OBAOL – “You Already Contacted Me” Handling Playbook
(Indian Market – CEO / Founder / Senior Trader Calls)
This is a locked response playbook for repeat-contact situations.
It is written exactly how BDAs should speak — not marketing language.
This must be handled calmly, without defensiveness, and without making OBAOL look disorganized.
First Rule (Non-Negotiable)
Never deny. Never argue. Never explain history.
Accept → clarify purpose → move forward.
Universal Acknowledgement (Always First)
Word-for-word:
“Yes, that’s right.
Thanks for remembering.”
⏸️ Pause.
This immediately:
- Disarms irritation
- Shows respect
- Avoids sounding confused
Scenario 1
“Yes, you contacted me earlier” (Neutral / Calm)
Response:
“Just to give you context —
earlier we introduced OBAOL at a high level.”
⏸️ Pause.
Then:
“Right now, we’re organizing relationships properly, so we’re checking whether it makes sense to assign a Relationship Partner going forward.”
Purpose:
Reframes the call as process maturity, not repetition.
Scenario 2
“Yes, I already shared details / spoke earlier” (Positive)
Response:
“That’s helpful. Thank you.”
⏸️ Pause.
Then:
“This call is only to confirm —
whether it makes sense to keep a single relationship point for you instead of multiple follow-ups.”
⏸️ Pause.
Then ask:
“Are you currently active in trade or sourcing decisions?”
- If yes → RP handoff
- If no → clean exit
Scenario 3
“You people already called, nothing happened” (Mildly Negative)
Response (Very Important):
“Understood.
That’s exactly what we’re trying to avoid.”
⏸️ Pause.
Then:
“We don’t want repeated or random calls.
That’s why we now assign one Relationship Partner only when it makes sense.”
Then ask:
“Would it be okay if I check whether this is relevant now?”
Effect:
Turns irritation into process improvement.
Scenario 4
“I don’t remember / maybe / long time back”
Response:
“No worries at all.”
⏸️ Pause.
Then:
“In short — OBAOL works as an extension of your sales and execution team, helping identify genuine opportunities and ensuring deals close safely.”
Then stop and check interest.
Scenario 5
“Yes, I already know about OBAOL” (Very Positive)
Response:
“That’s great.”
⏸️ Pause.
Then:
“This call is only to confirm whether it makes sense to move forward with a dedicated Relationship Partner, so conversations stay relevant and minimal.”
Then ask:
“Would that be useful for you?”
Scenario 6
“You already called, I’m not interested” (Hard Negative)
Response (Clean Exit):
“Understood.
Thank you for being clear.”
⏸️ Pause.
“I won’t take more of your time.”
End call immediately.
Do not defend.
Do not pitch.
What BDAs Must Never Say in This Situation
❌ “No, we didn’t call you”
❌ “Maybe someone else called”
❌ “You must be mistaken”
❌ “We are calling again because…”
❌ “Let me explain again”
Any of these destroy trust.
Internal BDA Rule (Very Important)
Repeat calls must sound like progress, not repetition.
You are not following up.
You are formalizing the relationship.
One-Line Internal Memory Aid
“Earlier = introduction.
Now = relationship clarity.”
Train BDAs to remember this.
Final CMO Verdict
This handling:
- Respects senior people’s memory
- Avoids embarrassment on both sides
- Makes OBAOL look organized, not spammy
- Justifies re-contact without pressure
- Smoothly enables RP handoff
You now have full coverage for:
- First contact
- Repeat contact
- Forgotten contact
- Positive memory
- Negative memory