I agree with VR... don't tell your manager you're giving less than 100%.
And it sounds funny, but sales people who make a lot of money don't actually cost the company all that much. The reason they're making a lot of money is because they're bringing in a lot of sales. True... if you skip paying them, you make more *temporary* margin on that sale, but if they leave, you lose *all* the margin on that sale by not making the sale. I know that sounds kind of strange to non-salespeople, but it's the truth.
You can assume that the sale would have come anyway, but in reality, good salespeople (like those who consistently make their numbers and win trips to Cancun
) build relationships with their customers, and those relationships are what actually make the sale happen. If Variol left Staples and called his customers from his new Office Depot job, a fair number would be likely to follow him, just because they've got a relationship with him.
Check to see if they've got the policy manual on-line, Variol. They might... I know our company does. Check it for two things: to make sure that you've dotted the i's and crossed the t's, and that they've done so as well.
Also, if you haven't already, start making a list of how customers like to be contacted - via phone, via email, and so on. If you've got evidence that shows you're simply following the customers' requests (and making the sales), then it's really hard to fault you.
Oh, and that "28 contacts a day"? That's there for the *average* salesperson... the one who doesn't necessarily know what they're doing. That's just playing a numbers game... make
X calls a day, and
Y customers will place orders. Ask your VP of sales (not your boss... the person at the top of the food chain) what's more important... making 28 calls a day, or selling X dollars of product a day. I *GUARANTEE* you I know what's more important, and so do you.
Take a look at your sales numbers to calculate your daily sales. It can be very... enlightening.
And Cerek... wow!
