The Puppy Dog Close

The puppy dog close is one of the most effectivedealerships on many occasions will allow you to take
ways to get the sale that anyone ever dreamed up.one of their vehicles home.
It got its name form the pet store industry. Let me"Try it out for a day or two. See how you like it."
explain. Have you ever walked by a pet store andThis too is just another form of the puppy dog close.
saw adorable little puppies playing and frolicking in theIt becomes very difficult to not buy from a dealer
front window? Have you ever just visited a petthat is so proud of their product that they let you
store for any reason and just happened to go overtake it home to try it. And, think of the trust they
to the puppy cages to look at the puppies? Whathave displayed in you by letting you take one of
happens? The sales clerk approaches and makes atheir vehicles home with you worth thousands of
comment like;dollars.
"Aren't these little puppies just adorable?"Many businesses are now finding ways to offer the
And before you even have a chance to reply sheprospective client the opportunity to use, test or see
asks; "Would you like to hold one of them?" Now iftheir product or service for free. Once you try the
you are with your spouse or even worse one ofproduct you are generally asked how you liked it.
your kids, it becomes extremely difficult to say no.Once you respond in a positive fashion, the next
Unless you are actually there to buy a dog, SAY NO!question is; "Tell me what you really like about it?"
If that puppy gets out of the cage and into yourGuess what, you are now selling yourself. Your
arms, your resistance to buy is cut by 90%. It justcomments often become their sales pitch. They end
isn't easy to walk away and leave that poor puppyup selling themselves. Can you see the power in
that just fell in love with you ----- HOMELESS.that?
You know that puppy loves you because it justOnce the customer has sold themselves, the next
couldn't stop licking your face. That my friend is calledquestion becomes;
the puppy dog close."Well, I guess the only question left is how many do
It is one of the most powerful ways to win moreyou want or when do you want it delivered?" Then
business and it is based on the magic of "Try beforeshut up and listen.
you buy". This close has been adopted by numerousThis is the "assumptive close" (assuming the
industries. Have you ever gone into Sams Club,customer is ready to buy) piggy backing the "puppy
Costco or even your local grocery store and noticeddog" close, pretty hard to resist. The pause or silence
how many free food samples are available? I meanon your part is critical because you don't want to
you could actually feed your family their entire lunchinterrupt the internal psychological sales process that
just by visiting the multiple food sample stations inis taking place in their head.
Sams on the weekends.Does the puppy dog close work 100% of the time.
These free samples are not offered simply to getAbsolutely not. But, it sure does increase your
you to taste their product. No, it's related to thesuccess ratio.
psychological pressure imposed by the "puppy dogIt's a simple concept. It is nothing more than letting
close". You see, once you accept that sample andthe customer experience the value proposition of the
comment how good it is, it becomes very difficult toproduct itself. Of course, if your product has very
walk away without putting their product into yourlittle value propositioning or if it is truly a commodity,
basket. Granted, everyone doesn't succumb to thatthe puppy dog close just isn't applicable. In those
pressure but a high percentage of consumers do andcases you have to rely on your personal value
that really boosts product sales.propositions and your company value propositions. If
Everyone needs a certain degree of coaxing beforeyour product genuinely offers value, potential
they commit to a buy decision. So this try beforecustomers will see that value by utilizing the "puppy
you buy - puppy dog approach is a form of "helpingdog close" Their internal psychic will convert that
the customer buy".value into a sale.
Let's take a look at the automotive industry. New car