The Ultimate Ballsy Sales Line

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I met an older salesman the other night, he told me about a sales line he's used to give the prospective buyer justification to spend the money, if he has to.

He tells the prospect, "Look, you're going to spend twelve thousand on your funeral."

I thought that was great, lol.
#ballsy #line #sales #ultimate
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  • Profile picture of the author palmtreelife
    Older salesmen have the best stories and "lines"....and they WORK!

    I love to be sold stuff. I not an expert, but I recognize the game. I enjoy sellers showing me how I need this product, justifying the price and giving me a call to action.

    Obviously, I don't buy everything that's pitched to me, but I enjoy buying products from those who did a great job selling me. I know what they're doing. I know they're copying my body language, vocabulary, energy, and I still will buy.
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    • Profile picture of the author animal44
      Originally Posted by palmtreelife View Post

      I know what they're doing. I know they're copying my body language, vocabulary, energy, and I still will buy.
      So that's how Bernie Madoff was so successful - A sucker born every day...!
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      • Profile picture of the author palmtreelife
        A sucker born every day...!
        I guess you didn't read to the end where I said I obviously don't but anything. And just because I enjoy being sold, doesn't make me a sucker. It means I understand the sales process and appreciate it.
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        • Profile picture of the author animal44
          Originally Posted by palmtreelife View Post

          I guess you didn't read to the end where I said I obviously don't but anything. And just because I enjoy being sold, doesn't make me a sucker. It means I understand the sales process and appreciate it.
          Originally Posted by palmtreelife View Post

          ...and I still will buy.
          Sounds like you do buy...

          My comment was meant light hearted...

          However, all this BS about body language, tone of voice etc is just that... BS.

          A pretty girl doesn't have to do anything to have guys following her around...
          You don't have to sell a Ferrari... Ferrari will sell you one, if they deem you worthy...
          My P1 attracts attention where ever it's parked...

          In 40 odd years I've only met one salesman who I would ever go back to.
          And his one key skill was that he actually listened. Really listened.
          He didn't have to mirror or adjust his tone of voice or anything of that other BS. He just listened.

          Other skills that are important.
          Confidence: Not shiny suit, Eddiie Murphy smile type confidence, the quiet confidence of knowing you can fulfill your promise. Simple as that.

          Results: Results sell themselves.

          You have those three skills and you'll trump the con-artist/actor types every time...
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          • Profile picture of the author King Manu
            Originally Posted by animal44 View Post

            In 40 odd years I've only met one salesman who I would ever go back to.
            And his one key skill was that he actually listened. Really listened.
            He didn't have to mirror or adjust his tone of voice or anything of that other BS. He just listened.

            Other skills that are important.
            Confidence: Not shiny suit, Eddiie Murphy smile type confidence, the quiet confidence of knowing you can fulfill your promise. Simple as that.

            Results: Results sell themselves.

            You have those three skills and you'll trump the con-artist/actor types every time...
            I totally agree with you. I never liked people that tried to "cleverly" sell me something. It's like they are trying to insult my intelligence and my own value. So I never did it to someone else either. It would make me feel so sleazy.

            I'd rather buy from the guy/gal that really shows interest in my needs.

            I don't think you deserve a sale by being "smart" about your lines.

            I prefer to have a cheaper option for those that consider it too expensive, or explain the fact that quality costs money and they get much better ROI.

            Personally, I wouldn't be impressed by "Look, you're going to spend twelve thousand on your funeral."

            How about something more special, like really caring about your prospect?

            Trying to look smart is easy. Take a harder road, my friend.

            Do you know what is really ballsy?

            Caring about people.


            Yep, rare gem!
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            • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
              Originally Posted by King Manu View Post


              Personally, I wouldn't be impressed by "Look, you're going to spend twelve thousand on your funeral."
              Neither would I. It's the kind of statement what would only work on a rare customer, probably never a woman, and would have to be delivered with a smile.

              It's a statement what wouldn't further the sale, just get a smile.

              This kind of statement is nonsensical. It's funny, because it obviously doesn't apply to why they should really buy. If someone said it to me with a smile, I would smile back maybe chuckle....but it isn't a real technique.

              It's a friendly jab that two men might share.
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  • Profile picture of the author jmosticc22
    It is all about creating perception, if you can do that and make them justify the cost of your product you will get ahead.
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  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Originally Posted by misterme View Post

    I met an older salesman the other night, he told me about a sales line he's used to give the prospective buyer justification to spend the money, if he has to.

