Patterson Dental

[Anonymous]

Wow, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Yes, perhaps dentists are a commodity...but I do not agree that a GOOD dental office is a commodity. Sounds like you may pick your dentist based on price rather than education, CEs, etc. Wonder how successful you are at sales with that attitude. Geesh

 

[Anonymous]

"I came into this office...and of course now that we are ordering from various suppliers, our Patterson rep is up in arms!'

Don't worry. There is a dental office on every corner in America with a dentist twiddling their thumbs looking for patients. Dentists, like dry cleaners or pure water stores of coffee stores have become just another commodity - no matter what you tell yourself. A commodity, nothing more, nothing special. A dry cleaner with additional education.

While your're hiding in the back counting your pennies, clipping coupons and cutting your cotton rolls in half, we are out in the Real World engaging human beings and having a pretty great life.

When your rep tires of your BS, there are plenty more offices that appreciate value to call on.

It's only a F-ing tooth at the end-of-the-day. Like you, a commodity. 32 per person.

Well that pretty much sums up how most Patterson reps (and branch managers) feel about their accounts. The Patterson Way.

 

[Anonymous]

I have been in the dental field for 20+ years. I recently moved to a new state. The new dental practice that I'm in relies HEAVILY on Patterson (EVERYTHING is Patterson).....but so far I have not been impressed with our Patterson rep. It is a 4 doctor BUSY practice! We are paying TOP dollar for all our supplies from Patterson. I know most reps have some leeway with the pricing offices get. Can someone tell me the REAL story with Patterson? My rep is telling me that he has absolutely NO control over the prices that we are being charged, and that it goes by how much we purchase from them. Is that true? I hope someone can answer that question for me.

A rep can usually adjust the price based on volume, that is how they can justify a price reduction. Patterson is NOT the low price leader. If you ask most dental practices what they like about Patterson it is = The service, equipment and people. Well you don't get both for nothing. You don't get great service, top quality products for the lowest price, it just doesn't work that way.

Think of this = you can get some similar products from Nordstrom, Macy's, Ross, Target and Walmart. They all sell t-shirts, underwear and shoes. Now I can almost guarantee you that between Nordstrom & Macy's they will have similar if not the same products, the price will be different. Why do people go to Nordstrom vs. Macy's then? All 5 stores carry the products I named but some have higher quality of the items, the others have less expensive. I suspect that the sales person you encounter at Nordstrom vs the one you meet at Walmart and the experience you have will be much different. Same items, different quality and experience. Between Nordstrom and Macy's, very similar if not the same items, yet still a different feel to the experience. Try to return something between all 5 stores. Some don't ask a question as to why, others discourage you and even have a restocking fee.

This is what you need to consider. Are you busy doing dentistry and trying to grow your practice revenue to achieve your financial goals? On the other hand are you trying to save your way to your goals by cutting back on the price of cotton rolls, etc?

 

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have the current pay packages for Patterson for a new territory? I see the starting base pays on these posts but have not seen the commission packages and expected sales in an average territory after 2 years. Any feedback on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Patterson Dental (upcoming Interview)

I have an interview w/Patterson in a few days. I recently lost my sales job in healthcare. I have 10 years sales experience which includes some dental sales. I am also a former Dental Hygienist. I am very excited to get back into Dental Sales.

Many of these posts are worrisome to me. Does anyone know Patterson's reputation in the Southwest? Any ideas what I may be able to negotiate for my base with my background?

Are the face-to-face interviews typical interviews or what type of questions do they ask? Typically how may people would I be interviewing with the first time? How many interviews do they have in their process?

Thank you in advance for your help. It is appreciated.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Patterson Dental (upcoming Interview)

I have an interview w/Patterson in a few days. I recently lost my sales job in healthcare. I have 10 years sales experience which includes some dental sales. I am also a former Dental Hygienist. I am very excited to get back into Dental Sales.

Many of these posts are worrisome to me. Does anyone know Patterson's reputation in the Southwest? Any ideas what I may be able to negotiate for my base with my background?

Are the face-to-face interviews typical interviews or what type of questions do they ask? Typically how may people would I be interviewing with the first time? How many interviews do they have in their process?

Thank you in advance for your help. It is appreciated.

Have you already completed the 2nd round of computer testing at the branch?

As for draw, they max out at $62k. And remember, it's a draw, not a salary. It will go away in 2 years and you will move to full commission. If you haven't built your territory up to at least $1.5 mil by then, you will be making less than the $62k. You will be taking over a "scratch" territory which will include some existing part-time Patterson accounts and the rest will be all the duds that the experienced reps have passed on time and time again over the years. Even if the Branch Manager claims you are taking over an existing territory, that isn't entirely true. All of the good accounts will have been passed on to the Branch Manager's favorite reps.

