What To Do When The Prospect Blames You: Part II
It can be extremely frustrating when the customer wants to hold you accountable for something that your competition did or did not do. In, “What to Do When the Prospect Blames You for Your Competitors’ Failures,” I mentioned that when this happens, there are two possibilities:
#1 – The situation is one that is common in the industry
#2 – The situation is not common or is an isolated incident
Now continuing with #2.
#2 – The situation is not common or is an isolated incident
What do you do when the prospect brings up a negative experience that is a total surprise, and still associates you with the problem? Of course, you cannot prepare for the problem and cover it early in the sales interaction.
The usual course of action in this case is to side with the prospect in attempt to shift the blame to the real culprit; your competitor.
Prospect: “I’m sorry. But I bought some of those widgets a few years ago from Old Fashioned Widgets and it was a nightmare. I had nothing but problems that costs me a ton of money. I can’t risk that again.”
Sales Person: “I understand Ms Prospect. But I assure you we are not Old Fashioned. We have the best, most up to date widgets in the industry.”
Prospect: “Yeah, well, that’s what their sales rep said too! Then they delivered widgets that didn’t work. ”
Sales Person: “They have been known to bend the truth sometimes…they are desperate. I agree with you. Their work is often substandard…”
If this sounds familiar, then you know the eventual outcome. As you attack the competition, you simultaneously degrade the credibility of your entire industry, which includes you and your firm. The difficult task you have is to separate yourself from the competition, without degrading the competition.
Defend Your Competition
Remember, as mentioned in Part I, if your competition is guilty of conducting slip shod business; as a professional you should know about it, and bring it up early in your sales interaction.
However, if the situation is something that you have never heard of before, then let the prospect know that it is an isolated incident and defend the competition.
Prospect: “I’m sorry. But I bought some of those widgets a few years ago from Old Fashioned Widgets and it was a nightmare. I had nothing but problems that costs me a ton of money. I can’t risk that again.”
Sales Person: “What? I am shocked. I don’t think Old Fashioned is the best widget company around, but they are a respectable organisation. I mean, they sell a reasonably good product. Of course, with our modern technology, our quality and performance tops theirs. But I never heard of their widgets causing serious problems. This is a reputable industry. Can you tell me what happened?”
With this approach, as you defend the competition, you defend your industry and yourself. You separate yourself from the competition; not by pushing them down, but by raising yourself up. You become an industry expert and an advisor.
So, when the prospect wants to hold you guilty by associating in the same industry as the culprit, remember:
- If it is a common situation, you should already be aware and prepared to cover it in the sales interaction.
- If it is an isolated incident, defend your competition and the industry and become an advisor.
I rest my case.
Happy Selling
Sean
Sean McPheat
Bestselling Author, Sales Authority & Speaker On Modern Day Selling Methods
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