Greg Talks About Being a Buyer and Controlling the Sale and the Salesperson

I'm shocked at how easy it is to control sales people, and sales calls, when I'm in the buyer role. True story from a recent situation where I was shopping event venues.

ME: HI...I'M IN A BIT OF A HURRY, I LIKE YOUR PLACE, CAN YOU JUST GIVE ME THE DETAILS ON SIZE, AMENITIES, COSTS, ETC?

Seller: Ummm sure...can you tell me a bit about the event?

ME: IT'S A FUNDRAISING COCKTAIL DEAL...EARLY NEXT QUARTER...LIKE, 100 PEOPLE....DO YOU PROVIDE BARTENDERS, AND CAN WE BUY THE LIQUOR THROUGH YOU ALL?

Seller: Okay I'll have to look at our schedule...and uh yes, we can provide bartenders and, where you get the liquor is up to you, but we have resources...

ME: THANKS...LET ME TAKE THIS INFO AND SHARE IT WITH MY TEAM AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW...

Seller: There's my card, just call me...

ME: COOL...NOW, YOU WERE TOTALLY FINE, BUT AS A LIFE-LONG SALES COACH, CAN I GIVE YOU SOME ADVICE?

Seller: Sure

Then I shared two immediate control moves she seemed to like: ask how much time I actually had, then set a quick agenda that ends with a clear ask.

Managers when you hear your sellers are losing control of a situation, what do you actually tell them to keep from getting steamrolled?