We would have won, but the other guys gave the deal away.”…
““We would have won, but the other guys gave the deal away.” “The customer selected us technically and thinks we are the better company, but our competitor just gave the product away. We would never sell so cheaply as it would hurt our reputation.” Anybody who has ever run an enterprise sales force has heard this lie before. You go into an account, you fight hard, and you lose. The sales rep, not wanting to shine the light on himself, blames the “used car dealer” rep from the other company. The CEO, not wanting to believe that she’s losing product competitiveness, believes the rep. If you hear this lie, try to validate the claim with the actual customer. I’ll bet you can’t.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The passage warns about the common sales excuse that external factors caused a loss, urging leaders to verify claims directly with customers.
In simple terms: Salespeople often blame competitors for lost deals; verify with customers.
Key Takeaway
Validate sales loss reasons with customers.
Themes
sales
leadership
accountability
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
business
motivational
When to use this quote
- enterprise sales
- deal negotiations
- team meetings
Key Concepts
validation
customer feedback
lie detection
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence do you gather before blaming others?
- How can teams foster honest post‑mortems?
A Different Perspective
Relying on unverified excuses can erode trust and performance.