Fake interest from a current customer

Hey savages. I work for a multi-product public company, mainly cross-selling/upselling existing customers. I have one particular customer who's a complete pain and has a habit of saying they're interested in a new product, stringing me along for a couple months, and then not moving forward. Doing that once is fine but it's become an obvious pattern. I much prefer the customers who have no intention of purchasing additional products and are transparent about that. I have meeting activity targets to hit so it's not like I'm just going to tell them to eff off and not help them when questions come up about their current deployment.

My monthly meeting is coming up with this customer on Monday and 2022 budget is one of the agenda topics. When they inevitably feign interest in a product should I call them on their BS? And what is the tactful way to do this? I'm thinking something like "Hey -- that's great you think the new product is interesting - how specifically do you see it benefiting your business?  Reason I ask is because we've been down this path before of evaluating new products but have yet to make something happen.  Is there a compelling enough business case to invest both our time in an evaluation?"


🧠 Advice
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☁️ Software Tech
11
funcoupons
WR Officer
12
👑
Nothing wrong with having a direct, adult conversation. Call it out.

"We've evaluated some of our other solutions together before but have never gotten to the finish line. Why do you think that is?"

Let them talk. Then, depending on the excuses you'll know where to go. If it's "I loved them but didn't have the budget" you need to have a blunt conversation about the budget for this solution. If it was timing, you need to confirm that there's time for this now, and seek to understand where a solution like this fits on their list of priorities. You get the picture.
1nbatopshotfan
Politicker
3
Sales
@funcoupons crushed this answer. As per usual. 
funcoupons
WR Officer
5
👑
I try. 😇
1nbatopshotfan
Politicker
2
Sales
Please, no trying necessary. It comes naturally to you! 
funcoupons
WR Officer
2
👑
Stooop, my ego doesn’t need to be further stroked. It barely fits in the room as is. 
Diablo
Politicker
5
Sr. AE
At one point you have to come straight to the point because it makes more sense to spend more time on account where you see real potential and minimize the time for accounts like this.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
5
🦊
Ask if there's anyone else they would like you to invite on their team. Then definitely bring it up during your meeting. Professional and simple. Make them do most of the talking.
braintank
Politicker
3
Enterprise Account Executive
I'd 💯 suggest you ask that. Or else you're wasting yours and their time.
LordBusiness
Politicker
3
Chief Revenue Officer
Never underestimate simply asking "why?".  "I'd love a demo of X", awesome why are you interested if you don't mind me asking?"  Approach the call like a toddler chasing around their parents all day "why, why, why, why".....eventually the client will either give you a good hook - or move on. 
GDO
Politicker
2
BDM
Call them out on it in a professional manner. Explain that you want to save both you and your clients time if it wouldn’t go anywhere. 
countingmyinterest
Politicker
2
Account Executive
Asking them straight up about budget and timeline. 

This is basicallly a "define the relationship" call - are they serious, what level of commitment are they. 

You can say something about how you guys have been down this path before
ColdCall
Valued Contributor
1
Account Executive
Do you know the customer's pain point or business goals? Getting bogged down in new features can dilute the impact. 

Not sure if you are already doing this but are you relating the new features back to outcomes/improvements, rather than it just being new?

+1 to Adult conversations there. I would also add, is this person a decision maker/budget holder? Sounds like they're not if they keep stringing you along!
CRAG112
Valued Contributor
1
Account Executive
Just flat out say to them what you said to us. 

Last time we had this conversation this happened. What's changed this time?

Plenty of tire kickers exist across all walks of life. No need for you to join the party. 
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
1
Rolling 20's all day
I would agree to call them out, but in a nice way. That way you can frame it as "let's not waste your time or my time". I think the way funcoupons put it is perfect.
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