One of the most common topics that people ask me about is, how do I overcome price objections?
In fact, do you know that in every single company that I work with most of the sales reps say they have trouble with price objections?
I have worked with companies in the same industries, in the same cities and their sales reps are saying the same things ? our customers complain that our prices/rates are too high. So how can everyone's prices and/or rates be too high?
The fact is it's all a matter of perception and belief. One of my clients who has a very large and successful business with about 50 account managers was having the same problem. About half of his salespeople were having trouble with pricing objections. The reality was that his sales team was forgetting about the 5,000 clients who were using his service right now!
During the training, I urged each and every sales rep to pick up their cel phones and call their clients and customers and ask them, do you feel you are paying too much?
Puts things into a different perspective doesn't it?
My advice to you is, don't ever forget the people who believe in you. If they haven't stopped believing in you and your product or service why have you?
For one, we live in a price conscious society. As a consumer it is the easiest way for me to compare products or services. There are also some who live by the creed ?you don't get what you don't ask for? so for them it's normal to ask for a better deal. They're fishing, and their hoping you will take the bait.
Lastly, every purchase decision we make involves the risk of making a bad decision. I work hard for my money as I am sure you do. So as you can see, someone saying your price is too high doesn't mean your price is too high. What they are really saying is PROVE to me that buying from you is a good decision.
So taking things one step further, my belief is for someone to even mention price as an objection, means that you have a an interested buyer!
Stated another way - Price objections are in fact buying signals. If someone is so concerned about not being able to afford your product or service, or that your price is not in line with other suppliers - does it not make sense that what they are really saying is - if your price was lower, or "I would expect to pay for something like this" - then indeed you do have someone giving you a "buying signal".
Now that you understand that you have a buyer, we need to position our prospect so that he or she ?feels? that they are getting a ?good deal.? I always present my products or services as worth more than they are ? it's a mindset that I have before I even enter into the presentation.
I look at it as me being solidly planted on "my rock" - you have to have an unshakable belief in the value of the product or the service you are selling.
This is where market research will really pay off for you - you need to know what your competitors are offering - what their competitive advantages are and their weaknesses.
Other tools to have in your ?tool box?:
1) Show them testimonials from current and past clients who are happy with your service.
2) Ask them, have you ever bought the cheapest one or the one on sale and regretted it?
3) Be up front, yes we do charge more and the results are worth it? Are these kinds of results important to you?
4) Show them value, take a piece of paper and write down how the benefits outweigh the costs.
5) Reduce price objections to the smallest number ie: If you spend $200.00 more that works out to about $16.00 per month.
6) Tell them you don't want to lose a deal over a few dollars. Where else can I move that can help us put this deal together?
7) Make it easy for them to buy. Get creative in your billing/financing/terms - We can bill you 25% now and the rest in 30 days. (or you can offer financing).
And the best reason of all? ?When you purchase this item, you also get me!?
Can you think of a better reason than that?
I honestly don't believe in price objections. Studies show that the vast majority of all purchases are made for other reasons other than price. I know myself I am almost always willing to pay a little bit more if I know that I will get the results that I want. In fact, price rarely stops me from buying something if I think it will do what I need it to do.
So you have to ask yourself, maybe I just didn't sell my product or service properly? maybe the price objection is a smoke screen because I didn't sell my prospect on value. And ultimately that's the bottom line, until you can show value, your product or service will always be over priced.
How To Overcome Objections
If you are looking for a non-pushy way to carry on and close the sale after the customer says "No", we recommend using and advanced technique called a reverse. This technique should be one of many tools you take to every sales situation. It can be very effective provided the proper foundation as been set. By that, we mean that no objection technique will work if you have accidentally alienated the customer or if you have not done a great presentation with lots of trial closes. We discuss these techniques more fully in other articles. Assuming the correct foundation has been laid, reverses work very well.
A reverse is a way of turning an objection around and asking the customer to solve their own injection. To illustrate, let's look at a common objection and then see how a reverse can be applied.
Customer: "Your product is just too expensive. You are $400.00 more than I can get the same thing from Company X and we just cannot pay that premium."
Salesperson1: "Fine. You get what you pay for and you will regret buying cheap. Good day."
Salesperson 2: "That's just our list price. I will give you $400.00 off."
Neither if those techniques is effective very often and technique #2, while the most common, lowers the sales price without committing the customer or getting closer to the sale.
Let's look at that objection using a cushion and a reverse.
Customer: "Your product is just too expensive. You are $400.00 more than I can get the same thing from Company X and we just cannot pay that premium."
Salesperson: "I understand and I agree that price is important." (This statement is a ?cushion? designed to lower buying resistance by agreeing instead of arguing) "Even though you are correct that our price is $400.00 more than our competitor, our company is chosen by hundreds more businesspeople like you than our competitors as their supplier. Why do you think that is?"
This tactic reverses the need to answer or reply from the salesperson, back to the customer. It is important that you do not say anything else after using a reverse'no matter how long it takes to get the customer to speak. It is a simple and gentle way to use leverage to put the answer back in the customer's court. Tension will mount (but it's a good tension) as the customer gets a reply ready.
Whatever the customer replies, you agree with it and close the sale. Here is the most common reply to the reverse.
Customer "I guess it's the warranty and customer service."
Salesperson "That's right; and I know that you too will find our service and warranty is worth far more than the $400.00 difference. I'll get the paperwork started."
Remember that whatever answer they give is what you agree with and use to close the sale by writing the order without further discussion. There is no need for a big presentation or looking at pictures or models. Just picvk up the pen and start writing the sales agreement.
Of course, no technique works in every sales situation. Some buyers will refuse to answer or will say something that does not lead to the sale. However, the technique works well in most cases if the customer wants the product or service and is looking for a way to justify the purchase.
This is a powerful and successful technique that can add 20% to 40% to your sales and income. It is an advanced technique and should be practiced to be effective. With all new techniques you try, we suggest you practice and then use them for 90 days before making a decision as to their effectiveness. It takes that long to be comfortable and successful with any new technique.
Cushions and reverses have worked very well for many of my clients. If you add cushions and reverses to your selling tools, I know you will find they are worth the effort.
Both Kevinboyle & Carl Davidson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kevinboyle has sinced written about articles on various topics from Internet Marketing, Guide Guitar and Telemarketing. Kevin Boyle is an expert sales coach/trainer and the author of "The Secrets to Sales Mastery"If you would like to learn more innovative new skill sets and strategies to help you build an incredibly successful business and dramatically improve your sales r. Kevinboyle's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
Carl Davidson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Health and Computers and The Internet. This article discusses an advanced and powerful technique for overcoming objection and closing the sale while h. Carl Davidson's top article generates over 27100 views. to your Favourites.
Average Kitchen Renovation Cost Whether you are going to expand your business, or just for fun its all good! Kitchen remodeling is a science which you should defiantly learn more about!Whichever way you decide to learn about kitch...