    He tells the prospect, "Look, you're going to spend twelve thousand on your funeral."

    I thought that was great, lol.
    I see the reason this often works. But it would only get the desired result if the prospect was ready to be tipped over.

    I sold a vacuum cleaner to a man's son. When I went to see the parents, the dad told me "I can just borrow my son's".

    I said "I talked to your son. He said he thought you were old enough to buy your own vacuum". He laughed. I laughed, and he bought. But he was almost certainly going to buy anyway.

    "Look, you're going to spend twelve thousand on your funeral." is a way to break the continuity of their thinking. It's going to get a laugh sometimes. And it may give the prospect the justification to buy something they want anyway. It may get an "Oh, what the hell? Why not?" response, and they buy.
    I suspect that this old salesman you talked to delivered it in a way that sounded like the line actually was a reason to buy.
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    • Profile picture of the author misterme
      The way he said sounded inferred that one way or the other the money I'm asking for my widget is going to get spent so you might was well spend it on yourself now rather than after you're dead.

      In a way, I also felt it's tossing out a bit of a challenge.

      Now that I'm thinking about it a ballsier line could be, "listen, your wife's gonna spend it on the next guy after you're gone"
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      • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
        Originally Posted by misterme View Post

        The way he said sounded inferred that one way or the other the money I'm asking for my widget is going to get spent so you might was well spend it on yourself now rather than after you're dead.

        In a way, I also felt it's tossing out a bit of a challenge.

        Now that I'm thinking about it a ballsier line could be, "listen, your wife's gonna spend it on the next guy after you're gone"
        I was trying to help a rep close a sale over the phone, and I heard the customer say "I just have to think about it".

        My rep (a woman) said "I've been here for three hours. Think faster". The guy bought.
        I thought it was hilarious, whether the guy bought or not.

        I tried that myself about 5 times before I figured out that it wasn't a winning technique for me.
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        • Profile picture of the author Capitol Pioneer
          I used to sell custom arch supports ($1,500 average).

          The customer told me it was "too expensive".

          I turned around and pointed at his brand new Jeep Wrangler with a crazy Teraflex suspension kit (if you know anything about building jeeps for rock climbing... this was a $5k setup) and I asked him... "how much was that?"

          He smiled and said F$%$... here's my card.

          It all comes down to the relationship that you building during the selling process in my opinion.
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  • Profile picture of the author KIRBYTMC
    if the prospect does not laugh, your in trouble.

    the one I like is : "mr prospect, we take our experience and your money ...

    and turn it into our money and your (bad) experience".
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    I have a funny way to generate sales; give ALL your energy to people who love what you sell - and buy it - then those people keep buying all your products AND spread the word to like minded folks who buy, and so on, and so on.

    Easy way to sell if you are patient, and do not panic as a newbie, and yep, I never need to convince anyone of anything either.

    But I know some folks genuinely love the selling game, so have fun with it and more power to ya.
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  • Profile picture of the author misterme
    Originally Posted by King Manu
    Personally, I wouldn't be impressed by "Look, you're going to spend twelve thousand on your funeral."
    It wasn't meant to impress anyone. Like Neil Armstrong once said after telling a story about the moon and it went flat, "maybe you had to be there."

    Imagine if you will a heavy set, craggy, older gentlemen with a deep baritone, looking right in your eye and saying this to you in a bottom line, no nonsense, matter of fact way. You get the feeling he's telling you like it is. It's that kind of tonality you wouldn't get from just anyone.
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  • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
    Originally Posted by misterme View Post

    I met an older salesman the other night, he told me about a sales line he's used to give the prospective buyer justification to spend the money, if he has to.

    He tells the prospect, "Look, you're going to spend twelve thousand on your funeral."

    I thought that was great, lol.

    I like the more direct approach..
    "If you don't buy from me right now, your widow is going to spend twelve thousand dollars on your funeral......Next week".

    It's all about building rapport.
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    • Profile picture of the author animal44
      Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

      I like the more direct approach..
      "If you don't buy from me right now, your widow is going to spend twelve thousand dollars on your funeral......Next week".

