MoonDog349 profile picture
MoonDog349 profile picture

MoonDog349

Sales Manager

Valued Contributor
Executive
Opinionated
+6

Closed lost

Just lost a $493k RFP and the client's email informing us started with... "dear SaaS Vendor,"

A REAL kick in the shorts after spending nearly 30 hours on their ridiculous RFP and extremely tight timeline requirements.

I'm complaining/venting. Nothing else to see here...
๐Ÿ“ƒ Procurement
๐Ÿ“ณ SaaS
โ˜๏ธ Software Tech
17

24 comments

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poweredbycaffeine
WR Lieutenant
11
โ˜•๏ธ
RFPs are a way for companies to satisfy internal requirements when they've already selected their vendor via offline discussions. I'm sorry you got the boot ๐Ÿ˜ซ
MoonDog349
Valued Contributor
2
Sales Manager
it's the, "dear saas vendor" that really twisted the blade lol
Do.it.for.the.checks
Politicker
4
Account Executive
An RFP that you didn't create isn't worth responding to. Someone else did and they set the stage
MoonDog349
Valued Contributor
0
Sales Manager
interestingly enough this client got an RFP from Gartner for the specific type of software.ย 
Do.it.for.the.checks
Politicker
1
Account Executive
Sorry I didn't mean where they got the questions to ask. I meant the reason they decide to issue the RFP.

Like RFPs don't get sent out blindly. They were talking to one of your competitors if it wasn't you and then decided based on those conversations they should start "evaluating" but emotionally they've already bought.
Do.it.for.the.checks
Politicker
1
Account Executive
But still, this is a brutal response. Even if there is a low likelihood of buying. Have the fucking decency to pick up the phone and do a closed-lost review with me
MoonDog349
Valued Contributor
0
Sales Manager
yeah that's pretty common. I tried to back out of the eval 3 times. the first was due to the vertical they are in (we usually dont play well with insurance). second was price concerns due to scope. third was it felt like a due diligence RFP like you're referring to. each time they begged us to stay in the mix. hopefully i'll find out more once we have that closed lost convo but we shall see.ย 
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
๐ŸฆŠ
I know this feeling and it's not a pleasant one. Hang in there.ย 
MoonDog349
Valued Contributor
1
Sales Manager
Peaks and valleys... just have to climb out of the valley
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
2
sales
im sorry. i love you.ย 
MoonDog349
Valued Contributor
1
Sales Manager
*slow, dramatic tear falling to the ground*
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
2
sales
*slow, dramatic whiteclaw opened to provide emotional support for you*
justatopproducer
Politicker
2
VP OF SALES -US
Pouring one out for you homie
MoonDog349
Valued Contributor
1
Sales Manager
Only the real ones ๐Ÿ‘Š๐Ÿผ
UserNotFound
Politicker
2
Account Executive
Dear SaaS Vendor... ouch.ย 
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
2
SaaS Eater
RFPs are the fucking worst man. I feel for you. We just went through this a few months ago and just didnt get a response for like 6 weeks. Not sure whats worse "Dear SaaS vendor" or just getting blown off for 6 weeks.ย 
Tres
Politicker
1
Account Executive
RFPs are the worst. I feel ya
Diablo
Politicker
1
Sr. AE
So sorry to hear that but there is something big ahead, don't worry.
MoonDog349
Valued Contributor
0
Sales Manager
one can only hope
Justatitle
Big Shot
1
Account Executive
unfortunately Iโ€™ve experienced this 1 too many times. I had 2 300k RFPs that had taken a ton of time and went through the process with them only to get shot down. Sucks but with RFPs I have 0 expectations. In truth the evaluators probably already know who they want to go with and they do the process for internal compliance. Cruel world my friend. SADNESS.
MoonDog349
Valued Contributor
0
Sales Manager
SADNESS indeed... this was my second big RFP since moving upmarket and I got lucky and won the first one. I was stranded on hope mountain.
CaneWolf
Politicker
1
Call me what you want, just sign the damn contract
Put that company on your "I don't fuck with you" list and tell your friends. The more of us that say "nah, I won't work with you," the less this shit will happen.
MoonDog349
Valued Contributor
0
Sales Manager
Love that. Gotta spread the word. Or what if there was a Glassdoor type website that rates how companyโ€™s buy/sell software?
avocadobegood
Valued Contributor
0
MM Account Executive
how long was the cycle?

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