Why do sales employees receive different methods of payment?

Answer 1

Are you referring to different methods of payment of salaries? It all depends on the product sold. If the product sells itself cos it's so popular, then the sales employee would probably be fixed-salary based. All he has to do is hang around the store and answer enquiries and walk the customer to the cashier counter. At one time Honda cars were so popular that the showroom didn't even allow test drives. You either take it or leave it. All the salesman did was fill up the paperwork.

But if the product was unknown or has several competitors and the poor salesman has to make a pitch every time someone walks into the store, then his salary is usually a base salary to start with, with commissions added on based on the sales he generated. If he gets a fixed salary and no commission, he probably won't bother to open his mouth at all and sales would remain minimal.