WNiF Magazine - Spring 2016 Edition | Page 28

L By Steve Jensen ike any objection, the time objection must be eliminated during your sales pre-chat. The prechat is held before the tour of the club and it should constitute 80 to 90 per cent of the sales process. During the pre-chat document there should be a number of questions including ‘how many times a week can you come to the club?’ The answer the prospect gives to this question must be confirmed during the pre-chat. You should say, ‘I notice that you can come to the club three times a week – are you able to fit this within your schedule easily?’ OVERCOMING THE TIME OBJECTION If someone says they can’t do it because of work or family commitments, or that there’s no time, all three of these objections are really just the same – no time. 28 If they say ‘yes’, then you respond by saying, ‘that’s great, I’m glad you can fit it in’, and then continue with the discussion. Another question on the pre-chat document should be: ‘what kept you from joining a gym earlier?’ There is an array of different reasons for this, such as work, family commitments, no time, procrastination, no money, apathy and injury. If someone says they can’t do it because of work or family commitments, or that there’s no time, all three of these objections are really just the same – no time. If you don’t have a strategy to overcome this objection before your tour, you’re guaranteed to get it again later on. One of the most effective ways to overcome the time objection is to use the feasible/flexible strategy. If your prospect has stated on the pre-chat document that they haven’t joined a gym yet due to work and time constraints, you would state: ‘so I notice here you have ticked work and no time, would it be safe to say that these are related?’ Chances are they will agree. Go on to say, ‘but earlier you suggested that three times a week at the gym was able to be fitted into your schedule; was that correct?’ They will probably agree that it is correct, but then also state that time is still a problem. You then say, ‘I understand that people have busy schedules and it WHAT’S NEW IN FITNESS - SPRING 2016