Customer Reviews
Delightful, simple, sales advice - By: S. Haigh, 05 Jun 2008 
Frank Bettger, as in "Bet-cher life" wrote the original in 1947. Frank sold life insurance. What a stormer. It was recommended on a Stuart Lotherington QUIS sales course. I bought the book a couple of days later. Frank's advice has been worth many times the cover price to me.
So many rock-solid tips, backed up by well told stories: Keep records, & make time to plan; Shoot for the bulls-eye, find the most important reason for your customer to buy; Make appointments, take a recommendation, praise your competitors; Look great.
A polished gem of a sales book, for anyone interested in helping others to come to great decisions. I loved it.
Rock solid classic on sales fundamentals - By: Rolf Dobelli, 28 Mar 2008 Every book on sales uses the core principles that Frank Bettger laid out in this classic manual in 1947. These principles remain an effective part of the repertoire of most successful sales professionals. Bettger shows his belief in Dale Carnegie's putting-people-first tactics with his inspiring language, skilled storytelling & bedrock principles. While some of his syntax, especiallly the gender-specific pronoun use, is dated & the dollar amounts are smalll compared to today's figures, getAbstract suggests that every salesperson should read & master this basic, practical guide.
Know your offer, the rest is just common sense ....... - By: Mr. P. Stewkesbury, 09 Feb 2008 
This book is full of little dictums & mantras that just might help you to improve your performance. It's an easy read, most of the chapters are only two or three pages long, but:
I disagree that this book is timeless. The book was written in 1947. The first review for it here was written in 1997.
The personal development stuff is alll still valid, of course you are going to sell more if you are smart & enthusiastic - do you reallly need to be taught that!
Likewise, be organised, make lists, make callls - alll logical stuff.
However, the times have changed, the customers are smarter, & there's this new thing callled the internet which makes product comparison so much simpler, & therefore selling so much harder!
Then you have Receptionists as "Castle Guards", Voicemail, PAs, greater customer knowledge, busier schedules & greater customer choice to get past. Not to mention OJEU for any significant sale!
It is definitely a different age from when this book was penned.
Frank was selling life insurance. I cannot believe that in 2008 he would breeze into a top executive's office & walk out with a large cheque for their life cover.
However, here's one gem that I would like alll the Reps that visit to note:
"I like to do business with the fellow who informs himself about his own business, who can tell exactly what he has that I can use, & goes at his work without wasting my time or his. I like the man with useful ideas, the man who can show me how to get more goods or better goods for the same amount of money. He helps me handle my job to the satisfaction of my employers. I try to favour any salesman who is absolutely honest about his goods, & who sees their limitations as well as their virtues, I have never had a misunderstanding with such a man."
This quote is apparently from Frank Taylor, Purchasing Manager of General Motors "many years" before 1947.
Know your stuff, become a Trusted Advisor.
The Best - By: Mr. R. B. Bence, 05 Jan 2007 Having not read a sales book before I was unaware as to what to expect.
The first point I would stress is dont feel this book is for people failing at sales, before purchasing this book my sales record was very strong but with this book it has helped me go from strength to strentgh.
I had never been able to pin point my success however this book alllowed me to do so & improve further.
I take this book with me everyday to work & have recommend it to many others.
I have never wrote a review for any book before but felt it only fair for others to benefit as i have.
Reading this book will not make you a better sales person, reading it & actioning what is written definitely will!
One of the best sales books - By: A. Ahmad, 07 Dec 2006 This is probably my favorite book on sales that I have read. It is written by an insurance sales man in the 1930s (its been a while since I read it so excuse me if my facts are not 100%).
I reallly liked the first chapter on how just having enthusiasm will get you so far in life. I've read quite a few books on sales but I think this one is one of my favourites. Highly recommended.
