Get your free personalized podcast brief

We scan new podcasts and send you the top 5 insights daily.

When a customer asks for a discount, don't immediately negotiate. Instead, treat it as a trigger to reopen discovery. Ask more questions about their concerns and needs. This makes getting a discount a laborious process for the buyer, dissuading frivolous requests and giving you more information and leverage.

Related Insights

When a prospect says your price is too high, reframe the conversation away from cost. Ask them, 'Independent of price, are we the vendor of choice?' This forces them to recommit to you as the best solution or admit they're still evaluating, strengthening your negotiation leverage.

Frame every negotiation around four core business drivers. Offer discounts not as concessions, but as payments for the customer giving you something valuable: more volume, faster cash payments, a longer contract commitment, or a predictable closing date. This shifts the conversation from haggling to a structured, collaborative process.

Instead of offering a fake, expiring discount to create urgency, frame it as a payment for predictability. Tell the prospect you will pay them a discount in exchange for mutually aligning on a specific close date, which helps you forecast accurately. This turns a sales tactic into a valuable business exchange.

When a prospect says you're too expensive, reframe the conversation by asking, "Does that mean pricing is your first priority?" Since no one wants to appear cheap, this forces them to pivot to a discussion about value, which you can then explore further.

Every prospect's first thought is about price. To break this, start the call by anchoring them to the ultimate business result they desire. For example, "It looks like you booked this call about getting advanced skills to help you grow the business even more, right?" This immediately reframes the conversation around value.

End discovery calls by directly asking if the prospect wants to buy, when they want to buy, and how they buy. This forces clarity on intent, timeline, and the path to power, surfacing potential deal blockers early.

When a buyer asks for an unreasonable discount, frame it as a fundamental value misalignment and suggest you're not a fit. This forces them to moderate their position and prove they're serious, pulling them back into a reasonable negotiation.

True selling begins with objections. Instead of defending, repeat the prospect's objection back to them and ask for more color. This often reveals the real issue beneath the surface complaint (e.g., 'fees are too high' may actually mean 'your track record doesn't justify these fees').

When a buyer acts shocked by your price, don't immediately offer a discount. Instead, mirror their surprise and question your own process. This puts the onus on them to explain their expectation, revealing whether their reaction is genuine or a negotiation tactic.

When a prospect reacts with sticker shock, respond with surprise and concern, as if you misunderstood their needs. Then, gently push them toward a competitor or an in-house solution. This forces them to justify why they want to work with you and pulls them back to the negotiation table on your terms.