Mario Hadiwinata

Last week I went to Taman Anggrek, I decided to give a chance to any salesman who offer me a 15 minutes free-massage voucher on their massage chairs. I usually rejects the offer, but having a back-pain lately, I want give it a try. At the same time, there is an exhibition from one of the brand in main hall, let me keep the brand name for myself as this was a bad experience. It’s using a Japanese brand, but just found out lately for healthy-related product they are operates by Malaysian company.

So, I met this guy in the exhibition. As always, SOP, he welcome me and directly guide to one of the chairs. Massage chairs is always tempting, and for novice user like me, I don’t even know what the differences among other brands. Speaking of sales probability, this guy should have the best moment to convince me in the spot to buy one of those chairs.

It doesn’t take a minute to have myself a relax and feel the comfy sensation when I sat on the chair. At the same time, I demand a detail explanation of how this stuff working. Despite all the comfort feeling from the massage chairs, I really like to hear a little bit of ’scientific’ stories, and yes, lie to me please with your company ’solution selling’ guides and talking points.

And guess what, this sales guy only sell me two things :

1. This is the newest and most expensive in their massage chairs line. It have a ‘lie detector’ to detect my backpain problem. This is the best for me and other chairs is not suit with my profile, yes - you read it - my profile, not my pain.. (well at least I got you buddy.. )
2. The brand is certified by Japanese government, he show me a copy of certificate of acknowledgment in Japanese writing, signed & stamped. (Helloo.. I’m looking for a chairs not a certificate..)

The double combo even completed with serious advice from him to swipe my card for ’special promo’ 0% loan with IDR 5million/month. Obviously, he fail…

So, the next 10 minutes of my massage session is full with several alternatives of  ‘exit strategy’ in my mind. How to get out from this guy, politely.. Then I play his game, he ask me to negotiate directly with his manager while he’s in the exhibition, without my approval - he directly call his manager.. (hey, it’s the same routine I found when I went to Kelapa Gading Square). So I chat with the manager, a chinese-malaysian guy. Share a bit of my back pain problem, and convinced him I’m a serious buyer, so give me your best price.. At the end he managed to get me a special 30% discount, only for exhibition..!!!

So, okay, Thank You.. I said, I will go upstairs, give your competitor a fair chance. I even mentioned the brand : OSIM. And this is where the whole team lost my respect. “..OSIM is not japanese product, Mr Osim is from Singapore..” Well, I know about OSIM - the one who actually drove this ‘Japanese’ company made these kind of products

In the very last moment of losing prospective customer, the sales guy tried to cross-sell with alternative products. From foot massagers, slim belts and the very ultimate - I think it’s the lowest price from his product list - a tension meter. Still, the guy once again fail to get me… After measuring my tension - he just look at the number, show an evil grin - shoke his head a little bit - with no explanation about the numbers and ask me to buy a product… Jesus Christ?!

Sorry dude, I’m looking for a chairs.. He lost me.