Depending on where you are when you are reading this, you may or may not be familiar with negotiation on purchases. In some cultures it's a given to haggle about a price; it's just part of the process. In other cultures, there is a price in the software so that when the tag is scanned at checkout, the price pulls from the database. Not much room for negotiation.
But in some cases negotiation might be an option if we were conditioned to ask for it.
Obviously there are financial benefits. If you get 10% off a purchase of a few hundred dollars, that does add up over time.
If you develop a practice of at least asking and have success 10% of the time, or 25% of the time, then it's worth considering.
Sometimes the negotiation might not be financial but for an add-on service so that you get more out of the purchase.
Negotiation sometimes can actually enhance your relationship with the seller if done in the right manner.
So how do you do it?
1. Understand the business. If you see things from the merchant's point of view, you can better negotiate. What is in the business's best interest? Probably your repeat business and the relationship with you is top of mind for the seller. You can negotiate with this in mind.
2. Business deserve a fair profit. In fact, if your favorite coffee and bagel shop goes out of business because all the customers negotiated too hard, what good is that for you?
3. Be agreeable. You don't have to drive a hard bargain. Asking politely and cheerfully is acceptable in most cases and should not be offensive. It's not helpful for you as a client to elicit frowns when you walk in the store. But done the right way, for the right product doens't have to be difficult.
For some of you - and me - this is not easy. But as a practice we can all learn when the price may have some potential for negotiation. It can really be win-win and can develop a relationship at the same time - if you do it the right way.
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