the_sonk_master

Account Manager

What was the worst way a prospect told you no?

All of corps cold call re-enactments got me wondering, what was the worst/craziest way a prospect told you no?

beyond the "I'm not interested", "take me off your list", "never contact me again" stuff. Just an absolute, out of left field, war story

🏰 War Stories

🔎 Prospecting

12 comments

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Chep

WR Officer

Bitcoin Adoption Specialist

I hang up when a prospect starts cursing me out. Rarely ever happens but not going to schedule a meeting so why put up with the bs at that point

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

Good for you. I don't know why anyone would bother engaging with someone who's swearing/name calling. Hang up and move on.

CuriousFox

WR Officer

🦊

Exactly. Nothing else to do.

softwaresails

Politicker

Sales Manager

The worst type of no is when they give you the verbal yes that eventually turns into a no. Just leading you on.

I'd take someone yelling / telling me to stop calling / whatever other verbal abuse they want to throw at me as long as they don't lead me on when it's really a no from the start.

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

Yup. I truly appreciate when prospects have the balls to say "no thanks, here's why" rather than screw me around for weeks and months.

TheQueenofDiamonds

Politicker

Account Executive

paddy

WR Officer

Director of Business Development

They screamed at me that I fucked up their support budget lol

JuicyKlay

Celebrated Contributor

I think the worse type of no's I get are "I'm reporting you to the BBB if I ever get an email from you again followed by a dozen f bombs." I like to response with a multiple choice hail mary email :)

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

Lol, the BBB'ers. The BBB has zero jurisdiction over other business' activities. Reporting a business does shit all. I'm always tempted to tell people that.

funcoupons

WR Officer

👑

I think straight up ghosting is the worst. Especially when it's far along in the sales process. At least have the professional courtesy to acknowledge someone took time out of their day to work with you and tell them you're no longer interested/postponing/whatever.

My favourite is when we were at proposal stage after the prospect reached out to US, had spent several hours talking to this prospect and he simply emailed me and said they weren't going to do it. I told him I respect the decision but am curious as to why, and he ignored my email and then had his GK obviously screen my call when I tried following up. You're a 50 year old grown man, are you scared I'm going to kick your ass through the phone or something? Grow up.

BulkPony

Tycoon

Enterprise Account Executive

Once had someone respond back saying that he would never use my company and would encourage anyone he works with or knows to never use my company. This was after a couple of very tame cold emails.

Cyberjarre

Politicker

BDR

Making sure discussion is done with stakeholders well : team work

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the_sonk_master

What was the worst way a prospect told you no?

12 comments

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