Why do reps lie to their customers?

[anonymous]

I've wondered this for some time now. Do reps lie out of fear? Or do they lie to maintain power?

At a foundational level - people lie because their moral compass is shot. They don't care about what it ultimately means about themself as a person.

It's interesting competing for business against broken people who will lie to customers in order to save business. What they don't know or don't understand is that the old saying "the truth always comes out in the end" holds true. And then they look stupid and have lost all credibility.

And in sales - you are only as good as your word.

 

[anonymous]

sounds like you lost a deal to a competitor and are now reaching for excuses

 

[anonymous]

It’s not a lie if you believe it.

 

[anonymous]

sounds like you lost a deal to a competitor and are now reaching for excuses

No. The company I work for has to deal on a regular basis with this situation - competitors lying to try and save business. It works sometimes - probably 25% of the time. The other 75% of the time - the lying rep ends up looking really stupid and loses the account, and loses a chunk of their reputation/credibility. But no - I didn't/we didn't just lose a deal to a competitor.