How to handle: "We tried a similar solution before and it didn't work out."
Explore what went wrong specifically, then understand their definition of success so the conversation moves from "we tried a similar solution before" to the business outcome they actually care about.
What this objection really means
Often a misunderstanding of the use case — or a legitimate gap you need to acknowledge and reframe around the outcome. For "we tried a similar solution before" specifically, the underlying job is to explore what went wrong specifically before you say anything else — that one move usually reveals whether this is a genuine blocker or a reflex response.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does "We tried a similar solution before and it didn't work out." really mean?
- Often a misunderstanding of the use case — or a legitimate gap you need to acknowledge and reframe around the outcome. In this specific case, the signal you're looking for is whether you've done step one: explore what went wrong specifically. If that's missing, the objection will keep resurfacing.
- What's the best framework for handling this objection?
- Use the Product & Fit framework: Clarify the underlying job-to-be-done → Show the closest-fit path → Be honest about gaps → Re-anchor on outcome. For "we tried a similar solution before" specifically, the move that matters most is to understand their definition of success before you differentiate from previous solution.
- Should I respond immediately or ask a question first?
- Ask first. A useful opener here is: "When you say 'we tried a similar solution before', what's the specific thing driving that?" — it earns you the right to respond and prevents you from solving the wrong version of the objection.
- What's the single most common mistake reps make here?
- Promising a feature on the roadmap to win the deal — it creates a delivery liability. Specifically on "we tried a similar solution before", reps tend to skip "explore what went wrong specifically" — which is the one move that turns the objection from a wall into a conversation.
- How should I follow up if the call ends with "we tried a similar solution before"?
- Send a short recap that mirrors their exact language, references one piece of proof (case study, benchmark, or customer quote), and proposes one specific, low-commitment next step with a date attached.
- Can I practice this objection with an AI buyer?
- Yes — LemCoach scenarios let you run a live roleplay where the AI prospect uses "We tried a similar solution before and it didn't work out." verbatim, then scores your response against the key points: Explore what went wrong specifically; Understand their definition of success; Differentiate from previous solution.