How to respond to “I don't have time right now”: 3 short answers
“I don't have time right now.”
“I don't have time right now” should be taken literally: ask for little, fast, and propose a specific moment. Three answers that respect their time.
Practice this objectionWhy buyers say it
When someone tells you they don't have time, the worst thing you can do is keep talking. Sometimes it's literally true: you called at the wrong moment, there's a customer at the counter, a job site waiting. Sometimes it's a way to end the call without arguing. Either way the right response is the same: be extremely brief, ask one thing, and propose a specific time for the rest. Founders selling their own product usually have too much to say and say all of it, right when the other person can't listen. The irony is that whoever truly respects the buyer's time, wrapping up in twenty seconds with an appointment, gets more attention than whoever pushes.
What it often means
- They're genuinely busy: you called at the wrong moment
- They don't see a reason to give you any time
- They want to end the call without saying no
Three answers that work
Then I won't take any more of it. One thing, ten seconds: I make a tool that lets you write quotes from your phone in five minutes instead of at the kitchen table at night. If that's interesting, give me a time and I'll call you. If not, no problem.
Why it works: It respects their time in a concrete way: you wrap up immediately, give one sentence of substance and leave the choice to them. Busy people appreciate it. People who just wanted out have an easy exit.
Got it, I caught you at a bad moment. When are you usually less slammed, early morning or after six? I'll call then and keep it under ten minutes, promise.
Why it works: You don't argue with the objection, you accept it and ask only for the right moment. Offering two times makes answering easy, and the stated ten-minute cap lowers the resistance.
Understood, and sorry for the interruption. Can I text you one line and a link that explains it in a minute? If you look and it's useful, you text me back. If not, you won't hear from me again.
Why it works: It proposes the smallest possible step, one the buyer can take whenever they want. And it says out loud that you won't chase. Oddly enough, that's what makes people more likely to reply.
Avoid this one
It'll only take two minutes, seriously, just listen: our tool…
Why not: It ignores what the buyer just said and forces them to listen. Even if the product were perfect, the only thing they'll remember is that you didn't respect their no. And two minutes is never two minutes, and they know it.
Example dialogue
BuyerLook, I'm on a job, I don't have time right now.
YouGot it, sorry. Ten seconds: I make a tool for writing quotes from your phone instead of at night. Can I call at a better time?
BuyerI mean, I do write quotes at night, yeah. When?
YouTomorrow after six work? Ten minutes, no more.
BuyerSix thirty.
YouPerfect, I'll call at six thirty. Have a good one.
Practice this objection
A simulated buyer says it to you out loud (or in writing), you answer, and you get a score plus the model answer. Free, no account, 2 minutes.
FAQ
Should I call back someone who says they don't have time?
Yes, but only at the time you agreed on, and only if you said in one sentence what it's about. Someone who accepted a time knowing the topic gave you a small yes. Someone who wouldn't give you a time probably isn't interested, and a second cold attempt rarely changes that.
How do I sum up my product in one sentence?
Say who it's for, what it takes off their plate, and how fast. “For [type of customer], it gets [the task] done in [time] instead of [how they do it today].” No features, no adjectives. If you can't say it in one sentence, that's a product or positioning problem, not a phone call problem.
Is it better to call or text someone who's always rushing?
Depends on the trade. People who work with their hands rarely pick up during the day. A short text with a proposed time works better. People in front of a screen often prefer a brief call at a set time. Either way: one sentence, one time slot, no follow-up if they don't respond.