What is the difference between an account manager and a sales rep? ?
Asked by blue skies

Best Answer:
While the title account manager traditionally refers to a long term succession of people who manage a portfolio, it is usually limited to after market intake and would not be applicable to your posting. The primary difference is whether the purchase is a product or service and they would fall on either side of a car salesman. I make this distinction because, rather than refund or exchange, an automobile is normally a product with service expected after the fact. If the after purchase point of contact is a customer service counter, the coincidental floor contact is a sales rep. This is because most information to close the sale is fairly routine and could be provided by any employee in a general staff position. The sales related account manager is not only a frequent post sale contact, but he is also an integral part of customer satisfaction and retention. While new sales and renewals are very familiar distinctions for this role, follow up for repeat business by sales reps is almost non-existent in today's "big box" atmosphere. There is one aspect of sales from which either of these positions can benefit. After hours voice mails each day at a few customer's work numbers is an efficient method of maintaining a business relationship without imposing on their free time. Good Luck. .