Real or funny responses are all welcome!
How do you respond when a prospect says "not interested" right away before you've given them the pitch?
17
UrAssIsSaaS
Arsonist
9
SaaS Eater
Usually tell them i'm not interested either, I just wanted to say hi and waste both of our time
Ive actually just said, "Thats exactly why I'm calling" many a time and it works well to disrupt the conversation and make the prospect pause for a sec.
Ive actually just said, "Thats exactly why I'm calling" many a time and it works well to disrupt the conversation and make the prospect pause for a sec.
SalesKulture
Good Citizen
0
BDR
Ooh, I like that!
FamilyTruckster
Politicker
4
Exec Director, Major Accounts
If it’s an overseas call center, they usually tell me to fuck myself.
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
1
sales
Do you?
FamilyTruckster
Politicker
0
Exec Director, Major Accounts
A gentleman never tells
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
1
sales
you're not a gentleman
FamilyTruckster
Politicker
1
Exec Director, Major Accounts
😉
BmajoR
Arsonist
2
Account Executive
How are you starting your calls? Do you say the same thing every single call?
This has never happened to me over the phone. I've had a couple people hang up right away, only to find out they were the wrong person anyways.
This has never happened to me over the phone. I've had a couple people hang up right away, only to find out they were the wrong person anyways.
Diablo
Politicker
2
Sr. AE
"Let's decide that exactly in a minute... "
SuperSaaSd
Executive
2
SDR
I've tried mirroring to a varying degree of success. "Not interested?" with a stronger than normal upward inflection at the end. @MTWsaid same before me.
Next is asking them why they're not interested "why do you say that?" to try and get the conversation started
and/or... depending on their tone
"Hey ____ just to let you know, this isn't a sales call, that isn't my job..."
Still refining my approach... door-to-door solicitations were easier as you can visually see the differences between if they're engaged or just not. The phone is a whole other ball game.
Next is asking them why they're not interested "why do you say that?" to try and get the conversation started
and/or... depending on their tone
"Hey ____ just to let you know, this isn't a sales call, that isn't my job..."
Still refining my approach... door-to-door solicitations were easier as you can visually see the differences between if they're engaged or just not. The phone is a whole other ball game.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
Why are they not interested?
cw95
Politicker
1
Sales Development Lead
I’ve started to say something along the lines of ‘I wouldn’t be interested if I was selling you a claim on the car crash you never had but…’and wait to see if you get a response.
So far I’ve had three laughs and a convo from around 15 tries throughout the months. Trial and error!
MTW
Opinionated
1
Sales Director
“Not interested?”
ChrisSellsHisSoul
Fire Starter
0
Owner
"Ok I've marked in my records that you're not interested. Would you mind if I gave you my 30 second schpeel anyways in case you know someone who this would be good for?"
Gotta break them out of their defensive posture.
Show them respect, make it seem like you officially checked the "I'll never bother you again" button, and pivot to "maybe it would be better for someone else."
I find this helps prospects open up and listen without judgment.
Gotta break them out of their defensive posture.
Show them respect, make it seem like you officially checked the "I'll never bother you again" button, and pivot to "maybe it would be better for someone else."
I find this helps prospects open up and listen without judgment.
hh456
Celebrated Contributor
0
sales
I’ve asked “why are you in the space then?”
I’m aggressive. I hate seat fillers. I attack them. They’ll play ball or I’ll find someone who will.
I’m aggressive. I hate seat fillers. I attack them. They’ll play ball or I’ll find someone who will.
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
0
District Manager
"Not interested in what?"
newsalesguy14
Politicker
0
Account Executive
One of my old coworkers used to respond with "Not interested in what? I haven't even said anything yet" and I always got a kick out of it lol
SalesKulture
Good Citizen
1
BDR
I used to do that in my Guerilla Marketing days 🤣
DiscoveryPivot
0
Enterprise Account Manager
If they are abrupt, good ole reverse psychology - "whoa there, I dont' even know if I want to sell you anything yet" - it works for me, they usually chuckle and it opens up the convo to discovery.
chewymammoth
Opinionated
0
Account Executive
One time when this happened to me I said "wait, you don't even know why I called!", and he said "what do you want?"
Took me a sec to come up with "well, I guess if I said I wanted to sell you some software it probably wouldn't go over very well right?"
Made him laugh, still wanted to get me off the phone but I was at least able to get a name out of him for who I should be reaching out to.
Took me a sec to come up with "well, I guess if I said I wanted to sell you some software it probably wouldn't go over very well right?"
Made him laugh, still wanted to get me off the phone but I was at least able to get a name out of him for who I should be reaching out to.
JDialz
Politicker
0
Chief Operating Officer
I usually respond with "Not interested in what?" Another one that usually gets a baffled stuttering response/immediate hang up is "why not?"
There was one specific and memorable instance where I was calling on a direct referral. The prospect's boss's boss was an existing client. When the prospect immediately hit me with the "thanks - I'm not interested," I responded "oh man, I was hoping Mark (last name) would be wrong about you! Thanks for your time."
He called me back a few times over the next several days but I let it go to voicemail.
There was one specific and memorable instance where I was calling on a direct referral. The prospect's boss's boss was an existing client. When the prospect immediately hit me with the "thanks - I'm not interested," I responded "oh man, I was hoping Mark (last name) would be wrong about you! Thanks for your time."
He called me back a few times over the next several days but I let it go to voicemail.
0
Retired Sales Professional
Resistance is futile!!
Related posts
12
6
how long do you wait
46%
5 minutes
23%
as long as it takes
31%
wait? f that ill call them when i have time.
80 people voted
Bravado is a community of trusted sales professionals endorsed by their customers.
© 2024 Bravado Inc. All rights reserved.
If you are hired as a contract sales rep by a Bravado customer, we may ask you to prove access to the employee
email account provided to you by that customer. This data will be shared with customers to track your sales
productivity; customers can use this data to confirm you meet the minimum activity requirements to pay out your
ramp stipend and commission.
22 comments