B1Monologue3 Min.

Responding When a Customer Says the Quote Is Too High

"Your quote is too high" — the sentence every salesperson dreads. How to respond calmly and confidently in English.

Editorially reviewed by James Simmonds – English teacher since 2004Published 4 August 2026

Responding When the Quote Is Too High

SceneTrainer Ben shows how to handle the price objection: ask before you discount, explain the value — and if the budget is fixed, adjust the scope, not the price.

0:00 / 3 Min.

Tip: listen to the episode twice before you start the test.

✓ To the comprehension test

Ben — Business English trainer

Listen first, then answer. No penalties — every explanation points to the moment in the conversation.

01What is this episode about?

02What does Ben recommend as the first response?

03Ben recommends offering a discount immediately when a customer says the quote is too high.

04Ben suggests adjusting the scope if the customer's budget is fixed.

05Which word is missing?

Our ___ price reflects certified materials and a two-year warranty.

06Which word is missing?

May I ask what you're ___ our quote with?

07Put the steps of Ben's approach in the correct order.

Transcript

The full transcript opens after the comprehension test — so you train real listening instead of reading along.

German support

BenHello and welcome back to the Simmonds Business English Podcast. Today's topic is a moment every salesperson knows: you send a quote, the customer calls, and the first thing you hear is — 'I have to be honest, your quote is too high.' What do you say next?

BenRule number one: don't panic, and don't offer a discount immediately. 'Too high' is not the end of the conversation — it is an invitation to talk. A customer who really wanted to say no would simply not call you back.„Zu teuer" ist keine Absage, sondern eine Einladung zum Gespräch.

BenYour first response should be a thank-you and a question: 'Thank you for being open about it. May I ask what you're comparing our quote with?' You need to know what 'too high' means. Higher than a competitor? Higher than the budget? Or simply higher than expected?Sie müssen wissen, was „zu teuer" konkret bedeutet: Wettbewerber, Budget oder Erwartung?

BenA quick language warning before we continue. Many German speakers reach for the word 'actually' when they mean 'aktuell'. If you say 'our actual price list', an English listener hears 'unsere tatsächliche Preisliste'. The English word for 'aktuell' is 'current': our current price list, our current prices. And 'actually' means 'eigentlich' or 'in Wirklichkeit'.

BenOnce you understand the comparison, explain the value. Say: 'Let me walk you through what's included.' Then break the quote down: materials, installation, service, training. Many customers only see the total. When they see the parts, the number starts to make sense.Viele Kunden sehen nur die Endsumme – zeigen Sie die Bestandteile.

BenIf the customer's budget is really fixed, don't cut your price — adjust the scope. For example: 'If the budget is fixed, we can adjust the scope — a smaller first phase now, and the rest next year.' You protect your price, and the customer gets a way to say yes.

BenSometimes you simply have to defend the number. Do it with facts, not apologies: 'I understand the number looks high. Our current price reflects certified materials and a two-year warranty.' A calm sentence like this sounds far more convincing than an instant discount.

BenOne final rule: never talk badly about the cheaper competitor. Compare facts — delivery times, warranty, service — and let the customer draw the conclusion. In English business culture, criticising a competitor by name usually damages you, not them.

BenYour homework: write down your own answer to 'your quote is too high' in three sentences — a thank-you, a question, and one fact that supports your price. Practise it out loud. Until next time — happy negotiating.

Key phrases

quote

a formal statement of the price for a job or order

Could you send us a quote for two hundred units?

to compare

to look at two things to see the differences

We compared three offers before making a decision.

to walk someone through something

to explain something step by step

Let me walk you through the numbers on page two.

included

part of the price or package

Installation and training are included in the quote.

to adjust the scope

to change what the project includes

We adjusted the scope to fit the available budget.

warranty

a promise to repair or replace a product

The machine comes with a two-year warranty.

budget

the amount of money available to spend

Our budget for this project is fifty thousand euros.

current

valid or existing now

Please check our current prices on the website.

Language notes

In this episode you learn to respond to the price objection "your quote is too high": first ask what the customer is comparing with, then break down the value, and if the budget is fixed, adjust the scope instead of the price. Plus the false friend aktuell/actually — at level B1.

aktuell ≠ actually

This episode's false friend: "aktuell" sounds like "actually" but means "current". "Actually" means "in fact, in reality" — often with a correcting undertone: "Actually, we never received your email." Saying "our actual price list" accidentally implies there is also a fake one. Correct: "our current price list", "our current prices", "the current version". Rule of thumb: current = valid now, actual = real (as opposed to assumed).

The price objection: German directness, English response

German buyers often state price objections bluntly ("Das ist zu teuer."). English speakers usually soften the same objection ("I have to be honest, the quote is a little higher than we expected") — the meaning is identical. Your answer should have the same structure in both cultures: thanks for the openness, a clarifying question, facts. And in both: bad-mouthing the competitor damages you — compare facts like delivery times, warranty and service, and let the customer judge.

Scope, not price: the scope strategy

The strongest move in the episode: if the budget is truly fixed, don't cut the price — adjust the scope: "If the budget is fixed, we can adjust the scope." A smaller first phase, fewer units, a later expansion step: the customer gets a path to yes, and your price level stays intact. Discounting instantly, by contrast, signals that the first price was never serious — and from then on, every quote gets negotiated twice.

Keep practising: Learn business English online — with real teachers from Simmonds, since 2004.

Frequently asked questions

What language level is this episode for?

Level B1 (CEFR). The monologue is clearly structured; all model phrases and the eight key terms are explained bilingually.

What do I say to "your quote is too high"?

Three sentences: thanks ("Thank you for being open about it"), a question ("May I ask what you're comparing our quote with?") and one fact that supports the price ("Our current price reflects certified materials and a two-year warranty").

What is the difference between "actual" and "current"?

"Current" means valid now ("our current prices"). "Actual" means real/true ("the actual costs were higher than planned"). German "aktuell" tempts learners into "actual" — a classic false friend.

Where can I practise price conversations in English live?

In the online business English courses from Simmonds Language Services (englisch-lehrer.com/online): live lessons with real teachers on Zoom. Book a free consultation to discuss your level and goals.

Are the voices real?

Episodes are produced with high-quality AI voices (Hume) and editorially reviewed by our trainer team — the same method as our interactive lessons.

Want to practise these phrases in a real conversation?

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