13 Commandments

Langenberg's Commandments of Buying & Selling:

1. Thou shall not buy from someone who won't take your phone calls.

2. Thou shall not buy from someone who doesn't stand behind their product.

3. Thou shall not buy from someone who doesn't publish their prices.

4. Thou shall not buy from someone who's always making excuses. (LM)

5. Thou shall not buy from someone who's always saying maybe, I think so, or it oughta.

6. Thou shall not buy from someone who's product information or sales terms are fuzzy.

7. Thou shall not place an order without an exact ship date.

8. Thou shall not do more than 10% of your business with any one salesman or customer.

9. Thou shall deal with salesmen who require signed agreements as a last resort only.

10. Thou shall have an exit strategy from every product and vendor.

11. Thou shall not pay or collect commissions, kickbacks, referral or finder fees without the buyer knowing.

12. Thou shall not show cash or plastic until you see or hear the total.

13. Allow your customers to deal with you on these same terms.