“Selling America – BW – 1940 – Jam Handy”,

“Step into the world of salesmanship with this captivating black and white film from 1938! Delve into the art of selling, as it’s dramatically presented through Benjamin Franklin’s principles of human association. Witness the application of each principle in real selling situations, showcasing their merits and effectiveness. Join us as we explore timeless techniques that continue to shape the world of sales today.”

“Another bizarre little training film from the studios of Jam Handy. The film starts out Ben Franklin arguing with a Quaker and feeling that he may have won the argument but lost the battle. So he devises some rules for sales. Or, so the narrator would have us believe. The narrator goes on to tell us that Ben Franklin was the “greatest salesman who ever lived” (nevermind that he’s more known as a scientist, inventor, and statesman). We cut to a rather nicely dressed man in a dark, non-descript office, reading Ben Franklin’s autobiography and wondering how Ben’s rules would apply to modern selling. Of course Ben Franklin’s spirit appears and the movie takes a turn for the weird. Each of Ben’s points about sales is translated into contemporary English, and then Mr. Franklin himself demonstrates the right way and the wrong way for each point. Watching Ben Franklin try to sell tires or a range is just surreal. The stilted faux Elizabethan English, poor acting, and a bad bald wig don’t help either.”

“A dramatisation of Benjamin Franklin’s principle of human association as applied to modern salesmanship. The following rules for successful selling are suggested: Get the prospect talking; don’t argue but be pleasant and helpful; agree with the customer, answering “yes…, but…”; don’t contradict and avoid being too positive; make the most use of time, bringing points of direct interest to the customer with other points about the product.”