Only 10-20% of my calls are real calls

[Anonymous]

What's you number? We all know that everyone fakes calls. Be honest.

(And yes... we know that there are you "super-reps" out there who have "never" faked a call and do not understand the meaning of the words "no see" or "no access". You will inevitably spew your lectures about honesty on us and tie up this thread... thank you in advance for your blind allegiance to management & to the biggest lie in this industry - the lie that pharmaceutical sales reps actually make a difference).

The pathetic thing is... I am a multi-year national level sales award winner. It just goes to show how meaningless our efforts really are in what defines "success" in this industry. Nothing we do really matters - this is a form of "pharmaceutical sales existentialism" I suppose.

All the bull shit from 1800 Concord Pike about increasing R&F is just the same crap spewed on the sales force each year and means nothing. Then, of course, we have the regional and district managers perpetuating the sales call lies up the chain as well to save their own collective careers. Mass layoffs industry wide at the rep and manager level would not impact sales at all. FACT.

This job is a façade should end now.

 

[Anonymous]

That many?

 

[Anonymous]

And what division? You must have a very small territory or be full of shit. Managers at AZ do two day rides and your day better be actioned packed. Ok, my real day starts at about 8 and I hit the road, stop at a few spots, record those calls, have two to three appts or a lunch for real calls and if docs are there that I did not see, I put them in too. On average I have four targeted calls and two nontargets each day. If a team meeting or TC is required or more account planning, I easily need to work until 5 or 6 pm to get it all done. We have target plans, account plans, team meetings, the dreaded hours on the Help Desk, required study to advance, and a two week expense report. I seriously wonder if you really work for AZ as most reps that I know put in a pretty long day four days a week.

 

[Anonymous]

And what division? You must have a very small territory or be full of shit. Managers at AZ do two day rides and your day better be actioned packed. Ok, my real day starts at about 8 and I hit the road, stop at a few spots, record those calls, have two to three appts or a lunch for real calls and if docs are there that I did not see, I put them in too. On average I have four targeted calls and two nontargets each day. If a team meeting or TC is required or more account planning, I easily need to work until 5 or 6 pm to get it all done. We have target plans, account plans, team meetings, the dreaded hours on the Help Desk, required study to advance, and a two week expense report. I seriously wonder if you really work for AZ as most reps that I know put in a pretty long day four days a week.

You, my friend, are a liar! Nobody, and I mean nobody, works full days! Oh I put on quite a show for my useless, over paid baby-sitter known as the DM, but I lie like a dog the rest of the time. I do have legitimate calls, if you want to call them that, every day. I love lunches because I eat free and will usually have an actual call, but many times, the docs don't even bother to come back. I would agree with the OP, that about 10% to 20% might be classified a real call.

This is an amazing job! AZ feeds, pays us, gives us a free car, bennies, 401K, etc., and all we have to do is work a couple of hours a day for it!!! I mean, shit!!!!!! DO WE HAVE IT MADE OR WHAT?? And, AZ is hiring like mad because they believe the old mantra of "share-of-voice" is the key! What fools they be!!

Enjoy it my brothers and sisters! ENJOY IT!

 

[Anonymous]

You, my friend, are a liar! Nobody, and I mean nobody, works full days! Oh I put on quite a show for my useless, over paid baby-sitter known as the DM, but I lie like a dog the rest of the time. I do have legitimate calls, if you want to call them that, every day. I love lunches because I eat free and will usually have an actual call, but many times, the docs don't even bother to come back. I would agree with the OP, that about 10% to 20% might be classified a real call.

This is an amazing job! AZ feeds, pays us, gives us a free car, bennies, 401K, etc., and all we have to do is work a couple of hours a day for it!!! I mean, shit!!!!!! DO WE HAVE IT MADE OR WHAT?? And, AZ is hiring like mad because they believe the old mantra of "share-of-voice" is the key! What fools they be!!

Enjoy it my brothers and sisters! ENJOY IT!

I've been around this company for years and years. I give the impression that I bleed for good ole AZ. Between the two of us....I'm with this guy. I have a side business going that I spend more time with. This is the best gig in the world. I send in a few best practices keeps my putz of a DM happy. I work with them and run them all day. I invent silly tracking shit that means nothing but looks like I'm trying to find more business. Ok I know I will get replys how evil I am. I don't care. This is just a job. I'm not proud of it but again I don't care. I get a great paycheck. I live in a neighborhood with all the docs. LOL this deal is great and I'm riding it out forever.

 

[Anonymous]

10-20% actual calls is probably pretty good in tough access territory,, I had what was considered fairly good territory , 8 calls per day (3 were the 'non-signature).. as for the I'm working so hard, putting in time, the only question is Why? I mean, is it really doing anything to put more money in your pocket? Sure I'd like to see every doc, but wait till the sunshine act kicks in and the local tv news 'highlights' your rep friendly doc's office getting over $30,000 a year by Bad ol'pharma (thats a few lunches every week for a year)..more doors will be closing soon.

 

[Anonymous]

What's you number? We all know that everyone fakes calls. Be honest.