As for the interview, it will almost certainly just be with the branch manager. He is usually the sole decision maker. Occasionally, depending on the branch, you may have to meet with the RM but that is pretty rare.

Since you are currently not working, you certainly don't pass up a job offer. If you do get the job, give it your full attention for a year and see where things go. If you are having a hard time building the business, start looking again. It is a tough job and the docs will beat you up over price. They will say no over and over again but just keep your head up and keep going back in every 2 weeks.

 

[Anonymous]

"Since you are currently not working, you certainly don't pass up a job offer. If you do get the job, give it your full attention for a year and see where things go."


Thank you Dale Carnegie.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Patterson Dental (upcoming Interview)

I did pass the 2nd round of computer testing and had a face to face interview with the branch manager. I have never had a draw pay before. It has always been base salary + commission or 100% commission. It worries me a little. The SCRATCH territory worries as well. I am very well suited for this position though and am excited to see what I could do with the accounts that I would be given. I do agree it will be a tough few years but you never know what accounts I may be given down the road as well as what I might be able to do with the ones given.

I thought the face to face went real well but I haven't heard back. Of course I sent a Thank-you to the manager. I will be following up again tomorrow. I believe he may have been interviewing yet this week but can't remember what he said. Thank you both for your input. I understand being unemployed I shouldn't pass it up if offered but I also don't want to get myself into a bad situation. I will keep you all posted and appreciate anything else you may want to add.

Have you already completed the 2nd round of computer testing at the branch?

As for draw, they max out at $62k. And remember, it's a draw, not a salary. It will go away in 2 years and you will move to full commission. If you haven't built your territory up to at least $1.5 mil by then, you will be making less than the $62k. You will be taking over a "scratch" territory which will include some existing part-time Patterson accounts and the rest will be all the duds that the experienced reps have passed on time and time again over the years. Even if the Branch Manager claims you are taking over an existing territory, that isn't entirely true. All of the good accounts will have been passed on to the Branch Manager's favorite reps.

As for the interview, it will almost certainly just be with the branch manager. He is usually the sole decision maker. Occasionally, depending on the branch, you may have to meet with the RM but that is pretty rare.

Since you are currently not working, you certainly don't pass up a job offer. If you do get the job, give it your full attention for a year and see where things go. If you are having a hard time building the business, start looking again. It is a tough job and the docs will beat you up over price. They will say no over and over again but just keep your head up and keep going back in every 2 weeks.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: Patterson Dental (upcoming Interview)

I did pass the 2nd round of computer testing and had a face to face interview with the branch manager. I have never had a draw pay before. It has always been base salary + commission or 100% commission. It worries me a little. The SCRATCH territory worries as well. I am very well suited for this position though and am excited to see what I could do with the accounts that I would be given. I do agree it will be a tough few years but you never know what accounts I may be given down the road as well as what I might be able to do with the ones given.

I thought the face to face went real well but I haven't heard back. Of course I sent a Thank-you to the manager. I will be following up again tomorrow. I believe he may have been interviewing yet this week but can't remember what he said. Thank you both for your input. I understand being unemployed I shouldn't pass it up if offered but I also don't want to get myself into a bad situation. I will keep you all posted and appreciate anything else you may want to add.

If you're ok with 100% commission then you will like the draw because it gives you a cushion those first 2 years. If you do end up getting the job, the key to a long term career is to become one of the Branch Manager's favorites. He's the one who decides who gets what account when someone retires or leaves. That's how you can build up your territory faster.

 

[Anonymous]

"I have never had a draw pay before. It has always been base salary + commission or 100% commission. It worries me a little. "


Put THAT DOWN. Coffee is for closers, wimp.

Here's your steaknives. Now you're FIRED.

 

[Anonymous]

interview process

first off, I don't under stand the last post about coffee is for whimps and here are your steak knives, your fired.

Anyway, I have been in the interview process now for 2 months. I have done all tests, interviews, ride-along, etc. I am basically waiting to hear back from the Branch Manager. I am dumbfounded by the lack of a timely response. I really have felt that in every step I did great and have had great rapport w/everyone I met. My background and experience is perfect for the sales position.

Do I assume that taking forever is standard or am I possibly their back-up choice while they make and offer to someone else and waiting for their response?!

I have followed up timely and appropriately. I don't want to be annoying and piss anyone off.

Any helpful comments?

 

[Anonymous]

"I really have felt that in every step I did great and have had great rapport w/everyone I met. My background and experience is perfect for the sales position.

Do I assume that taking forever is standard or am I possibly their back-up choice while they make and offer to someone else and waiting for their response?! "

Lots of "I" s in there.

Maybe they just feel you are an egotistical dickhead ?

