Saying the wrong thing while haggling can result in you paying substantially more than you would otherwise. Here are some things that you shouldn’t say while haggling:
1. Avoid The Term Between When Discussing Price:
If you present a range of acceptable prices, the seller will focus on the upper end of the range. Most experts feel that providing a range of acceptable prices is essentially the same as closing at the upper figure from the onset.
2. Don’t Mention Your Own Time Pressures:
If a seller sees that you’re pressured for time, he or she is likely to take advantage of the situation by assuming that you’ll be willing to accept a higher price. Don’t use any terminology that would indicate that you have less time to spare than the seller. A good way to be certain that you won’t have to mention time pressures is to avoid negotiating at a time when you may have other obligations.
3. Never Say You’re “Close” To The Price You Want:
When you say that the price is “close” to where you’d want it to be, you’re ruining your chances of the haggling going significantly lower. This also can signal that you’re pressured for time. In many cases, this can result in you paying a significantly higher rate than you ordinarily would.
4. Never Ask The Seller About Price At The Beginning Of Negotiations:
Studies have shown that when the seller sets the starting price, the final price tends to be significantly higher than when the buyer sets the price. Also, you should never throw out a price that is anywhere near the upper end of the range that you’d be willing to accept.
6. Don’t Say Things To Indicate That You’re The Only One Responsible For The Decision:
If you present yourself as the only one making the decision, it’s likely that the final price will be significantly higher than it would be otherwise. If you are the only one calling the shots, you shouldn’t say anything that could even possibly allow the seller to think this is the case. The individual you say that you say you’re answering to could be members of a corporate board or an individual with a large amount of stock in your company. For individuals who own small businesses, the individual could be a business partner or associate.
7. Never Say Anything That Indicates You Take What The Other Negotiator Says Personally:
If you show that you’re easily angered or rattled, this signals lack of experience. Experienced negotiators almost never appear visibly rattled. Therefore, becoming rattled or angry can result in you paying a higher price.
If the other person becomes angry and you appear calm, this is likely to result in you getting a drastically better deal than you would if you also become angry. In fact, this situation is likely to give you an almost certain advantage over the seller.
It’s common for experienced negotiators to attempt to rattle small business owners. Therefore, this is something to be especially mindful of this if you own a small business.
8. Don’t Signal That You’re Too Attached To The Item You’re Purchasing:
If you’re too personally attached to the item that you are looking for, it’s likely to result in you being willing to accept a significantly higher price than you otherwise would. This is because you are likely to be unable to walk away from the deal, and your seller will know this. Before you go into the negotiations, it’s important to remind yourself that you’re able to walk away from the deal if you need to. This will prevent you from inadvertently appearing overly attached to the item.
9. Avoid Making An Excessively Stingy Offer:
If you offer an excessively low price, it is likely to be off putting to the seller. In some cases, a seller may become irritated with it and refuse to negotiate the price down. A general guideline is to request around 35 percent less than a typical listed price to start.
10. Be Respectful Of The Merchandise:
Even if the merchandise you’re purchasing isn’t top quality, it’s important not to indicate that you feel it is low quality. In fact, don’t even disagree with the claims that the merchant makes about the product (unless they are blatantly false). Saying negative things about the product is likely to irritate the seller, and it may result in you being forced to pay full price for the product.
11. Don’t Say Things That Show Indecisiveness:
Do not express uncertainty in the price that you are suggesting, and expressions of uncertainty aren’t always overt. Be mindful of your tone when you express the price that you would wish to purchase the product for.
