What did the buyer just say?

31 quoted moves from 13 episodes. Every quote is copied from the episode transcript and checked against it, word for word, each time this site is built; a quote that does not match stops the build. The transcripts are machine-made and do not say who is speaking, so each quote is credited to its episode rather than to a person.

• “We don't have it in the budget.”

  Usually narrower than it sounds.

• “Come back when next year's budget is set.”

  A timing answer, and often an honest one.

• “Send the MSA over and we'll run it through legal.”

  Agreeable, and the place large-company deals go to sit.

• “We already have a vendor for that.”

  Usually true, and not a no.

• “Just send me some information.”

  Sometimes a real next step, often a polite exit.

• “Just respond to the RFP like everyone else.”

  Procurement often needs a set number of bids, and the users may already have a favourite.

• “Your price is too high.”

  Often a procurement position rather than the user's view.

• “I'll have to run it by the team.”

  There is a buying committee and you have met part of it.

• “We stick with the names we know.”

  The safe-harbor answer.

• “Can you run a pilot for us first, at no cost?”

  A pilot is a reasonable ask and a free one is a test of intent.

Not here: “you are not on our approved vendor list.” The show names it but never gives a way through it, and a page without handling would only be our opinion.