What’s the cringiest thing a prospect has said that you’ve smiled through?

Being a female in sales, there are too many for me to count, but one relatively harmless one popped into my head today. I was asking a prospect about a philanthropy on her LinkedIn that I hadn’t heard of before. Turns out, it was for high net worth individuals who lose their money. Seriously. Because “they don’t know how to live like THAT.” I smiled through her obvious disassociation with reality. So, what’s been the cringiest thing you’ve smiled and nodded through for a deal?

😂 Sales Humor
😎 Sales Skills
21
LordBusiness
Politicker
10
Chief Revenue Officer
Is the philanthropy called “Shitts creek foundation”
CuriousFox
WR Officer
3
🦊
I love this reference.  😏
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
0
District Manager
This pre-dated Schitt’s Creek… was it the inspiration? Could be 🤷‍♀️
cw95
Politicker
5
Sales Development Lead
I once had a prospect that I had chased for a good half a year - finally got through to him whilst he was working from home. He answered and said hello etc then started to tell his son off…I just sniggered and said no worries it happens whilst at home! He then went on to explain that his son has just smashed up his tv after a game of fifa (understandable) and he is trying to make him fix his shed and do his garden to repay the tv. All good and fine, a normal punishment. I laughed and then tried to swing the convo back to the original reason I was calling… He then said ‘I wish I never had him, genuinely he just causes me grief’ I laughed thinking it was sarcasm. It wasn’t sarcasm. Ended with a ‘call me in a years time’. Not cringe but on my half it was very awkward and those three seconds of him wanting to orphan off his child were horrible.
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
2
District Manager
Christ, that’s awful 😳 I mean, who hasn’t smashed a TV for that same reason?
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
2
VP of Sales
I come from an East-Asian background, and while there were many occasions playing FIFA growing up where I wanted to smash the TV, I knew in advance that anything I did to the TV (or anything that expensive) would subsequently be replicated on my cranium. . This knowledge always stayed my hand and reason won the day.
cw95
Politicker
0
Sales Development Lead
Hahaha excellent self advice there!
WomenWantMeFishFearMe
Politicker
0
AM
i can't blame him. His son is a soccer fan.
cw95
Politicker
0
Sales Development Lead
Football fan, but I’ll let it pass!
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
3
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
Made a joke about how I needed the trial to be successful to keep my job. Cheers my guy. 
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
1
District Manager
Wow, aren't prospects fun?
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
1
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
They're just the best and say the darndest things 
DungeonsNDemos
Big Shot
2
Rolling 20's all day
Lol that's amazing, those poor rich people. 
The first one that pops into my mind is when I was speaking with a prospect who had come back from vacation and was way too detailed about a bathroom emergency that they had. I'm not sure why but he just was terrible about withholding information that no one wants to know...
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
0
District Manager
Oh. My. God. That’s disgusting/hilarious
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
2
VP of Sales
Yo.. so, where could one apply for charitable aid? Asking for a friend
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
0
District Manager
🤣🤣🤣
funcoupons
WR Officer
2
👑
Really off color joke from a super old dude
InQ5WeTrust
Arsonist
2
No marketing, mayo isn't an MQL
A true classic
UserNotFound
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Aren't those always from a 'super old dude'? Ugh.
DalesBrian
Opinionated
2
Sales Executive
I was meeting with a doctor in Provo on a Saturday morning during football season. Started talking about some of the games going on that day and he randomly blurted out:  "If my son went to the University of Utah over BYU I would be more disappointed in him than if he was gay" This wasn't meant to be a joke, a 100% serious statement. #yikes
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
0
District Manager
Ugh, this job never fails to show how awful people can be
CuriousFox
WR Officer
2
🦊
Any time they talk about politics I internally cringe then casually change the subject.
softwaresails
Politicker
1
Sales Manager
Same! I try to change the subject / talk about something else if politics comes up. I do it in a very casual way so it's not weird but the last thing I want to do is get off on those topics when people are so easily offended.
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
1
District Manager
Yes, so awkward!
privateryan
Politicker
1
Director of Sales
I work in B2C so I can tell you the "professional environment" is gone when people are in their own homes. You're essentially there as "the help" - I've also been called a "laborer" and "a beggar' (keep in mind these people call us.....we don't go door to door) so....ya....people be cringey! 
wormcatcher
Good Citizen
1
Fractional CRO
I refuse to ever do B2C because people are TERRIBLE when they're paying you their money...something about spending "the company's" money disengages the "karen" gene most of the time...
privateryan
Politicker
0
Director of Sales
That’s true. My skill set is in B2C and, though I’d survive in b2b I thrive in the hell hole of B2C. I wish I had better/different skills 😂😂😂
wormcatcher
Good Citizen
1
Fractional CRO
If your skills aren't instagram or social media exclusive there's ALWAYS a b2b option! Don't sell those skills short - skills can be applied a million different ways, especially in sales!
TheNegotiator
Arsonist
2
VP of Sales
B2C is a cesspool, but making money is so fking easy. People whine and bitch and moan about everything, and then can be convinced to spend their money on stupid shit in a heartbeat. . Car rentals put me through university, door-to-door sales paid off my student loans in less than 4 months out of school . And it was a RACKET
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
1
District Manager
This is a nightmare
privateryan
Politicker
1
Director of Sales
Living the dream one nightmare at a time! 
Numbers
Opinionated
1
Associate regional manager
Called a prospect over 3 times and he picked the phone up every time but every time was a bad time... First they had a long time team member die, next time I called a team member spouse died and last time he was on his way to one of the funerals. Mind you we stayed on the phone and conversated lol but I stopped calling in fear of causing another death.
sellingsellssold
Politicker
1
SDR
"I bet you have great lips, they are defiantly kissable, I can tell by the way you talk"
LaBarrique
Fire Starter
0
Account Executive
I once had a prospect (CISO) who had been asking for additional resources tell me looking into new security technology was not a part of his job. After asking about why he would ask me for resources if he did not want to look into our tech, he told me that it made him look occupied... Could not hold a grim in front of that combination of straight up honesty and unprofessionalism
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
0
District Manager
absolutely unreal
wormcatcher
Good Citizen
0
Fractional CRO
"Key to any marriage is mixing it up in the bedroom frequently...like last weekend my wife and I asked her friend..." (I spotted my boss and excused myself saying he was "calling me over").

