FWIW, it seems like nowhere is this truer than SF/SV.

Outside the bubble, it isn't always the case, or the structure can be a bit different, but salespeople in the Valley (as it were) are a different breed.

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sofixa 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

No, it's just how sales works, it's almost always on commission.

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vlovich123 3 days ago | parent [-]

Tesla salespeople do not work on commission. Also you can align incentives through stock grants which appreciate by you selling more.

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sofixa 3 days ago | parent [-]

> Tesla salespeople do not work on commission

I work with tech salespeople with a variety of former employers as tech sales people, and I've never heard of anyone having worked without a commission. I'm vaguely in tech sales myself (solutions architect) and I'm on commission too, and so is everyone who joins our division from similar employment (solutions engineers/architect, or even customer success folks).

	▲	vlovich123 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		While I agree it's the norm, clearly Tesla has gone a different route and it's possible to do so.

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cestith 3 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Ask a local real estate agent or real estate broker how much base pay they make. Or, heck, a car salesperson or an ad salesperson at your local TV or radio station. It’s all commission-based. In some of these fields in the US the norm is 100% commission-based with no base pay. In others someone might make one to three times minimum wage, but will end up being some of the highest-paid people in the company based on commissions of anywhere from 1% to 50%, depending on the industry.

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Aurornis 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Sales has been commission-based everywhere I’ve worked, including companies based in other countries.

Commission based sales was definitely not a Silicon Valley invention.