Do you use incentives when you sell?

This might be controversial.


When you're in the selling process, do you ever try to "buy a coffee" for your prospect? I'm talking about just small incentives like a Starbucks gift card or something like that.

Have you ever used incentives while selling something?

Attached poll
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🔎 Prospecting
📣 Demos
☑️ Qualification Calls
18
CoorsKing
WR Officer
6
Retired King of the Coors Knights
no quid-pro-quo but I will definitely bring in food for workshops and stuff, and buy them lunch/dinner or some Coors Lights when I am in town.
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
4
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
Its controversial as you can get in deep shit depending on where it happens in the cycle and the industry. 

Top of funnel - offering a coffee or voucher, chill had some success with it in the past in SaaS. 

Once it gets past that material gifts even if small can muddy the waters real quick. Don't even get me started if it's anything related to aviation/defense/government. 

If it can look like a quid pro quo even if its not a quid pro quo, then legal will be up your ass. 
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
4
sales
Acceptable incentives
- starbucks ($10 or less)
- lunch ($50 or less)
- dinner w friends
- heavy petting
- OTPHJ

Anything more then that and they’re not serious consumers. They’re probably just kicking the tires.
FamilyTruckster
Politicker
2
Exec Director, Major Accounts
Unless it’s thoughtful, no. I’ve sent things to customers that pertained to our conversations. Something meaningful.
Incognito
WR Officer
2
Master of Disaster
I take them to the nicest restaurant I can. Does that count?
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
1
sales
The new McDonald’s w the self serve kiosk really class things up for me personally
FamilyTruckster
Politicker
1
Exec Director, Major Accounts
I see dinners/events as something completely different than a gift card. Maybe because that’s what I do all the time 🤪
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
1
sales
If they sign the contract I let them play in the ball pit
FamilyTruckster
Politicker
0
Exec Director, Major Accounts
lol
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
Sure I would do things like this all the time when I was in the field. No gift cards or anything that could be seen as bribery, but I would take treats or lunch making it clear it was for a lunch and learn. They had to be present. To make sure of this never take boxed lunches where they can grab and dash.
ultraman
Tycoon
1
Shepherd
As a side hustle, I buy and resell collectible toys. I saw a gatekeeper who had a Funko toy on her desk, so I sent her one with a note. I was immediately in a whole mess of deals with their engineering team.
Diablo
Politicker
0
Sr. AE
Not really, rather I take them for a brunch/lunch/dinner as per their preferences.
BeatCancer
Fire Starter
0
Account Executive
Well they get the incentive of talking to me. That should be appealing enough as it is. :)
jefe
Arsonist
0
🍁
We did that at a company I was at years ago to our existing clients to incentivize trying a new service. Coffee gift card, didn't really move the needle.

Also many years ago a marketing/PPC company I was with tried to do that for showing up to a demo. Reeked of desperation in my mind and didn't seem to work.
newsalesguy14
Politicker
0
Account Executive
When I was a BDR I would book my meetings and then send $5 Starbucks gift cards to make sure they showed. If it seemed like a reach, then I'd send a Uber Eats. Don't do that much now though as an AE. 

Now I'll only send something if it's late stage. And it'll be something bigger (cheese board or alcohol) and it will say thanks for taking the time to meet and have conversations with me, cheers to hopefully becoming partners soon. Or, something specific related to what they've told me they've done or liked.

I have also had instances where prospects get upset and I'll throw a $50 gift card at them to diffuse the situation, lol.
levinschi
Fire Starter
0
VP Marketing
What kind of gift cards did you send and how did you send them? By mail or is there a solution?
newsalesguy14
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Starbucks, Uber Eats gift cards primarily. My company uses a tool called Sendoso - in these cases, it's an e-gift card sent via email. But larger purchases are sent in the mail
levinschi
Fire Starter
0
VP Marketing
Is the tool worth it?
newsalesguy14
Politicker
0
Account Executive
I would definitely say so. I can't imagine my job without it. I believe there's data out there (not sure the exact sources) that shows that deals influenced with gifts are more likely to win, so a gift strategy would be a good idea.

And I think without a tool, it would be too difficult/I doubt reps would try and mail anything themselves.

It's also great for account managers and customer success teams for retaining customer relationships
cw95
Politicker
0
Sales Development Lead
'Chat to the CRO'

Not in those words ofc.
WomenWantMeFishFearMe
Politicker
0
AM
Used the before. Usually a waste in my honest opinion
Flippinghubs
Opinionated
0
Account Executive
Yes, it works but depends on which persona youre selling into. I sell to marketers who love any sort of incentive 
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