have you heard- "Can I ask you a question"

15 years ago

It's not so dumb. Most people will respond with permission to ask. By granting that permission, the person is now almost obligated to listen to the question and provide an answer. Which leads into the pitch for whatever...

Since you've already agreed to assist the person asking, it sets you up to assist them again - by buying.

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woodley

15 years ago

It's a good sales & psychological technique. If they ask "Can I help you", most people reply with, "No thanks, I'm just looking.

By asking for permission to ask you a question, most people don't feel as though they are pounced on, and may agree. The first yes is the beginning of a possible sales cycle

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Dan C. Rinnert

15 years ago

Originally Posted by david poole

Their opening question yends to be "Can i ask you a question"

I would like to know your thoughts on this.

"Yes, but you may not ask a second question and you've already used your first."

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StevieHawk

15 years ago

I remember an attractive woman stopped me on the street once for a charity. She opened with "Are you busy?" or "Can I talk to you?". I said "Sorry I am really busy" and was walking off. She sort of jumped into my path and said "I love your accent...are you Irish". I replied with a smile "Yes" and kept walking. She jumped in my way again and started speaking to me as a person rather than a target...

Anyway long story short I saved a lot of lives in Africa...

If you ask them "Can I ask you a question?" you are just giving them permission to shut you down. Try to connect first and then develop rapport. That seems to be the key.

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newBum76

15 years ago

Originally Posted by StevieHawk

I remember an attractive woman stopped me on the street once for a charity. She opened with "Are you busy?" or "Can I talk to you?". I said "Sorry I am really busy" and was walking off. She sort of jumped into my path and said "I love your accent...are you Irish". I replied with a smile "Yes" and kept walking. She jumped in my way again and started speaking to me as a person rather than a target...

Anyway long story short I saved a lot of lives in Africa...

If you ask them "Can I ask you a question?" you are just giving them permission to shut you down. Try to connect first and then develop rapport. That seems to be the key.

I'll bet anything that attractive women are much better at saving lives in Africa than unattractive men!

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Shannon Tani

15 years ago

There's one company in my area that trains its sales reps to do this. Obviously Waikiki is a tourist town, so they expect everyone to be a tourist. I'm often too polite to say no, but I've heard the whole shpeal several times, tried the product just as many times and I'm still not buying hand cream.

They also get me by saying I've got a cute baby. I can't resist people that tell me my baby is cute.

Love,
Shannon

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Scott Ames

15 years ago

Yes.. the mobile phone booths at the mall must teach their employees to ask that. I have been asked that 3 times at different booths walking from one end of the mall to the other, and again, ( because they forgot me already ) when I walked back. It used to work on me, but no longer. Now it just gets me in a defensive mode.