Preseller
Quick answer
A preseller is an agent who visits customers and takes the order on the spot, while goods are delivered separately, usually next day, by another driver.
Key takeaways
- The agent visits the customer on the route and checks the shelf and customer stock
- Enters the order with the customer's prices and discounts
- The order reaches the system, stock is checked and the order is prepared in the warehouse
- Delivery happens the next day or on the agreed day, with an invoice
What a preseller is
A preseller sells without carrying goods. They visit stores along a route, take the order on a phone or tablet, and the warehouse prepares and delivers it separately. The model is called pre-selling and differs from van sales, where the agent sells directly from the vehicle.
How the flow works
- The agent visits the customer on the route and checks the shelf and customer stock
- Enters the order with the customer's prices and discounts
- The order reaches the system, stock is checked and the order is prepared in the warehouse
- Delivery happens the next day or on the agreed day, with an invoice
How it is measured
Common indicators: visits per day, strike rate (visits with an order / visits × 100), average order value and lines per order. Add the refusal rate on delivery, which shows whether what was sold was also delivered.
Common mistakes
1. Order taken without a stock check. The agent promises what does not exist, and the delivery comes out incomplete.
2. Routes made out of habit. Small customers are visited as often as large ones, and time is lost.
3. Re-keying orders. Orders taken on paper or in messages are retyped in the office and errors appear.
How it shows up in a CRM and operations platform
CRMconnect's Sales Agent Management module records each agent's activity (calls, visits, quotes, opportunities) and aggregates it into reports per agent, team or area. Orders then go through the order management module (OMS), where they are checked against available stock.
Real-world example
An agent visits 18 stores a day and takes orders in 13 of them. The strike rate is 13 / 18 × 100 = 72%. Goods leave the warehouse next morning on a separate delivery route.
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Frequently asked
What does preseller mean?+
A preseller is a pre-sales agent: they visit the customer and take the order, and goods are delivered later by someone else. The agent does not carry or hand over the goods.
What is the difference between preseller and van sales?+
With a preseller, selling and delivery are separate in time and between people. With van sales, the agent carries the goods in the vehicle and sells and delivers at the same moment.
When does a preseller model fit?+
When customers need a wide range, orders are planned and a central warehouse can prepare orders quickly. It is common in distribution to traditional trade.
What should a preseller see at the customer?+
The customer's prices and discounts, order history, balance and credit limit, available stock and active promotions, to propose and confirm the order correctly.
Where CRMconnect fits
Where CRMconnect helps
Sales Agent Management records each agent's calls, visits, quotes and opportunities and aggregates them into reports per agent, team or area.
Related terms
Van sales
Van sales is the model where the agent carries goods in a vehicle and sells and delivers them in the same visit, issuing the document on the spot.
SalesRoutes and visit frequency
Planning visits by potential and geography so each customer is visited at the right interval with minimum time lost in traffic.
SalesSales Force Automation in CRM
Automating field sales work: route planning, visit logging, order taking and reporting generated from daily activity.
OperationsSFA (Sales Force Automation)
The mobile app for the field agent - planned visits, catalogue ordering, collection, daily report.