10 Common Customer Objections and How to Overcome Them

man handling customer objections on phone

Few things kill the momentum faster than a prospect asking for more time to think or brushing you off right after you’ve delivered your best pitch. Whether you’re a small business owner hustling to grow your brand, a freelancer chasing down leads, or a SaaS product owner fine-tuning your sales process, you’ve probably run into those frustrating roadblocks we all dread: customer objections.

Objections in sales come in many flavors—too expensive, not the right time, need to ask the dog’s opinion first (okay, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea). And while it’s tempting to move on and hope the next prospect will say yes, learning how to handle objections you’re likely to encounter is what separates those who almost made it from those who closed the deal.

Fun fact: according to Invesco, 60% of customers say no up to four times before they say yes. That’s a lot of lost deals if you’re not sticking around to handle the resistance. In this post, we’ll break down the top objections in sales and, more importantly, how to respond to them without sounding desperate.

Sales Objection #1: “I don’t trust you.”

overcoming customer objections: two women shaking hands

Let’s not take it personally, but yeah, this objection stings a little. When a customer doesn’t trust you, they’re not questioning your worth as a human or sales rep, but they are silently saying that they’re unsure if they want to risk their money on your product or service.

And honestly? Fair enough.

Trust is the invisible currency of sales and a key driver of website conversions. You could have the flashiest product, the slickest pitch, and the best price in town, but if your prospect senses even a whiff of sketchiness, they’ll disappear faster than you can say “limited-time offer.”

How to handle this type of objection? Below are a few options:

  • Share your journey. People connect with people. Talk about how you got started. What problem were you trying to solve? Why did you create your product or service?
  • Be real  (not LinkedIn humble-brag real but actual real). Don’t puff things up. Instead, be honest about what your product can do—and what it can’t. Transparency builds trust. Sneaky fine print destroys it.
  • Show proof. Bust out those case studies, customer testimonials, client wins, or screenshots of raving reviews on Google. Did someone say your product “changed their life”? Don’t be shy—screenshot, crop, post, and repeat.

Sales Objection #2: “How is this product different from the rest?”

kid at crossroads: represents customer confusion

Ah, the comparison shopper! You know the type: they’ve got like 10 tabs open, a spreadsheet of pros and cons, and possibly a podcast playing about “top tools for [insert your niche].” We can’t blame them. With numerous similar-sounding products out there, they’re trying to figure out:

Why you? Why now? And why should they pick you over the other guys?

This is where you deal with a customer’s objection with clarity and confidence.

  • Highlight your USP (Unique Selling Proposition): What’s your superpower? Do you save customers time, money, headaches, or all three? Say it clearly, proudly, and in big, bold letters if you have to. Don’t just say you’re “great”—tell them why. Are you the only one offering lifetime access? Is your onboarding smoother? Spill the tea.
  • Compare openly. It’s okay to acknowledge the competition. In fact, it builds credibility when you do. Just do it with class. “While [Other Brand] does X, we focus on Y because it gets better results faster.” It’s clear, respectful, and still positioning you as the winner.
  • Use visuals: Look, nobody likes reading walls of text. (Except maybe lawyers). Comparison charts, icons, bullet lists—these are your secret weapons. Make it scannable, digestible, and impossible to ignore.

Customer Objection #3: “I’m not sure this will work for me.”

man holding laptop, wondering

Now this one’s sneaky. Your prospect isn’t saying your product sucks; they’re saying they’re not sure it’ll work for their specific, possibly one-of-a-kind situation.

This is the “Yeah, but…” objection.   Sound familiar? This isn’t about logic. It’s about fear. Fear of wasting money, disappointment, or being the one person your product doesn’t help.

How do you handle customer objections like this? Show!

  • Use stories: Forget big fancy numbers for a second. Share relatable wins from people just like them. “Meet Tasha. She runs a handmade soap shop and felt exactly the same way until she doubled her monthly sales with our tool.”That’s way more powerful than a feature list.
  • Show results: Stats, testimonials, stats, before-and-afters—this is where your bragging rights come in. People love evidence. Give it to them generously and in bite-sized, scrollable pieces
  • Segment your messaging: Segment your messaging. A freelancer wants different things from a startup founder. A SaaS product team has different pain points from an Etsy seller. Tailor your content, email outreach, landing pages, and demos like you’re talking directly to them 1-on-1.