      It's all about building rapport.
      That sounds like my approach...
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  • Profile picture of the author cearionmarie
    This line isn't for anyone though. Funny? Yes! If it were me, it would definitely get my attention. If it were somebody else, it might sound offending. The older salesman might have a few more lines with him, and what's important is to read the mood before he chooses his next line.
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  • Profile picture of the author myob
    An early mentor of mine said to me that the biggest mistake that salespeople make is they try to pretend they're not salespeople.

    He sometimes took me with him to do some cold canvassing around local businesses after an appointment. We were selling MLM distributorships.

    We entered a restaurant, he asked for the owner, began some small talk, some compliments, and then asked the owner if he ever thought about diversifying (a dead giveaway that you are in MLM).

    The owner asked if he was in MLM sales, trying to sell another one of those "pyramid schemes". "I get those nitwits coming in all the time."

    He looked at the owner right in the eye and said "I am a recruiter ... and downline from the top sales producer for my network marketing company. Would you rather have someone here who doesn't know what they're talking about?"

    Then my trainer turned and looked at me! (I was new at the time)

    The owner busted up laughing so hard, he let us do the presentation right there in his office.

    That one-liner perhaps would not have worked for anyone else, but it does demonstrate how a bit of distraction and humor can help break through resistance.
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by myob View Post


      He looked at the owner right in the eye and said "I am a recruiter ... and downline from the top sales producer for my network marketing company. Would you rather have someone here who doesn't know what they're talking about?"
      A great way to handle it. Never shrink away from being a salesperson. It's noble work.

      When I used to sell in homes, many times at the beginning.. the people I was talking to would ask "are you selling something?" Or words to that effect.

      I would say "Have you ever heard of salespeople coming into a person's home, showing them something expensive, and then badgering the people until they bought or threw the salesman out?"

      for whatever reason, they always say "Yes".

      And I would say "Well, I want to set your mind at ease....that's exactly why I'm here"

      It always got a laugh. Then I would say "You aren't obligated to buy anything from me. But I want you to know..if you see something you like, Yes...you're allowed to buy it".

      For some reason, I always got away with it. And it set the tone for a fun conversation.


      I've told this story before.

      I was in a bar decades ago. A woman sitting next to me asked "What do you do for a living?'

      I said "I sell vacuum cleaners in people's homes"

      She said "How do you make money doing that?"

      I said "I sell them for more than I pay for them".

      She said "Is that legal?"
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      • Profile picture of the author Odahh
        Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

        I've told this story before.

        I was in a bar decades ago. A woman sitting next to me asked "What do you do for a living?'

        I said "I sell vacuum cleaners in people's homes"

        She said "How do you make money doing that?"

        I said "I sell them for more than I pay for them".

        She said "Is that legal?"
        why is it first worlderers or even Americans ..a great many .. seem to think individuals can't legally do this .. maybe it is just cause the school system failed hard teaching me basic stuff.. i later had to learn on my own ..

        somewhere along the line many people got the idea profit is a bad word ..

        as for for sales lines .. i saw a lot while working as a street performer on the strip ..making money of tips alone ..

        but then again the need always deepened on the crowds .. If people had those big cups of alcohol ... it was a good crowd for my costum.. non of that.. not so good ..
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        • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
          Originally Posted by Odahh View Post

          why is it first worlderers or even Americans ..a great many .. seem to think individuals can't legally do this .. maybe it is just cause the school system failed hard teaching me basic stuff.. .
          It's because most people have no concept of even the basics of business.

          My Sister-In-Law, the day I met her, asked me "What do you do for a living?"

          I said "I sell vacuum cleaners in people's homes".

          And she said (already looking down on what I said) "And do you go door to door?"

          "Yes".

          "Why do you go door to door?" she asked.

          I said "I used to go window to window, but I got arrested".

          Ain't I a stinker?
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  • Profile picture of the author myob
    Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre View Post

    ...Never shrink away from being a salesperson. It's noble work. ...

    I've told this story before.

    I was in a bar decades ago. A woman sitting next to me asked "What do you do for a living?'

    I said "I sell vacuum cleaners in people's homes"

    She said "How do you make money doing that?"

    I said "I sell them for more than I pay for them".

    She said "Is that legal?"

    I was at a bar with some friends (decades ago) after an MLM convention. We got a bit sauced.

    The waitress asked "What do you do for a living".

    I replied the best I could without slushing words, "I'm a prefoshional network marketer", and handed her my card.

    Apparently she was somehow impressed, because she did call a week later, and signed up shortly after.