I was 24 to his 55+...he said this after asking if I was married and I said "Yes, about 6 months actually". The first event I ever went to in a sales capacity.
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
0
District Manager
Hahaha way to set the tone!
UserNotFound
Politicker
0
Account Executive
I have a Pakistani client (C-level at an enterprise account) who I took out for Happy Hour around the election. He started talking about how he doesn't like "the Chinese" but doesn't have a problem with other Asian populations- this was not in relationship to China's political landscape either. Just plain ole racism. 

The irony of having a man who has experienced significant racial profiling doing the exact same to another ethnicity was just... gross and awkward. Still blows my mind. (Note: I did not smile through it... I over-exaggerated wide eyes and said 'uh-oh I think you've had too many of these' and held up my martini glass)
SaaSguy
Tycoon
0
Account Executive
Usually when they dive into politics. Had a prospect who genuinely believed "big tech" was going to wipe all of his software applications because his tiny company in a flyover state had publicly conservative views. The victim complex some people have is just super cringy, like the whole world is against them or something, meanwhile dude has relatively little experience but was a higher up at a company because of connections he had and was earning a  very comfortable living. 
Do.it.for.the.checks
Politicker
0
Account Executive
Maybe doesn't qualify as cringy, but any time anyone talks about the weather.

I hate small talk like that. Oh yeah, it's raining in London, no shit. Now want to sign that contract Dave?
2girls1cloud
Valued Contributor
0
Corporate account exec
Had a guy on a call who stopped my SE in the middle of a demo to tell me my hair looks nice… so cringey
FromaBlankPerspective
Politicker
0
District Manager
Ugh grosssss
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