Discounts you offer vs. hagglers

5 replies
Hi everyone, hoping to get your input on this issue...

For one of my businesses, I recently discovered that I can't stand it when people ask me for discounts or give other signals that they're shopping by price. (I always turn them down.) However, I don't mind it when I put out a discounted offer and someone snatches it up.

My first thought was that this is completely irrational, and I must be a secret "control freak" - I need to feel that I'm in control of the transaction.

That may be one factor to a small extent (I'm not sure), but I suspect there's something else going on. The people who approach me asking for a discount, I strongly feel that they are not good customers to have, that they will be more likely to end up being complainers. I do not feel that way at all about the people who see a discounted offer and take it.

Best of all, of course, are those who see the regular price and take me up on it without haggling.

Do you have any insights to offer based on your observations and experiences?

Thanks,
Marcia Yudkin
#complaints #customers #discounts #hagglers #offer #offers #satisfaction
  • Profile picture of the author Jammy
    Having run several businesses I would 100% tell you to stick with your gut instinct.

    It is ALWAYS the ones that haggle, or want 'extra' discounts or whatever that end up being more work than your hassle-free usual customers.
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    • Profile picture of the author Formal Shorts
      I always like to over-deliver. If it's a large order, I'll not only over-deliver, but also round down the price.

      I've never once had anyone take issue with the price - and several instances of clients refusing the discount price because they are happy with the service and want to pay full whack.

      It definitely leaves you feeling more enthused when someone immediately accepts your terms and is eager to hire you. I don't think you can say that someone who haggles is definitely going to prove themselves to be a problematic client; rather you are not going to...how shall we put it..."feel the love".

      Thankfully I haven't had any experience with persistent hagglers - so far they have always accepted the price I offer...although that could just be a sign that I'm undercharging :p
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      • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
        On a product purchase, where there's a straight exchange, I don't mind people trying to see if I'll haggle. On a service-based offer, I'm much more in your court.

        When I offered consulting, people that haggled over the original deal always wanted to haggle over every little thing, whether it was a straight-up discount or wanting me to "just throw that in." I often spent as much time negotiating as working on the actual project, and many hagglers turned into champion slow-pay artists.
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  • Profile picture of the author wizzard1222
    Consider you time in dealing w/customer service....Which way do you want to go...????
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  • Profile picture of the author MaxWMedia
    If you have a price list, then it's a price list. I know someone who picks up the phone, asks if it's about money, if they respond no, or pause, he says e-mail me, and unless it's about you giving me money for a service we need not to talk.

    I think that is irrational! What is your thoughts?
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