the group and opened the catalog. Sun-Sik leaned in and whispered conspiratorially, “I don’t usually teach trainees this, but you look like you’ll go far. So listen. Start with the priciest product.”

The priciest item? Eun-Ho thought.

[Memory of Murder(Best!)]

- When it rains, the day resurfaces. Ranked #1 in “Memories People Want to Revisit.”

- Experience Cost: 100,000 Welfare Points

“If he balks, go down to cheaper stuff. It’s a killer trick,” Sun-Sik said.

One hundred thousand points?

Selling just that one would be equal to several smaller products combined. It definitely was a massive boost to sales ranking.

“Also, you get ten percent commission. Ten percent! That’s ten thousand points straight into your pocket.”

That was something Eun-Ho hadn’t known. On top of the trial rewards and team sales ranking benefits, there was now a personal commission of ten thousand points. This was a huge opportunity.

However, instead of reaching for the most expensive item, Eun-Ho asked, “If you like scenic places, how about the ocean?”

“This one?” the old man asked as he scanned the page.

[District 7 Deep-Sea Expedition(New!)]

- From the Luminous Kraken to the Fish Dragon, explore the universe’s most repulsive deep-sea species!

- Experience Cost: 20,000 Welfare Points

“No, this one.”

[District 7 Deep-Sea Expedition Preparation(New!)]

- Before diving into deep-sea species territory, acclimate yourself in a special suit and warm water. It’s got beautiful scenery with emerald coral shores.

- Experience Cost: 10,000 Welfare Points

“Your cane tip looked quite worn,” Eun-Ho said calmly.

“What’s that?”

“It seems like you’ve used it for a long time. Maybe it’s been a while since you moved around freely?”

“... What’re you trying to say?”

“If going underwater feels like too much, just enjoying the beach would still help clear your mind. Coral beaches have beautiful scenery.”

The old man froze. Earlier, he had complained bitterly about his legs, which had been a clue.

“Work out?! With this body? I’d break something the moment I start running!”

Despite his frail lower half, he swung that cane with impressive arm strength. He was frustrated, yearning for physical freedom, and Eun-Ho had sensed it.

“And among the activities you can still enjoy comfortably, this one gives the best return for the price,” Eun-Ho said.

“R-return?”

“Return on cost. Value for what you spend.”

The perfect combination was to appeal to emotion and then their own interest.

[The Cane Elder’s favorability greatly increased!]

Ding!

[5. Make a sale: 1/10)]

[Team 25 - Sale Successful!]

[Total Sales: 10,000 Welfare Points]

[You have received 1,000 Points in commission.]

He received a personal bonus, on top of team credit.

Ideas for business are already blooming in my head, Eun-Ho thought.

While he considered the possibilities, the old man clicked his tongue. “How do you even survive doing sales like this?”

“Ah, that’s okay,” Eun-Ho answered.

The old man seemed worried because the trainee had ignored the high-ticket item, and recommended something cheaper that actually suited the customer.

He’s hooked, Eun-Ho thought.

“Then how about this? Could you introduce me to your friends? I’d treat them just as well.”

“... So you want the old ladies and old men around here?”

“Absolutely. How should I send them a message?”

“Message? Nah. I just put the post up outside and they’ll come on their own. They’ve got nothing better to do.”

Perfect.

The core of sales—its crown jewel—was always referrals. Nothing could beat a recommendation from a trusted peer.

“Then when you make the post, could you please include these event details?” Eun-Ho said.

“Event? What’s that supposed to be?”

I’m done making small sales. I’m ready to go big, Eun-Ho thought.

“First, there’s free coffee just for receiving a consultation. Second, any purchase over thirty thousand Points will get them a physical therapy session. And third, there’s a referral event. When a friend you introduced buys something, you will get a five percent cashback.”

“Damn. You’re crazy! Where did you learn stuff like that?” Sun-Sik blurted.

“Watch your language, sir,” Eun-Ho replied lightly.

“... Did you go to some kind of elite sales academy, Hyugnim?” Jae-Hyuk asked.

“Well, something like that,” Eun-Ho said, smiling faintly as he had learned all of this back home.