Customer Objection #4: “It’s too expensive.”

hands holding coins

Sales professionals encounter this objection too often. But here’s the truth: it’s rarely about the money; it’s about the value (or lack thereof, in their eyes).

Good news? That’s fixable. Here’s how to handle price objections like a pro:

  • Talk outcomes, not cost. Don’t just say what your product is—say what it does. Will it save them four hours a week? Help them make more money? Finally, give them peace of mind? Because $200 for a tool sounds pricey. But $200 to get your weekends back or double your client conversions? Now we’re talking.
  • Break it down: Spell out exactly what they’re getting. Bonus content, dedicated support, lifetime updates, all the bells and whistles. Sometimes, proper objection handling boils down to demonstrating the full value in a tidy bullet list.
  • Use comparisons: A well-placed analogy makes pricing feel a whole lot more reasonable and even kind of fun. Think “That’s less than one Uber ride per week!” “Cheaper than your monthly caffeine habit,” or “Less than the cost of that one dinner you didn’t even enjoy.”

Sales Objection #5: “What if it doesn’t work?”

man lying on carpet

The fear of flushing money down the drain. This one’s less about your product and more about human psychology. Nobody likes buyer’s remorse. We’ve all been burned by a shiny offer that ended up being a dud. Your prospect is just trying to protect their wallet (and their pride).

And guess what? That’s understandably human and totally something you can work with.

  • Offer guarantees: Refunds. Satisfaction guarantees. “Cancel anytime” policies. These are your trust-building tools. The clearer and easier the escape hatch, the more confident people feel stepping in. Example: “Try it for 30 days. If you don’t love it, we’ll refund you—no awkward explanations or hoops to jump through.”
  • Highlight your support: Let prospective customers know you’re not the “thanks for the sale, goodbye forever” type. Show off your stellar support and sales team, your friendly chat widget, and your commitment to helping them succeed after the purchase.
  • Give examples. Got any customer testimonials that start with “I wasn’t sure this would work for me…”? These are gold when it comes to overcoming objections in sales. They tell doubters someone else had the same hesitation and how well it turned out when they stepped in.

Sales Objection #6: “I don’t need this product.”

woman walking away

Oof! This one cuts deeper. You’ve done the demo, highlighted the features, maybe even cracked a joke or two, and they still say, “Yeah… I don’t think I need this.”

Don’t panic. This objection doesn’t always mean you’re talking to the wrong person (though sometimes, yes, that’s the case). More often, it means you haven’t uncovered the right pain point, or they don’t realize they have one yet.

This is your cue to lean in, not give up.

  • Ask open-ended questions: Instead of launching into another pitch, pause and dig deeper into your prospect’s struggles. What are they currently using? And their biggest challenge with a certain paint point? What would save them the most time/money/sanity in their workflow? Sometimes the gold is just one layer deeper.
  • Connect the dots: Objections like this are based on assumptions. Your job is to paint the picture. Using a real example, show them how your product will step in neatly into their life and fix a problem they didn’t even know they had.
  • Educate without condescending: Sometimes people genuinely don’t know there’s a smarter/faster/easier way to do things. Use real examples of ROI, demos, analogies—whatever it takes to make the lightbulb go off. No lectures, just light nudges toward enlightenment.

Sales Objection #7: “I need more time to decide.”

woman holding sticky notes against wall

This isn’t a hard no—it’s more like a soft way to say they’re not convinced yet but don’t want to hurt your feelings. Maybe they’re unsure, distracted, or hoping the benefits will magically become clearer while they scroll TikTok.

Here’s the thing: most of the time, when someone says they need more time, what they typically need is a little more clarity or a tiny push in the right direction. So instead of backing off and hoping they come around, here’s how to deal with this sales objection with grace and a tad bit better strategy.

