Sales people love to complain and give reason after reason why they didn't get the sale. Heck I might have even said them myself, have you? I know that we all have heard it before. As a business consultant I hear this all the time from my clients, and sometimes I want to be point blank and tell them to stop crying, suck it up, and stop making excuses for your failures. But instead I remain positive and up beat with them and try to coach them through the problem and offer suggestions, like a proper consultant should do. Below are the finest sales excuses. Most of them are vintage. And they're all worth a fortune - if you can get rid of them. What follows after them is what I would really like to say most of the time.

* The customer signed with someone else with a higher price. Evidence that price doesn't mean squat. You Failed to build value in your product and build a relationship with the client.

* Our prices are too high, and the customers don't want to pay it. You are only partially right, the customer does not want to pay higher prices, no one wants to. But you know what people buy over priced items everyday. You want to know why? Because the customer sees value in what they are buying. You have to build a relationship with the prospect and build value in your product, then they will buy.

* My company doesn't support my sales effort. Meet with your CEO and ask his or her assistance. If you don't get the meeting or the assistance, find another job.

* It seems that all the other departments hate the sales team. Well this is a common issue and normally it comes from a lack of communication, and frankly the larger the company the harder it is to communicate effectively. Try job shadowing were you see what they have to do in a day and vice versa.

* The prospect will not make a decision. You have not done enough to build value or urgency in the product for them to make a decision now.

*I tell the customer if he acts now I'll cut the price, but that doesn't seem to create any urgency. STOP! STOP! STOP cutting your prices to get them to buy now, you're not selling an infomercial. Talk about there hot buttons and make them fear loss.

* My product is becoming a commodity. What are you selling? Pigs? Oil? Corn? Those are commodities, Sparky. Your product has value, and it's up to you to prove it.

* We are loosing sales because the competition keeps lowering their prices. The Only time the price makes a difference in making the sale or not is when there appears to be no difference in the products, therefor you most build value in your product.

* I no longer have a protected sales territory. Better look for a new job because down sizing is next.

* I don't have time to do what I need to! You will if you get off of you butt and watch a lot less television. Figure out how many time wasters you have in your day and get rid of them.

* We lost a big account to the competition. Oops, I guess next time you'll pay better attention to your clients needs.

* I can't get the appointment. Because they have no interest in you, you have to establish an interest with them first.

* The customer lied to me. Usually the lie is about money, or pitting you against a competitor, or both. If you are certain, confront the customer with a question, not an accusation.

* I'm not able to speak to the decision-maker. The reason is that you started too low on the totem pole.

* I had to bid through a purchasing agent. You were too chicken, or unprepared, to meet with the boss (who, by the way, tells the purchasing agent what to do).

* The customer or prospect wouldn't return my call. Because you gave them no reason to.

* Our sales cycle is too long. That's because you're dealing with influencers, not decision-makers. CEOs decide in two minutes.

* Our service sucks. Work in the service department for a few days, write down all the reasons customers call. Then, and only then, can you get to best practices.

* Sales efforts are hurt by Company policies. Just make more sales. If the situation is unbearable or untenable, find another job. Otherwise just make more sales.

* My company cut my earnings potential. Well it's time to find another job. They'll keep cutting.

* My biggest account was made into a house account. Find another job. They'll keep doing it.

* My company can't deliver on time. Meet with the CEO - not production or shipping - and resolve it.

* My company won't buy me the tools I need. Either find another job or go out and buy the tool yourself.

* Our company training department sucks. Meet with the training department. Sometimes they're unaware of your needs. Make sure there are courses on presentation skills, positive attitude and customer loyalty. And make sure they have customized sales training, not generic.

* I hate coming to work everyday! Wow then why do it. No job or amount of money is worth your happiness. And if your not happy you will not be successful.

* My sales plan (quota, goal) is not realistic. Goals and quotas are set for the "mediocre" level of salesperson.

* They don't pay me enough to Yes they do, you just didn't understand that you have to do things to better yourself.