I'm not sure why people aren't snatching things up from you. You seem like such a nice guy.

haha, but that's the point Claude, I never usually get to deal with someone anyways when the negotiations start like that

I think you're looking at this with the wrong perspective. Everyone has always wanted to know the least amount they could have the product for. They are essentially saying "how much is it? And that means you have a buyer who is interested. Instead of answering the question by "dropping to your knees" you have several options to proceed.

The next step is to get them to answer a question with a yes. "So your interested in the product and you'd take it if the price were right?"

You have to control the conversation as the salesman in a sales situation. Following their answer you could proceed in many ways, perhaps work to identify other reasons they may have that would prevent them from buying. Other than that, you could explain why it's better to buy from you as opposed to someone else. I've paid more in the past for a product simply because I trusted the seller with the higher price more than the seller with a lower price.

I think it might be in your best interest to study up on the art of selling.

Look up:

"How to master the art of sales" Tom Hopkins

"How to Sell Anything to Anybody" Joe Girard

And of course there are many others book on the topic.

One more thing, you should actually be excited by having qualified leads asking about your products and prices.

Good Luck

The art of haggling has certainly lost students over the years. I think that has to do with how we are initially brought up learning about business or our first exposure to it, and it's often not as an adult, but as a kid with baseball cards or toys. I love to haggle, and wheel and deal, it's a lot of fun and a skill that's good to keep sharp.

All you have to do is ask right? What's the worst they can do? Say no?

what is up with asking the question 'what is the lowest price you will accept?'

In asking this question, the potential customer has entered into negotiations. They are hoping that you fold and return a lower price, which then gives them leverage to reduce you further. If you have complete faith in your product, the easy answer is 'I will not drop below my set price'.
Negotiating can continue from there, but the customer is given a clear message that you have confidence in your products market worth.

Just respond with "what's the most you will pay?"

Honestly, I know that people put padding on items they are selling usually, and asking what their bottom line is, is not out of line.

Your looking for a deal........ to make some cash.
Their looking for a deal........ to spend the least amount of cash as possible.

Your both using a bargaining tactic. Theirs just cripples yours, because they are straight to the point, not wanting to waste anytime at all. If your bottom line is over what they are willing to spend (which they are not revealing, just as your not revealing your bottom line) they move on....

It's simple...

They trumpted your tactic....

Yep, this is part of sales. Something that is useful to learn how to deal with.

Ask them what they can afford, then tell them that you'll figure out what features/benefits to remove.

OR ask them in an almost neutral, but slightly condescending way, "is price the only thing you're concerned about?"

They will usually say "no, but its important".

Then you can say something like, "if you needed brain surgery, would you try to find the cheapest doctor?"

They'll say something like, "well this is not brain surgery".

Then you agree and say, "you're right... what if it was a broken bone, would you still want to find the cheapest doctor to fix it"?

If they still say, "thats not the same",

Then keep going backwards, "what if your dog had a broken bone.. would you try to find the cheapest vet?"

At some point they will do 1 of 2 things. They'll either give up, or get angry and shout "its just a couch!" (and they will feel cheap when they say it)

Then you apologize as calmy as possible.

Say something like "I'm sorry, this was my fault. I had foolishly assumed that the couch I listed, and the price I gave you, was something you were actually interested in".

Sometimes if you act like a stupid person, but say the right things, rather than acting like a salesman, it'll make them feel guilty. My brother is a master at acting like this.

They'll usually say something like "I AM interested in the couch!". By this time they will also feel a false sense of control, so you shoot back, "ok, I see now! well then.. what price seems fair to you?"

And there you go, conversation turned around. If you can make the target, feel like the aggressor, its a great mindf**k to play with their heads.

If they don't answer, then tell them you don't like to play games, and will find somebody else to buy the couch.

Whatever you do, try to make them feel like they're in control of the situation. Feed their ego as much as possible. There are some very subtle ways you can do this in sales, where the person is tricked into thinking they control the situation. And that is the easiest way to close a sale.

If someone were to ask me and not make a valid lower offer, I might only take a couple dollars off, or just ell them the price posted was the lowest acceptable offer.

I am one of those who doesn't like to "deal". Tell me what price you want. If I am willing to pay, I will, otherwise, I just move on to the next whatever.

The way I work, the answer is easy. Question: "What is the lowest that you will take?" Answer: "$120.00."

My Uncle was really good at turning a $100 Ad into a $150 sale to... resellers. That was his target market... resellers. He taught me to never advertise anything for less than $100 and when resellers called and asked "What is the lowest you can go?" to reply that the only way to get a lower price was to buy in bulk or bundle... and here is the clincher he always used > "As long as supplies last."

Long story short he always turned $100 ads into $150 sales.

Jeffery 100% :-)

Why not reply with $120?

Since this is the price you listed, it seems natural/normal to assume it is the "lowest you'll take."

So reply and tell them $120 is the lowest -- but you'll happily take MORE if they can convince you it'd be worth it. Then ask them how much more they had in mind. Haha.

The art or negotiation is a dying skill... people are getting too used to getting things handed on a plate.

I like it when I am giving away something for free on classified site Kijiji and I hear every sob story in the book.
One was a sob story for a lawn swing best part was they live 5 minutes from me and low and behold guess what was on their lawn with a for sale sign on it yup lawn swing their poor mother needed.

I just ask them... what's the highest price you are prepared to pay?

Then leave the onus on them. Tell them that at this stage, the lowest price is the listed price... until you get a reasonable and firm offer.

Sal

LOL well said, meng!

Asking for the lowest you will take IS dealing imo. My grandfather was a real estate investor back in the 50s thru the mid 70s and if he was interested in a piece of property, he would say to the owner: "What's the lowest you'll take? I can write you a check for the full amount right now."

He was a predator on desperate sellers and it worked great for him.

But you could reverse it by replying something like "I was actually about to raise the asking price, but if you make an offer close to what it is now, I may sell it to you before I do that." Then you may get offers of $100 or $110, which would be above your $90.

"Whats the most you'll pay" I like it

Thanks for all the great responses everyone, this started as a bit of a rant thread but I think there is some real good information/ideas in here! Definitely made me rethink things a bit.

... the best price for me is more than what I'm asking. Do you want it for that price, or what I have it listed for?

I personally feel that there is nothing wrong in asking but it will be better if they state the price that they are willing to pay in the first place. This avoid wasting of time and the negotiation can continue.

This is great thread. Some people are such cheapskates. I run a small seasonal retail business. Once a guy came to the cash register with an item in his hand and said to me. "This is a really good price, can you do better?" I am not kidding you.