  • Create gentle urgency: Scarcity and deadlines work, but only if they’re real and respectful. Not “BUY NOW OR DIE.”Think limited spots, expiring bonuses, or seasonal deals; words like “ bonus expires Friday” or “Only 3 spots left this month.” You’re giving them a reason to act without triggering panic mode.
  • Follow up: This is an important part of sales training. People appreciate follow-ups when they don’t feel like sales pressure. Perhaps share a testimonial, a how-to guide, a success story—something that makes them feel seen and supported, not stalked.
  • Ask what’s holding them back: Sometimes, they’re one small answer away from buying. Maybe it’s confusion about the process, uncertainty about support, or just one lingering doubt. Ask them if anything’s still unclear or what they’re unsure about. You’d be surprised how often a simple response like that opens the door to a real conversation and speeds up your sales cycle.

Customer Objection #8: “I don’t want to give you my credit card details.”

customer making card payment

In an age where every other website feels like it might steal your identity and sell it to aliens, people are (rightfully) cautious. Even if they like your product, hesitation creeps in the second they hit the payment page.

This objection is all about security and trust. Your potential customer isn’t doubting your offer—they’re wondering if their personal info will end up in a sketchy corner of the internet.

Here’s how to handle this kind of customer objection without sounding like you’re only insisting that prospects trust you.

  • Display trust badges: Add recognizable trust badges (like Norton, McAfee, or SSL-secured), payment provider logos (Stripe, PayPal, Visa), and clear indicators that the transaction is encrypted.
  • Offer alternative payment methods: Not everyone wants to hand over their card number. Give people choices such as digital wallets, mobile money, bank transfers, PayPal, maybe even buy-now-pay-later if that fits your model. The more flexibility you offer, the more confidence you create.
  • Be upfront about security. A quick line about encryption and privacy policies can calm nerves. You don’t need an essay on cybersecurity; just a calm, confident reminder that your customer’s info is safe

Sales Objection #9: “What’s the catch?”

man using lenses

This is the “this sounds a little too good” moment. And honestly? You can’t blame them. The internet is crawling with limited-time offers that never end, free trials that quietly charge your card, and fine print that might as well require an associate’s degree in legal studies to decode.

When someone hits you with this objection, it’s not because they’re trying to call you out—it’s because they’ve been burned before. All they want to know is: What am I getting, and is there a string hiding somewhere in the background?

  • Be brutally honest. No smoke, no mirrors. Using clear and simple language, say what they’re getting, what they’re not, and how it all works. If your product is free for 14 days and then billed monthly, specify that. If there are limits, explain them. 
  • Break down the offer: Sometimes people just want to know why something is priced the way it is or why you’re offering so much value for what seems like a low price. Maybe you’re launching and want feedback. Perhaps you want to build long-term customer loyalty. Tell them.

Customer Objection #10: “I still have questions about the product.”

sales objections: woman asking questions

You’ve done the pitch, shared the features, even dropped a testimonial or two. And yet, the prospect is still hovering, sitting there with questions that they are not sure how to ask.

This type of customer objection is a signal they’re close enough to care, but not confident enough to complete a purchase now. And if you don’t give them the answers they need, they’ll quietly walk away… and you’ll never know why.

Let’s fix that.

  • Build a killer FAQ: Not a fluffy page that says your product is great in ten different ways. You want a real-deal section that addresses the specific questions your target customers ask. Think “Will this work for [specific use case]?” “How does billing work?” “What if I don’t like it?” “Can I cancel anytime?”
  • Invite them to chat: Some folks want a human touch. Add a live chat, email address, or a contact form that invites interested people to ask anything. That’s how you turn hesitation into action.
  • Create demos or videos: Got a short video that shows how your product works? A customer quote that explains a confusing part better than you ever could? A feature breakdown in plain language? It’s time to flaunt them.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve ever felt frustrated because someone almost bought from you but didn’t, welcome to the club. We’ve all been there, wondering what went wrong. But here’s the good news: most customer objections aren’t walls. Once you know how to handle them with empathy, confidence, and maybe a few clever strategies, you’ll start turning hesitation into yeses way more often.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking for customer objection scripts, car sales objections and responses templates, or just real talk on what the common sales objections in sales mean. The secret sauce is simple: Listen, empathize, respond like a human, and help your potential customer make a confident decision.

Need help refining the words that shape your customer experience? Whether it’s rewriting your blog content, rewriting your FAQ page, or making your web copy conversion-friendly, I can help. Let’s talk about what’s holding your copy back.


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