Sales Question: "I frequently get to the close only to hear the prospect say “I want to think about it” - I’ve tried numerous rebuttals but nothing seems to really work. Any suggestions?"

SalesBuzz Answer: By Michael Pedone
The best way to handle the “I want to think about it” objection is to make sure you follow a sales process that eliminates any possible reason why a prospect would say that to begin with.
When a prospect says, “I want to think about it” they either aren’t sold on needing a solution, or they aren’t sold on YOUR solution. Those are the only two possible reasons why you would hear the “I want to think about it” blow-off.
Sales people who hear this objection are often using what I call a “boiler room” sales process. They are “pushing rather than attracting”. What I mean by that is this:
1. They get the prospect on the phone;
2. Ask if “they are the person who makes the decisions on XYZ”
3. Fire off a few self-serving probing questions (to see if they are a match)
4. Followed by a data dump presentation and a close.
To which they often hear “I want to think about it.”
The solution isn’t “handle the objection,” it’s fix what’s causing the objection in the first place.
Two key areas (not the only areas, but two key areas) causing this objection are:
Misused Probing Questions
Replace asking self-serving probing questions with what I call “engagement questions”. 
Probing questions tell you, the sales person, if this prospect has a problem you can help solve.
Engagement questions allow you AND the prospect to recognize and see that a problem exists. That’s a HUGE difference. And here’s the payoff - It’s human nature to want a solution once we recognize a problem. So if you establish what I call “Problem Recognition” up front, that alone will eliminate a majority of prospects from saying “I want to think about it”. In fact, it will turn “I want to think about it” into “I want to know more!”
Solution Confirmation
Now there are several other key steps in the sales process that you must cover once you’ve gotten “problem recognition” but once you do finally get to and execute the presentation phase, it would be wise to confirm that your prospect likes your solution BEFORE asking for the order.
When you are speaking with the right person, who recognizes a problem, wants a solution, and likes your solution, the old “I want to think about it” stall will become a distant memory.
- Michael Pedone
Michael Pedone is the CEO/FOUNDER of SalesBuzz.com. An online sales training company that shows inside sales teams how to: avoid being rejected by gatekeepers, leave voicemail messages that get callbacks and overcome tough pricing objections. Request a proposal here to have Michael teach your sales team his techniques!

Sales Question: "I frequently get to the close only to hear the prospect say “I want to think about it” - I’ve tried numerous rebuttals but nothing seems to really work. Any suggestions?"
SalesBuzz Answer: 
The best way to handle the “I want to think about it” objection is to make sure you follow a sales process that eliminates any possible reason why a prospect would say that to begin with.
When a prospect says, “I want to think about it” they either aren’t sold on needing a solution, or they aren’t sold on YOUR solution. Those are the only two possible reasons why you would hear the “I want to think about it” blow-off.
Sales people who hear this objection are often using what I call a “boiler room” sales process. They are “pushing rather than attracting”. What I mean by that is this:
1. They get the prospect on the phone;
2. Ask if “they are the person who makes the decisions on XYZ”
3. Fire off a few self-serving probing questions (to see if they are a match)
4. Followed by a data dump presentation and a close.
To which they often hear “I want to think about it.”
The solution isn’t “handle the objection,” it’s fix what’s causing the objection in the first place.
Two key areas (not the only areas, but two key areas) causing this objection are:
Misused Probing Questions
Replace asking self-serving probing questions with what I call “engagement questions”. 
Probing questions tell you, the sales person, if this prospect has a problem you can help solve.
Engagement questions allow you AND the prospect to recognize and see that a problem exists. That’s a HUGE difference. And here’s the payoff - It’s human nature to want a solution once we recognize a problem. So if you establish what I call “Problem Recognition” up front, that alone will eliminate a majority of prospects from saying “I want to think about it”. In fact, it will turn “I want to think about it” into “I want to know more!”
Solution Confirmation
Now there are several other key steps in the sales process that you must cover once you’ve gotten “problem recognition” but once you do finally get to and execute the presentation phase, it would be wise to confirm that your prospect likes your solution BEFORE asking for the order.
When you are speaking with the right person, who recognizes a problem, wants a solution, and likes your solution, the old “I want to think about it” stall will become a distant memory.