Users will love you for itInnerview: Help the world make progress

Trusted by world-class organizations

Glossaries

Customer Obstacles

What are Customer Obstacles in Sales?

Customer Obstacles in sales refer to the barriers or issues that prevent potential buyers from making a purchase. These obstacles can be related to the product, price, timing, trust, or the buying process itself. Identifying and addressing these obstacles is key to closing sales successfully.

Synonyms: buyer obstacles, sales barriers, customer buying obstacles, purchase obstacles

question mark

Common Types of Customer Obstacles

Customer obstacles often include concerns about cost, doubts about product effectiveness, lack of urgency, or confusion about how the product fits their needs. Sometimes, customers face internal obstacles like budget restrictions or approval delays.

How Sales Teams Handle Customer Obstacles

Sales professionals listen carefully to understand the specific obstacles each customer faces. They then tailor their approach, providing clear information, demonstrating value, offering flexible terms, or addressing objections directly to help customers move forward.

Why Recognizing Customer Obstacles Matters

Spotting these obstacles early helps sales teams avoid wasted effort and focus on solutions that matter to the buyer. It also builds trust by showing customers that their concerns are heard and taken seriously.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the difference between customer obstacles and customer pain points? Customer pain points are specific problems customers want to solve, while customer obstacles are the barriers that stop them from buying solutions to those problems.

  • Can customer obstacles be overcome? Yes, with the right sales approach, many obstacles can be addressed through communication, negotiation, and providing additional information.

  • Are customer obstacles the same for every industry? No, obstacles vary by industry, product type, and customer profile, so sales strategies must adapt accordingly.

Try Innerview

Try the user interview platform used by modern product teams everywhere