1. 

   Denise
   July 1st, 2011 - 08:30

   #11- If something goes wrong before, during or after the sale, never under any circustances apologize and if possible find someone else to blame.

   #12-If you can not seem to get anywhere with your client, go over their head to the next person in command!
2. 

   Hugh Snow
   July 2nd, 2011 - 10:16

   When I read Denise’s comments I was compelled to respond. I don’t know what her experience is or her success rate,but as a 30 year marketing/sales professor and consultant I disagree with her. An apology goes a long way in soothing a
   dissatisfied customer especially if you had nothing to do with the error. Secondly,
   finding someone else to blame means the person blaming someone else has a
   high level of external locus of control and will always look to blame everyone but themselves. Not good for building good customer relationships.
3. 

   Jeb Brooks
   July 5th, 2011 - 06:56

   Thanks for commenting, Hugh. I believe you and Denise actually agree. She’s adding to our list of “worst” practices in selling. In other words, she’s saying that the act of NOT apologizing is, indeed, a terrible mistake.
4. 

   Jennifer
   July 5th, 2011 - 07:30

   Give them an “out the door today” price – in other words, if they don’t act right now, and come come back tomorrow, the price will be back to the regular price. I’ve had this happen to me personally, and it was ridiculous to see how the sales manager kept discounting his price as I put my purse back on my shoulder and got up at his desk. I may have made a decision to go with his product, had it not been for the slimey way he put the pressure on me to act now.
5. 

   Ramone
   July 5th, 2011 - 13:22

   The ten worst practices.
   Good list but every sales rep has its own list.
6. 

   Chris Young
   July 8th, 2011 - 18:57

   Failure to research and understand the value of the product or service to the Customer.

   Price is what the Client pays… Value is what they get. It is difficult to justify the price paid if the Customer does not understand the return on investment.

   Keep rockin’ Jeb!
7. 

   Cathi
   July 8th, 2011 - 20:32

   And more importantly, each prospect has their own top ten list. Reading the signals of the prospect and how they want to be communicated with (or not) is key, in my opinion.
8. 

   Ryan Lisk
   July 11th, 2011 - 15:13

   Rank these bad practices where you will, and they are all “rank”. I’m not too proud to say I have made all these basic mistakes at one time or another.
   3. Keep selling (aka talking) after the client has already said yes only to end up saying something that makes the client think twice and lose the order.
   2. Call a prospect by the wrong name…multiple times.
   1. Ask a client when her due date is only to have her say, “I’m not pregnant, and this meeting is over.”
9. 

   Ina @ AIL
   July 18th, 2011 - 15:31

   Once you sell something, never follow up on customer satisfaction…
10. 

    Nick
    July 22nd, 2011 - 11:06

    Great list. All common mistakes people make. I think you could add “relying on one method of marketing” to your list.
11. 

    SalesEngineerGuy
    August 2nd, 2011 - 16:54

    As a sales professional, what would the best way be told by a colleague that you make these kinds of critical mistakes.
    I regularly support sales guys and feel an inward cringe when many of these things happen. What is the best way to support a sales rep who is not at their best?

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