    My team is still laughing about that story (and using it). "This MLM system is so easy, even a drunk can do it".
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    • Profile picture of the author Claude Whitacre
      Originally Posted by myob View Post

      I was at a bar with some friends (decades ago) after an MLM convention. We got a bit sauced.

      The waitress asked "What do you do for a living".

      I replied the best I could without slushing words, "I'm a prefoshional network marketer", and handed her my card.

      Apparently she was somehow impressed, because she did call a week later, and signed up shortly after.

      My team is still laughing about that story (and using it). "This MLM system is so easy, even a drunk can do it".
      And that's a perfect example why you should never shy away from saying what you do.

      In my lifetime, I've told people "I sell high end vacuum cleaners in people's homes"...maybe thousands of times.

      And you know what? Every year or so, someone would say "Tell me about it" or something similar, and they would buy one either on the spot, or by appointment the next day.

      There is no way I could have lived on these sales alone...but had I hid what I did, I never would have made these sales.

      And the waitress that called you? Had you acted apologetically...or tried to hide what you did for a living....she never would have called.

      The amazing truth is...no matter what you sell...or how you sell it..there are people out there that are ready to do business with you.
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      • Profile picture of the author palmtreelife
        As a former MLM'er, I was proud of what I did, but I couldn't get over the fact it was/is hated and misunderstood by so many people. After 5 years of trying to make it work, I got tired of hearing "oh you're in a pyramid scheme". There are millions of people in network marketing businesses as customers or business owners, and everyone else thinks it's a scam.

        I made some money, but basically broke even when factoring in the conventions and marketing tools etc. I also moved to a country where the business was not operational, but I don't use that as an excuse.

        I was never apologetic about my business, but I've learned a lot about sales during that time and since. I'm certain my tone of voice, energy and body language painted a vivid image of weakness and lack of confidence.

        Now that I'm an affiliate marketer, I have one of those "jobs" that friends and family don't understand as well, but for some reason they're jealous/envious instead of putting me down as a scammer. I don't get it.

        TLDR: People are funny.
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  • Profile picture of the author myob
    Originally Posted by palmtreelife View Post

    As a former MLM'er, I was proud of what I did, but I couldn't get over the fact it was/is hated and misunderstood by so many people. After 5 years of trying to make it work, I got tired of hearing "oh you're in a pyramid scheme". There are millions of people in network marketing businesses as customers or business owners, and everyone else thinks it's a scam.

    I made some money, but basically broke even when factoring in the conventions and marketing tools etc. I also moved to a country where the business was not operational, but I don't use that as an excuse.

    I was never apologetic about my business, but I've learned a lot about sales during that time and since. I'm certain my tone of voice, energy and body language painted a vivid image of weakness and lack of confidence.

    Now that I'm an affiliate marketer, I have one of those "jobs" that friends and family don't understand as well, but for some reason they're jealous/envious instead of putting me down as a scammer. I don't get it.

    TLDR: People are funny.

    As a long-time MLM'er, here's an effective line I always use when someone asks if I'm involved in a "pyramid scheme":

    "YES! Every successful company in America is a pyramid. Here is why a real pyramid structure works ... [Give McDonald's as an example with abbreviated business opportunity presentation]"

    Is that ballsy or what?

    Hundreds of millions of weeny little MLM amateurs vomit all over their prospects, which is the main reason why MLM has such a bad rap.

    I've been with the same MLM company for 20+ years, and a top earner for nearly the last 10 years.

    But, no one will ever know what company I'm promoting until they are deep in my funnel system, fed by affiliate programs.

    The "brand" I promote is only myself and my marketing model, which has been taught extensively right here on the Forum.

    For example, I am an affiliate marketer with Amazon, CJ, Shareasale, etc.

    As relationships develop from these transactions, I selectively extend offers to those with strong connections to become business partners within my MLM organization.

    I never have to chase, badger or "close" anyone to join my MLM, because my prospecting and marketing process is actually the beginning of their training. They see me in action.

    And, if they choose not to join me, I still make money from their continued affiliate purchases and usually get FREE referrals from their warm market.

    To me, THAT is the ultimate pyramid scheme!

    By the way, there are almost 300 people in my downline right here on the Warrior Forum who are doing exactly the same thing I do.

    I strongly suspect there are many others in other MLM companies using affiliate programs as the front end here also.

    Love it or hate it, MLM is big business - even on the Warrior Forum.
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