J.J.McLure profile picture
J.J.McLure profile picture

J.J.McLure

Owner at *redacted*

Politicker
Catalyst
Valued Contributor
+6

Is it easier to sell a service or a product?

I was listening to a podcast talking about prospecting and the guy made a blanket statement "it's easier to sell a product than a service"

what's everyone think?  and for the purpose of this pole, I'm saying SaaS is a product since you are selling a product that provides a service, not the service itself. 


Is it easier to sell a service or a product?

Attached poll
*Voting in this poll no longer yields commission.
🤷‍♂ Poll
18

30 comments

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Pachacuti
Politicker
10
They call me Daddy, Sales Daddy
People generally like to touch/feel what they buy.
Sunbunny31
Politicker
2
Sr Sales Executive 🐰
Or at least see something for software. Like a working example, trial version, or demo.
FoodForSales
Politicker
2
AE
I know touching what I want to buy helps me in my decision making.
HVACexpert
Politicker
1
sales engineer
This
sketchysales
Politicker
4
Sales Manager
This question is a bit limited. In most cases, where people sell physical product they are typically selling a service as well.

In fact, in pretty much any category theres so much competition now for the same physical product, service is now what is being sold.

So yeh, in short, both.
Maximas
Tycoon
2
Senior Sales Executive
I would say it's easier to sell Service for companies and Product for people.
Coastal_crusher
Politicker
4
Sales Director
Still selling to people at the end of the day
punishedlad
Tycoon
0
Business Development Team Lead
Can't stress this enough.
J.J.McLure
Politicker
1
Owner at *redacted*
Oh good point, I like that, especially since I’ll be selling a service to companies 😝
Fenderbaum
Politicker
1
Retired Choirboy🪕
More often than not, a product has some form of a WOW factor.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
Yup. I just logged in to 25 downvotes. Anything happen in here today while I was working?
Fenderbaum
Politicker
1
Retired Choirboy🪕
Yeah, someone's acting like a big baby. I've noticed a lot of downvotes as well.
punishedlad
Tycoon
1
Business Development Team Lead
You both pissed off the wrong person!!!!
(it wasn't me, Ily guys)
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
@Gastywill you look into this please I am getting huge amounts of downvotes every time I log in. Just had 50 more.
Gasty
Notable Contributor
2
War Room Community Manager
On it
punishedlad
Tycoon
1
Business Development Team Lead
50???
Fenderbaum
Politicker
1
Retired Choirboy🪕
Not me personally, but I notice when I give certain people upvotes, there is someone coming in behind me and downvoting.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
Same
Fenderbaum
Politicker
1
Retired Choirboy🪕
@CuriousFox, are you still getting the downvotes? I ran a little test and sure enough, some jack@ss(es) still come behind me and downvote the people I have already upvoted. This place was once fun, insightful, and brought back memories. Now, not so sure.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
Yes I am. And I understand how you feel.
CuriousFox
WR Officer
1
🦊
Products I think are easier to sell.
White
Valued Contributor
1
Account Executive
Well, most products today that I'm working with are software - software as a service.
Wellss
Tycoon
1
Channel sales
well, it of course depends on said service or product. But personally, I'd rather buy a product than a service, so I'll go with product
yoni
Politicker
1
Chief Data Scientist
It is generally easier to sell a service than a SaaS product as services have less overhead and can be sold for cheaper. However, SaaS products have higher profit margins, which makes them more appealing to salespeople.
antiASKHOLE
Tycoon
0
Bravado's Resident Asshole
Tangible items sell more due to the immediate usage. Services are usually proven over time and an impact isn’t seen immediately.
TennisandSales
Politicker
0
Head Of Sales
ive never sold services, but i think that could be harder.

a very common objection I would think, would be "we can do that already" and instead of replacing a system, you are telling that person "we can do part of your job for you and better than you can".
sounds hard
Avon
Politicker
0
Senior Account Executive
Having done both, selling a product was much easier for me.
FinanceEngineer
Politicker
0
Sr Director, sales and partnerships
I find service easier, since it is a one and done while a product is ongoing and needs more buy-in. Think consulting dollars to ease a process that needs to be done rather than a product that you need to have going on and integrated.
RandyLahey
Politicker
0
Account Executive
There are some factors that will influence this, but on your conditions a product usually will have shorter, less complex cycle (some, not all cases).
Services can be complicated to sell, longer cycles, etc.
The_Sales_Badger
Notorious Answer
0
Account Executive
Professional services are blowing-up right now, and are proving to thrive in a “down economy”.

That being said, it’s not a matter of what’s easier, but how you position the value.

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