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| Roofing Salesman courtesy photobucket.com |
Our roofing business was
doing well, and customers were referring us to their neighbors. We were also doing some subcontracting and
our blue Roofing trucks were being recognized as they drove around the city.
So what did we need with a salesman?
One day, my husband Robert
made a quick stop at the Material house.
While he was there a man named Al, introduced himself and said, “I am
going to be your salesman.”
My husband was taken back a
bit, and he told the gentleman, that he did not need a salesman.
“Let me put it to you this way,” said Al, our new salesman. “I know there are older subdivisions, just a few miles from here, with 20 year old roofs that are wearing out .
If you will tell me how much you can do those roofs for, I will add enough for my commission and start selling jobs there for you - - like hot cakes.
Then I will be there so the
customer can see me “Supervise the job,” and I will collect when the job is
done and give you the check.
While I am
there, I will canvass near by neighbors and tell them we are prepared to give
them the best job for the best price for their new roof. I will be your leg man and the customers
will be happy for the personal touch.”
My husband gave him a price we could do the jobs for and Al was pleased.
Al did everything that he
said he would do. He sold, collected the
payments, took his cut, and acted like he was the owner.
Many of the customers thought it was Al’s roofing
business and they were delighted to have such good service. Al made himself at home for each job, and the
customers would fix him coffee and cake and sometimes lunch.
He was a great salesman, and
he did well with his commissions. Half
went to his wife, and the other half secretly went into the trunk of his car,
which he considered a safe hiding place.
For many years Al worked with
and for us until one day he was injured when his motorcycle slid and he fell
hurting his back. He never fully
recovered from that accident and his salesman career was over.
I talked with him one day
about his soul, and his answer was, “I am a good person, an honest man, never
hurt anyone, and I am not worried.”
I
explained to Al, that there was only one way into heaven and that was through
accepting Jesus Christ.
My words fell on deaf ears
because Al thought he could even convince God that he was qualified if it came
to that.
I know there are death bed
conversions, and that was my only hope for Al the Salesman.
Shared with Gail at T.G.I.F.
and Bible Love notes