 

[Anonymous]

wow, calling the guy who posted the question about the interview process an egotistical dickhead is pretty lame.

To the guy waiting for a response from the manager; hang in there. If a clear decision has been made that they don't want to hire you, you would have heard by now. There could be many reasons for the delay in response.

 

[Anonymous]

Re: interview process

first off, I don't under stand the last post about coffee is for whimps and here are your steak knives, your fired.

Anyway, I have been in the interview process now for 2 months. I have done all tests, interviews, ride-along, etc. I am basically waiting to hear back from the Branch Manager. I am dumbfounded by the lack of a timely response. I really have felt that in every step I did great and have had great rapport w/everyone I met. My background and experience is perfect for the sales position.

Do I assume that taking forever is standard or am I possibly their back-up choice while they make and offer to someone else and waiting for their response?!

I have followed up timely and appropriately. I don't want to be annoying and piss anyone off.

Any helpful comments?

Also it's he middle of the summer notorious laid back period. People at he branch and in corporate are on vacation. Everything takes longer. Why not send a follow up email to manager ask him what's happening, and if your still in the running. Can't hurt and it shows initiative.

 

[Anonymous]

"As for draw, they max out at $62k. And remember, it's a draw, not a salary. It will go away in 2 years and you will move to full commission"

..... Not true. I am currently on the Base Plan (as opposed to the Growth Plan where it is entirely commission and you don't get any expense reimbursed) and it is a base, not a draw. You will get a comission summary that shows you how much profit you made and you get a percent of that. A draw is where the profits you make go first to offset your draw and then if you cover that amount then you get a bonus. So you get the base, auto, and expenses. Amount of all will vary depending on your branch's finances and how they are doing vs. their budget. Some branches are doing great and others are not. Branch manager has a ton of power and lots of discretion on all this stuff as well as your accounts as others have said. His/her bonus (BTW anyone out there know how much managers make???) is tied to their branch's financial performance and you will cost them more money than you make them for a while so they will keep this in mind. I have talked to people I went through training with that have an unlimited expense budget (golf, dinners, etc) and I know people who have been restricted to $100/month. Also, it is not set in stone when you change to the growth plan, but there will come a time (2-3-4 years) where either you are getting it done and you will want to get yourself changed so you can make more money, or you are not getting it done and it will be time to move along. As other posters have said- this is not an easy job and not a job where you can slack and expect good things to happen. But if you get out there, work your tail off, deal with a lot of BS from your clients, competitors, etc and have thick skin then you'll be successful and be well rewarded.

 

[Anonymous]

Something to consider with the 'Growth Plan' which (generally) happens when a territory hits $1mm:

One goes from (around) $60k plus minimal comisson- with a car alloence and expenses to $72.5k with no expenses. In the interview I was told that when on the 'Growth Plan' a reps comission is (generally) $70k - $75k per $1mm generated in the terrirory.

So, after 2-4 years on the base plan, the first several 'Growth Plan' years may still not offer a significantly higher salary due to no expense accounts (even for hotel rooms and meals for mandatory conventions).

I recognize that a portion of one's personal expenses can be written off yet wanted to highlight that there is no transition between Base and Growth plans. For the right individual with the right circumstances this may be an ideal job. Yet as other posters have suggested- take the time to really peak behind the curtain.

 

[Anonymous]

the question is:

what area of the country are you in and how many CEREC reps are in your branch?

The CEREC position is a great job for the right person. You work hand and hand with the territory reps in your branch to close CEREC deals. It could be very lucrative or you could be over your head. It all depends on how comfortable you are with technology and how comfortable you are with selling $120k machine.

And if you don't mind selling a 20K dollar machine for 120K which is driving up the cost of dental care and making a mockery of business in America. You will pay dearly for your stupidity in the end, or perhaps your children and grand children will.

 

[Anonymous]

Just "Go to the Buick!"

 

[Anonymous]

And if you don't mind selling a 20K dollar machine for 120K which is driving up the cost of dental care and making a mockery of business in America. You will pay dearly for your stupidity in the end, or perhaps your children and grand children will.

That might be the stupidest post I've ever read.... Do you actually understand dental economics at all?

 

[Anonymous]

So you think you are so freaking smart. Well, don't look now genius, but your nation is 16 trillion dollars in debt. Thank you very much. How do you think we got there? Smart guys like you selling 10 thousand dollar computers for 120K and telling doctors to borrow as much money as they can to pay for it without any type of understanding where that money was coming from. GE? Madoff's twin. Guess what, that money was and still is coming out of your pocket, genius. Now you have successfully funded your nation's bankruptcy... who is the dumb ass now? Who doesn't understand economics now? Punk I have more understanding of economics in my urine than you do in your entire body.