• Make it like cafepharma, but for different industries: over the years we’ve had suggestions for creating a site similar to cafepharma, but for different industries. Now there is a place. Check out CompanyUnderground for company forums in other industries. Don’t see a company? Request it here. Let your friends and family outside the pharma/medical sales space know they now have a safe, anonymous place to talk.


RD ride alongs. Too often?

Anonymous

Guest
I'm curious what other reps think about this. It seems like reps in other pharma companies ride with their manager every few months. We ride with ours 2 times a month. I like my RD, but I'm not very productive when he's with me. Instead of thinking about selling, I'm focused on saying or doing what I think he wants to hear so I can get good ratings. It also messes up my itinerary.
Thoughts?
 






Yes, ours is about once a month. I like my RD too, but it's becoming counter productive and wearing our docs out. It makes them question why we have someone with us so often and reflects poorly on us. I've heard this from other regions too.
 






























I'm curious what other reps think about this. It seems like reps in other pharma companies ride with their manager every few months. We ride with ours 2 times a month. I like my RD, but I'm not very productive when he's with me. Instead of thinking about selling, I'm focused on saying or doing what I think he wants to hear so I can get good ratings. It also messes up my itinerary.
Thoughts?

It is definitely too much, ours is about once a month. I like my RD a lot but it does put on added pressure and some doctors don't like it.
 






Ours is once a quarter. That is perfect since it gives RD time to really see if you have progressed from one field contact to the next. It's also good for business planning. Once a month and twice a month is too much in my opinion. How much can you really improve or show improvement the numbers in a couple of weeks? Waste of time for rep, offices and RD.
 
























Ours is once a quarter. That is perfect since it gives RD time to really see if you have progressed from one field contact to the next. It's also good for business planning. Once a month and twice a month is too much in my opinion. How much can you really improve or show improvement the numbers in a couple of weeks? Waste of time for rep, offices and RD.

This is a great idea. RD's have no desire to be with their reps more than once a quarter since most of them don't improve significantly. This is a great idea. As reps we'd have to see them less and less.
 






This is a great idea. RD's have no desire to be with their reps more than once a quarter since most of them don't improve significantly. This is a great idea. As reps we'd have to see them less and less.

Shire needs to give RDs other things to do besides ride w reps. Many other companies out there do only one days every few months because managers are more involved with running the company.
 






RD's ride with us because Pharma reps are lazy clowns and upper level management knows it. They want to make sure you're earning your 70-80k salary, bonus, and company car. It's the nature of the business. You signed up for it. Deal with it and stop crying.