IDEA: Determine and get to know your 2nd buyer before your 1st customer buyer leaves and goes elsewhere..

Determine and record who is 2^nd in line at your clients to buy your product if the first buyer leaves.   The last thing you want to hear is that your best customer’s buyer has left his position for another company.  He gave you a lot of orders and now he is gone. What do you do?

The first thing that comes to mind is the continuation of orders from this customer. You should not be asking yourself who will now make these buying decisions and do you have relationship with that person. If you realize you do not know the second guy at your customer’s facility, find out today.

Find out your 2^nd  or assistant buyer names today. Find out who your 2^nd buyers are now, before any changes occur.  You want someone at your customer’s firm to be on your side in case the purchasing agent leaves or is terminated. You need to nurture a second relationship at all times.

Ask these questions to your sales people for all your important customers:

• Second approval: Read the customer’s purchase order and decipher who else has approved them.  If you cannot read the name, ask and note that person’s correct name in your database.  Did they sign after your purchasing agent or alongside (equal responsibilities)?
• Assistant buyer/order taker: When the purchasing agent does not answer your call, who takes his or her calls?  What is their name and do they actually issue the purchase orders or take orders for the assigned buyer? Do they fill in during vacations and peak periods? If so, they are worth knowing and following.
• Dollar limit authority: When you get orders from your buyer, does he mention he must get them approved?  When he does say this, ask who it is that approves his purchasing decisions and at what level does he have full approval.  Ask what his dollar authority limit is.   Mention you can issue smaller orders if that helps him to get his job done more quickly.  Be careful and be only respectful when offering this as an option.
• Develop multiple contacts: When your firm sends coupons, Christmas cards, announcements for new products or large important sales events, make sure to include cards and notices to the other approved buyers and those people who approve your buyers’ purchase orders.  By including them, you are showing them respect and acknowledgement of their participation in buying from your company. You may need in the future.
• Thank more than one: When your firm gets a purchase order from  the buyer, thank not only him or her, but their boss or whoever else might be involved in the transaction.  Get everyone involved and ‘over-thank’ if that is possible.  When your key man leaves, you will not regret the extra effort.