(And yes... we know that there are you "super-reps" out there who have "never" faked a call and do not understand the meaning of the words "no see" or "no access". You will inevitably spew your lectures about honesty on us and tie up this thread... thank you in advance for your blind allegiance to management & to the biggest lie in this industry - the lie that pharmaceutical sales reps actually make a difference).

The pathetic thing is... I am a multi-year national level sales award winner. It just goes to show how meaningless our efforts really are in what defines "success" in this industry. Nothing we do really matters - this is a form of "pharmaceutical sales existentialism" I suppose.

All the bull shit from 1800 Concord Pike about increasing R&F is just the same crap spewed on the sales force each year and means nothing. Then, of course, we have the regional and district managers perpetuating the sales call lies up the chain as well to save their own collective careers. Mass layoffs industry wide at the rep and manager level would not impact sales at all. FACT.

This job is a façade should end now.

Which means your multi year national sales awards are bogus. You just got lucky, right?

 

[Anonymous]

You, my friend, are a liar! Nobody, and I mean nobody, works full days! Oh I put on quite a show for my useless, over paid baby-sitter known as the DM, but I lie like a dog the rest of the time. I do have legitimate calls, if you want to call them that, every day. I love lunches because I eat free and will usually have an actual call, but many times, the docs don't even bother to come back. I would agree with the OP, that about 10% to 20% might be classified a real call.

This is an amazing job! AZ feeds, pays us, gives us a free car, bennies, 401K, etc., and all we have to do is work a couple of hours a day for it!!! I mean, shit!!!!!! DO WE HAVE IT MADE OR WHAT?? And, AZ is hiring like mad because they believe the old mantra of "share-of-voice" is the key! What fools they be!!

Enjoy it my brothers and sisters! ENJOY IT!

You are some x rep as AZ managers are DSMs. Seriously, the successful teams in my area put in a 40-50 hour week. I have a two hour drive one way just to get to my territory. So my day IS truly long. You get paid a great deal to work. Just do your job honestly and quit patting yourself on the back for ripping off your employer.

 

[Anonymous]

Which means your multi year national sales awards are bogus. You just got lucky, right?

Of course, they are all bogus. It starts with a coin toss objective setting process, totally fucked up and then moves to multiple counterparts selling the same products to my customers and add it the fact that tracking sales is also a crap shoot. We all lie about our sales calls, 20% legit is a high average, and then those have no impact either. So hell yes, anyone who wins COE is the same as winning the lottery. You could put any PSS in that territory and they would win.

 

[Anonymous]

What's you number? We all know that everyone fakes calls. Be honest.

(And yes... we know that there are you "super-reps" out there who have "never" faked a call and do not understand the meaning of the words "no see" or "no access". You will inevitably spew your lectures about honesty on us and tie up this thread... thank you in advance for your blind allegiance to management & to the biggest lie in this industry - the lie that pharmaceutical sales reps actually make a difference).

The pathetic thing is... I am a multi-year national level sales award winner. It just goes to show how meaningless our efforts really are in what defines "success" in this industry. Nothing we do really matters - this is a form of "pharmaceutical sales existentialism" I suppose.

All the bull shit from 1800 Concord Pike about increasing R&F is just the same crap spewed on the sales force each year and means nothing. Then, of course, we have the regional and district managers perpetuating the sales call lies up the chain as well to save their own collective careers. Mass layoffs industry wide at the rep and manager level would not impact sales at all. FACT.

This job is a façade should end now.

This identical post is on multiple companies boards. It's a BS post by someone with an agenda. Answer him if you must but I thought you should know.

 

[Anonymous]

Of course, they are all bogus. It starts with a coin toss objective setting process, totally fucked up and then moves to multiple counterparts selling the same products to my customers and add it the fact that tracking sales is also a crap shoot. We all lie about our sales calls, 20% legit is a high average, and then those have no impact either. So hell yes, anyone who wins COE is the same as winning the lottery. You could put any PSS in that territory and they would win.

So true.

 

[Anonymous]

You are filth

 

[Anonymous]

I've been around this company for years and years. I give the impression that I bleed for good ole AZ. Between the two of us....I'm with this guy. I have a side business going that I spend more time with. This is the best gig in the world. I send in a few best practices keeps my putz of a DM happy. I work with them and run them all day. I invent silly tracking shit that means nothing but looks like I'm trying to find more business. Ok I know I will get replys how evil I am. I don't care. This is just a job. I'm not proud of it but again I don't care. I get a great paycheck. I live in a neighborhood with all the docs. LOL this deal is great and I'm riding it out forever.

Wonderful post and attitude! I couldn't agree more. About 20% of my calls are real too. I don't care anymore either. AZ is run by total idiots. In May, Nexium will go off patent and OTC. By the end of 2016, XR and Crestor will be gone. We have a stupid gout drug, and little else. We have far too many reps and managers, and more coming on board every week. I am anxious to get my side business going. That's just the way it is.

