Talk:Travelling salesman

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This redirect by no means takes into account the fact that there actually exists a type of vocation that is often referred to as that of the 'travelling salesman' and that people may in fact be interested in the nature and history or travelling salesmen.

I propose a disambigulation page instead.

--I 14:11, 26 September 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Seconded. (I would do it but I don't know how to set one up.) Don't forget the travelling salesman problem. --NormalAsylum (t) 19:12, 6 October 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Primary topic?

Shouldn't Travelling salesman problem be the WP:PRIMARYTOPIC here? It certainly has the most hits, about 10x more than the other links combined. I propose this page be a redirect to the "Travelling salesman problem" article, and we move this content back to Travelling salesman (disambiguation). ...comments? ~BF izz 15:28, 1 November 2010 (UTC)[reply]

Of course not. The Travelling salesman problem is not the same as a Travelling salesman (who may or may not experience that problem in real life). Unfortunately, there seems not to be an article about the occupation, but the word problem is essential in the naming of the mathematical task, so a move of that article would be confusing. Bever (talk) 13:05, 2 August 2017 (UTC)[reply]

Commercial traveller

Commercial traveller redirects here, but in former UK usage that meant neither a door-to-door salesman nor a peddler. It meant someone who tried to gain sales for his employer by visiting potential business customers, a much more respectable profession. See e.g. the fictional Montague Egg, whose job was selling wines and spirits to shops and hotels. Narky Blert (talk) 07:32, 19 August 2019 (UTC)[reply]

Ditto in Australian English. Commercial travellers were employed by manufacturers or distributors to go from town to town visiting retailers and substantial end-users, taking orders, demonstrating new products. They had authority to offer discounts, inducements and hospitality. They stayed in good hotels and were treated like royalty by the publican. "Travelling salesman" reeks of Rena Ware and complimentary steak knives and jokes about one-night stands. Doug butler (talk) 04:55, 17 September 2024 (UTC)[reply]