When you are selling something that is not in the best interest of the buyer, or that will make their life worse, selling is unethical.
If you are selling something that will make their situation better, it’s ethical.
When I say “make their life better”, this definition would include the effect of paying for your product also.
For eample, a student who is in debt for 15 years – the debt would have to be calculated in the overall benefit they experience from what they bought. Or someone buying solar panels and signing a 20 or 25 year mortgage – the interest would have to be understood as an offset to their benefit.
Is your sales effort ethical? With everyone you are trying to sell to?
I look at selling as helping people achieve their goals and objectives. If I can’t bring forth a great value proposition then it doesn’t do them, or me, any good to proceed. The plus of that is that I get a great sense of satisfaction in helping people. It is a rewarding experience for all parties.
Very much looking forward to “Into the Dust 2”
Great point, Mike!
This is unfortunately part of why so many sales professionals bounce around to different businesses for their entire careers. So many companies are relying on shady tactics to make a quick buck when it’s very questionable if they’re serving anyone at all.
This could not come at a better time for me personally. I just started my fall classes online and one of them is Business Ethics…this is useful information. Thank you.
This is a good reminder that a lot of companies need to pay attention to!