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5 min readfinancial-servicesYour Competitor is Cheaper

How to Handle "Your Competitor is Cheaper" in Financial Services & Fintech Sales

Expert framework for overcoming the "Your Competitor is Cheaper" objection in Financial Services sales. Proven 3-step method with industry-specific examples.

ScriptFly AI Team

Expert Sales Trainers

How to Handle "Your Competitor is Cheaper" in Financial Services & Fintech Sales

Every financial services sales rep knows that gut-wrenching moment: you're mid-pitch, feeling confident, and then the prospect drops the pricing bomb. "Your competitor is cheaper" – four words that can instantly deflate your entire sales conversation and threaten your commission.


Why Financial Services Prospects Say "Your Competitor is Cheaper"

In the high-stakes world of financial services and fintech, price isn't just a number – it's a psychological trigger. Prospects aren't just comparing dollars; they're evaluating risk, perceived value, and potential ROI. The cheaper option represents a seemingly safe path, a way to minimize immediate financial exposure.

The Real Reasons Behind This Objection:

  • Fear of making a costly mistake in a regulated industry
  • Limited understanding of true solution value
  • Procurement pressure to reduce immediate expenses
  • Lack of clear differentiation in their initial assessment


The Wrong Way to Respond (That Most Reps Do)

Most sales reps panic and immediately start defending their price or – worse – offering discounts. This approach screams desperation and actually reinforces the prospect's price-focused mindset.

Don't:

  • ❌ Immediately cut your price
  • ❌ Get defensive about your offering
  • ❌ Start listing generic features
  • ❌ Argue about the competitor's solution


The 3-Step Framework That Actually Works

Step 1: Acknowledge Without Agreeing

Your first move is to validate their price concern without conceding ground. Show you hear them, but don't surrender your value proposition.

Example Response:

"I appreciate you're looking at pricing carefully. In financial services, every dollar matters. Let me show you why our solution delivers significantly more value than a simple price comparison."

Step 2: Reframe the Conversation

Transform the discussion from price to total cost of ownership and strategic impact.

Example Response:

"When Morgan Stanley evaluates technology platforms, they're not just looking at the sticker price. They're calculating potential risk mitigation, compliance advantages, and long-term efficiency gains."

Step 3: Ask a Diagnostic Question

Questions shift control back to you and expose the limitations of a purely price-driven decision.

Power Questions to Ask:

  • "What specific capabilities are most critical to your compliance strategy?"
  • "Beyond price, what determines a successful implementation for you?"
  • "How are you currently measuring the total cost of your current solution?"


Real-World Example: Apex Financial Group

When Apex Financial Group's sales team encountered the "cheaper competitor" objection, they didn't panic. Instead, they used a strategic reframing technique.

What Happened: A prospect compared their enterprise risk management platform to a lower-priced competitor. The rep walked them through a detailed ROI analysis showing how their solution would save $750,000 annually in potential regulatory compliance costs.

Key Takeaway: Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.


Industry-Specific Considerations for Financial Services & Fintech

Financial services sales aren't just about features – they're about trust, security, and strategic advantage. Your pricing strategy must reflect the complex ecosystem of regulatory compliance, data protection, and institutional risk management.

  • Regulatory Compliance: Solutions that reduce legal risk are worth premium pricing
  • Average Deal Size ($100,000): Sophisticated buyers expect comprehensive value
  • Typical Objection Triggers: Complex integration requirements, perceived implementation complexity

5 Variations You Can Use Tomorrow

Variation 1: The Empathy Reframe "I completely understand budget constraints. Let me show you how our solution actually reduces your total cost of ownership."

Variation 2: The Social Proof Angle "Top-tier institutions like Fidelity aren't choosing us because we're the cheapest. They're choosing us because we deliver measurable results."

Variation 3: The Risk Reversal "We're so confident in our solution that we'll provide a detailed ROI guarantee if we don't meet our promised efficiency metrics."

Variation 4: The Future-Pace "A year from now, would you rather have saved $5,000 upfront or generated $500,000 in additional operational efficiency?"

Variation 5: The Direct Challenge "If price is your only consideration, I'm happy to recommend the cheaper option. But are you truly solving your core business challenge?"


Common Follow-Up Objections

"But our budget is fixed" → Offer phased implementation or modular pricing options that align with their budget constraints.

"I still think the other solution is better" → Request a comprehensive comparison and offer a risk-free pilot program.

"We need to cut costs right now" → Demonstrate immediate and long-term cost savings through your solution.


The Bottom Line

Handling the "cheaper competitor" objection isn't about winning an argument. It's about demonstrating unquestionable value, understanding your prospect's deeper strategic goals, and positioning yourself as a trusted advisor.

Quick Win: Record your next three sales calls and analyze your pricing conversation approach.


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Posted by ScriptFly AI Team

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Common Questions About This Objection

When is the best time to use this objection response?

Use this response immediately when you hear the objection. The key is to acknowledge their concern authentically before reframing it. Timing matters—respond too quickly and you seem dismissive, wait too long and you lose momentum.

What if this script doesn't work for my specific situation?

Every prospect is different. Use these scripts as frameworks, not word-for-word responses. Adapt the language to match your industry, product, and the prospect's communication style. The underlying psychology remains the same.

How do I practice these responses effectively?

Role-play with a colleague or record yourself. Focus on tone and delivery—confidence matters as much as the words. Practice until it feels natural, not scripted. The goal is to internalize the framework, not memorize lines.

Can I combine this with other objection handling techniques?

Absolutely. These responses work well with techniques like the "Feel, Felt, Found" method or the "Boomerang" technique. Layer multiple approaches for complex objections, but keep it conversational—never sound like you're running through a checklist.

How many times should I try before moving on?

If you've addressed the same objection 2-3 times using different angles and they're still not budging, it's likely not a real objection—it's a polite way of saying no. Know when to pivot or disqualify the prospect to focus on better opportunities.