Konisiwa

[cowman]

grassfarmer: I don't think the auctioneers were too lazy...its just a matter of who cares? Really...think about it?
A buyer sits in how many marts a week? He really couldn't care less when your calves were born, all he worries about is how he thinks they will do in the feedlot? This is the reality of the business.
The best thing you can possibly do if you are selling cattle at the auction is get yourself known to the buyers. This in reality is the only way you can distinguish yourself from every Tom, Dick and Harry! When any cattle buyer buys your cattle go thank him and talk to him! He will remember you because most people think he is some kind of low life parasite trying to steal their cattle! Ask him what he thinks you could do to improve your cattle or if he thinks they are the real deal!
The point here is to get him to remember YOU...not necessarily
your cattle! Business doesn't work on the product but on the PEOPLE involved!
This is real basic "Business 101"?
Not trying to lecture you here. I'm sure you already know how this works.

[cowman]

Oh, I forgot to mention this: It really helps if you are a "people person" that likes to talk to people and have a genuine interest in how people see things!
If you aren't, then you need to work on that, but it isn't impossible!
Selling anything is an art that can be learned? You just have to learn how to read people and be good with the BS! It will make you more money than anything else you do!

[grassfarmer]

Cowman, I have always been able to sell my cattle on their merits without needing to BS buyers. This thread was about using birthdates to certify ages so that we can get beef sent to markets requiring age verification. I was trying to give my calf buyers last fall an opportunity to have age verified cattle should the opportunity have arisen before they were fat. It would have cost them nothing, me a little time and the auctioneers a little time. As I say they were too lazy and that is a poor attitude to business.

[Willowcreek]

cowman--Sometimes a couple of Crown and Cokes every time you run into the buyer is worth several cents a pound when it comes down to calf selling time!

[cowman]

Okay...I understand where you were coming from now...but I suspect no one else in the auction mart did? But whatever...
Grassfarmer maybe we have a slight communication problem here? When I say BS him I don't mean lies or untruths. I just mean you play the game and "Smooze" the buyer? You stroke him and try to get an idea of what he wants?
I wasn't trying to imply you have to decieve him or something like that! Everyone, in any kind of business, has to be a salesman. No matter how good your product is you have to sell it? From the farmer selling his cattle to the high tech software dealer?
The fact is sales are what makes a business successful, in my opinion! Maybe not in yours?