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> By partnering with customers to actually solve their problems I'm so tired of hearing this word from a vendor. We are not partners. If I'm paying you money,

> By partnering with customers to actually solve their problems I'm so tired of hearing this word from a vendor. We are not partners. If I'm paying you money, then I'm a customer. You are a vendor. Partners is "this is going to cost us $X. I pay half. You pay half"

RyanRich 5y ago
You're going to love our tagline then :) Moving B2B sales from vendorship Partnership. Don't get me wrong, there will always be transactional purchases, but in the B2B SaaS space we're operating in buyers are looking for partners to teach and guide them. The businesses that we sell to (and that our users sell to) are trying to solve a problem rather than purchase a product. It's hard to help someone solve a hairy problem in a meaningful way if you look at the sale as transactional. Also since this is SaaS the buyer can leave. You need to continue to provide value over an extended period of time.
- notyourday 5y ago
  I see this as a sign that we are getting ready to collapse as it reminds me of the way the borderline finance scams are being sold to elderly - - "we are not here to sell you financial products -- that's evil and it just enriches the brokers, we are here to educate you on stuff that we happen so have a partners that sell. And if you know of other products that could be sold to people like you, tell them about our program."
  - RyanRich 5y ago
    Maybe my experience is unique, but I've seen large and small businesses successfully partner together (with money, knowledge, and other goods being exchanged as part of the partnership). This was true during my time building the sales process at Google Cloud, and helping other startups build their go-to-market motions at Accord.
rossrich 5y ago
That’s a very fair point. And I don’t like hearing it either from reps or companies that don’t truly value my business or treat me as I’d treat others. On the other side, I do believe in a world where you can still charge someone $$ and the relationship is built in a way where 1+1 = > 3. I’ve personally told potential buyers that we’re not a fit for them even though I know I could close the deal. I’ve had others do the same thing for me and point me to a competitor. That’s what we mean by partnership vs vendorship. It’s about being a partner regardless of the outcome and focusing on adding value over just closing another deal. I’m not saying this is the world we live in today but one I’m passionate about driving towards.
- notyourday 5y ago
  > On the other side, I do believe in a world where you can still charge someone $$ and the relationship is built in a way where 1+1 = > 3. I totally agree with this, but none the less this is nor a partnership. I'm not upset that I'm being treated as a customer. I'm upset when I am being told that I'm being treated as a partner, except that you are making out like a bandit on what you are selling me.
  - rossrich 5y ago
    So it’s more about the framing and language than it is the actual relationship itself? I think my perspective differs slightly in that I don’t see anyone “making out like a bandit” and the exchange is (ideally) mutually beneficial. Another angle is that vendors can be so crucial to your business that it also feels more like a partnership. At least that’s how I felt at Stripe working with customers (who called me/us their partner if we did things right)

RyanRich 5y ago

You're going to love our tagline then :) Moving B2B sales from vendorship Partnership. Don't get me wrong, there will always be transactional purchases, but in the B2B SaaS space we're operating in buyers are looking for partners to teach and guide them. The businesses that we sell to (and that our users sell to) are trying to solve a problem rather than purchase a product. It's hard to help someone solve a hairy problem in a meaningful way if you look at the sale as transactional. Also since this is SaaS the buyer can leave. You need to continue to provide value over an extended period of time.

notyourday 5y ago
I see this as a sign that we are getting ready to collapse as it reminds me of the way the borderline finance scams are being sold to elderly - - "we are not here to sell you financial products -- that's evil and it just enriches the brokers, we are here to educate you on stuff that we happen so have a partners that sell. And if you know of other products that could be sold to people like you, tell them about our program."
- RyanRich 5y ago
  Maybe my experience is unique, but I've seen large and small businesses successfully partner together (with money, knowledge, and other goods being exchanged as part of the partnership). This was true during my time building the sales process at Google Cloud, and helping other startups build their go-to-market motions at Accord.

rossrich 5y ago

That’s a very fair point. And I don’t like hearing it either from reps or companies that don’t truly value my business or treat me as I’d treat others. On the other side, I do believe in a world where you can still charge someone $$ and the relationship is built in a way where 1+1 = > 3. I’ve personally told potential buyers that we’re not a fit for them even though I know I could close the deal. I’ve had others do the same thing for me and point me to a competitor. That’s what we mean by partnership vs vendorship. It’s about being a partner regardless of the outcome and focusing on adding value over just closing another deal. I’m not saying this is the world we live in today but one I’m passionate about driving towards.

notyourday 5y ago
> On the other side, I do believe in a world where you can still charge someone $$ and the relationship is built in a way where 1+1 = > 3. I totally agree with this, but none the less this is nor a partnership. I'm not upset that I'm being treated as a customer. I'm upset when I am being told that I'm being treated as a partner, except that you are making out like a bandit on what you are selling me.
- rossrich 5y ago
  So it’s more about the framing and language than it is the actual relationship itself? I think my perspective differs slightly in that I don’t see anyone “making out like a bandit” and the exchange is (ideally) mutually beneficial. Another angle is that vendors can be so crucial to your business that it also feels more like a partnership. At least that’s how I felt at Stripe working with customers (who called me/us their partner if we did things right)