 

[Anonymous]

10-20% actual calls is probably pretty good in tough access territory,, I had what was considered fairly good territory , 8 calls per day (3 were the 'non-signature).. as for the I'm working so hard, putting in time, the only question is Why? I mean, is it really doing anything to put more money in your pocket? Sure I'd like to see every doc, but wait till the sunshine act kicks in and the local tv news 'highlights' your rep friendly doc's office getting over $30,000 a year by Bad ol'pharma (thats a few lunches every week for a year)..more doors will be closing soon.

Non-signature. LOL

Non-call signature is the other type. AZ likes the siggies.

 

[Anonymous]

Of course, they are all bogus. It starts with a coin toss objective setting process, totally fucked up and then moves to multiple counterparts selling the same products to my customers and add it the fact that tracking sales is also a crap shoot. We all lie about our sales calls, 20% legit is a high average, and then those have no impact either. So hell yes, anyone who wins COE is the same as winning the lottery. You could put any PSS in that territory and they would win.

Excellent, an honest answer, imagine that at AZ. I was reading something earlier today about how luck often plays a role in success or failure, so consider process as much as outcomes and don't overestimate the role of skill (or lack thereof). A useful test of how much difference skill makes in a particular situation is to ask how easy it is to lose on purpose. Maybe that's why when territories are left empty they often continue to do well.

 

[Anonymous]

You are some x rep as AZ managers are DSMs. Seriously, the successful teams in my area put in a 40-50 hour week. I have a two hour drive one way just to get to my territory. So my day IS truly long. You get paid a great deal to work. Just do your job honestly and quit patting yourself on the back for ripping off your employer.

If you live two hours from your territory someone made a mistake by hiring you. I live in my territory and my doctors are within 30 minutes of each other. There are 90. If I saw 8 a day every two weeks I would hit almost every one. Every two weeks I would see 80. In order to comply my doctors would have to see me over 20 times a year for a full challenging detail as well as go to numerous dinner programs. They aren't complying with AZ's model as dictated by people who never get in front of a customer or understand the absurd position this puts me in.

Am I complaining or telling the Emperor he isn't wearing clothes because I am honest and want the best for AZ? Hell no, I want to keep my cushy job. Does my DSM say anything? Hell no, he wants to keep his babysitting job.

So, since my AZ job only takes half a day before I run out of meaningful things to do, I have a second job. I took a weeks vacation to train for another company and now sell to different specialists in the early and mid morning. Then I switch hats and work my AZ job. It pays very well and keeps me from losing my marbles doing the same thing week after week, year after year.

 

[Anonymous]

Of course, they are all bogus. It starts with a coin toss objective setting process, totally fucked up and then moves to multiple counterparts selling the same products to my customers and add it the fact that tracking sales is also a crap shoot. We all lie about our sales calls, 20% legit is a high average, and then those have no impact either. So hell yes, anyone who wins COE is the same as winning the lottery. You could put any PSS in that territory and they would win.

Excellent, an honest answer, imagine that at AZ. I was reading something earlier today about how luck often plays a role in success or failure, so consider process as much as outcomes and don't overestimate the role of skill (or lack thereof). A useful test of how much difference skill makes in a particular situation is to ask how easy it is to lose on purpose. Maybe that's why when territories are left empty they often continue to do well.

 

[Anonymous]

Excellent, an honest answer, imagine that at AZ. I was reading something earlier today about how luck often plays a role in success or failure, so consider process as much as outcomes and don't overestimate the role of skill (or lack thereof). A useful test of how much difference skill makes in a particular situation is to ask how easy it is to lose on purpose. Maybe that's why when territories are left empty they often continue to do well.

Your set up was good: consider how easy it is to lose on purpose. Thought provoking. I knew a guy who intentionally tried to see if he could score a zero on the SAT test. He selected the wrong answer on purpose, but still got a 220. (200 is the worst possible.) (This was after the guy scored a 1580 the prior year.)

But you conclusion is entirely invalid: "Maybe that's why when territories are left empty they often continue to do well." You cannot jump from A to B in your argument.


This is why doctors hate you. You are not reasonable, you have an agenda and cheat to get to where you want to be.

 

[Anonymous]

Do we do well because of our skills or because of luck? It's hard to know anymore. If you can only make 10-20% of calls per day how much influence can you have? Just saying.......

 

[Anonymous]

Do we do well because of our skills or because of luck? It's hard to know anymore. If you can only make 10-20% of calls per day how much influence can you have? Just saying.......

Without a rep a territory will coast and potentially score even get bigger #s when the patients can no longer go to the doc for free samples. If a doctor has been feeding samples to his patients for months, do you think he'll switch the Rx brand when the rep stops visiting? Doubtful. So then the patients would then have to go to the pharmacy. There's a plausible explanation.

Luck enters in to a lot of things. The reps are shut out of a lot of the offices, and that hurts the pharma model. The corporate types are not tuned in to what's going on.

Still, you cannot reach a certain cause and effect conclusion, like "I threw water on the fire and the fire was extinguished."

Like medicine and every different patient, things in the World are very complicated, and we do not understand all of the complexities.