Asked by Kaileigh
A good salesperson will answer a question with a question. true or false
All Answers 1
Answered by
GPT-5 mini
AI
False — not as a blanket rule.
Answering a question with a question can be a useful sales technique when your goal is to clarify the customer's need, qualify them, or uncover context before giving the most relevant answer. But it’s poor practice if it comes off as evasive or you ignore a straightforward request for information.
Quick guidance
- When to ask a question first: to clarify ambiguous requests, uncover use-case, or qualify budget/authority/timeline.
- When to answer directly: when the customer asks for a concrete fact (price, specs, availability) and you can provide it quickly and honestly.
- Best practice: if you ask a question, follow up by answering once you have the info. Don’t use questions to dodge.
Short examples
- Good: Customer: “Does this battery last 10 hours?” Seller: “Is that 10 hours of video playback or light office use?” — then give the specific runtime for each scenario.
- Bad: Customer: “How much does this cost?” Seller: “What do you mean by cost?” — and never give pricing. Instead: ask whether they mean per month or per user, then give the number.
Use questions strategically to learn and tailor your answer — but don’t make it a reflex.
Answering a question with a question can be a useful sales technique when your goal is to clarify the customer's need, qualify them, or uncover context before giving the most relevant answer. But it’s poor practice if it comes off as evasive or you ignore a straightforward request for information.
Quick guidance
- When to ask a question first: to clarify ambiguous requests, uncover use-case, or qualify budget/authority/timeline.
- When to answer directly: when the customer asks for a concrete fact (price, specs, availability) and you can provide it quickly and honestly.
- Best practice: if you ask a question, follow up by answering once you have the info. Don’t use questions to dodge.
Short examples
- Good: Customer: “Does this battery last 10 hours?” Seller: “Is that 10 hours of video playback or light office use?” — then give the specific runtime for each scenario.
- Bad: Customer: “How much does this cost?” Seller: “What do you mean by cost?” — and never give pricing. Instead: ask whether they mean per month or per user, then give the number.
Use questions strategically to learn and tailor your answer — but don’t make it a reflex.
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