Customers Asking For A Lower Price

[susien]

How do you deal with a customer who asks you for a lower price on a item? Or about a "better" price since they are buying more than one of them? I have a major poblem with this, I am not having a garage sale nor am I at a Swap Meet.... So far all I have answered is sorry.

[carminedelvecchio]

Now here's a lady who knows what she's talking about! Great post! Thanks for the advice and suggestions! I also give similar deals when the time calls for it! I agree with what you say about the customers and how they have "perceived" values on all items.

[mark]

I am a Jeweler my jewelry is handmade and not some cheap crap that some vendors call jewelry. most of you know jewelry is the #1 category in Arts and Craft shows so i have to compete with alot of others. i need to sell these people right now not let them get away cause they will find lots of jewelry and forget about me.i really work customers but i don't hard sell cause that turns them off.now as far as customers asking for a discount i get maybe one or two asking per weekend and i use this.my cost have gone up about 25% in the last year and i have not raised my price since we have a poor economy, so you really are getting a nice discount already, that pretty much ends that subject and they usually buy when i explain that .now there are certain cultures that if you don't give them a little something they walk just my experince and if there spending 100 bucks or so i will give them a token discount of maybe 5 -10 percent.
as far as having customers asking for a 50 percent discount i just say no thank you and have a nice day, i am sure we ALL get those types.ok thats my 2 cents for what its worth.

[susien]

New one for me: I will be back at the end of the day when you discount the prices..... I smile and nicely say "Sorry, no discounts.... I will use it for my next show"......

[mark]

Susien,next time someone asks you for a discount:say your item is $10 and they offer you $5,just say no but i'll take $15.thats sure to piss them off and who cares there not going to buy anyways and you will get a big laugh!

[susien]

Mark,
You made my day with your answer...... hubby is still sitting there laughing. Will let you know how it works.

Susie

[traveler]

The "I'll be back at the end of the show when the prices are lower" answer has been around as long as the hills. I usually smile and simply say "My quantities are limited. Chances are I'll be out by then. The other good one is "I don't want to carry it around" it is sweet justice when an undecided customer comes back wanting his cheaper priced item and it has sold out!
When someone asks me for a moderately lower price on multiple items 1st thing I check is if it is cash. Credit card fees are way too high to give them MOre monsy off the sales.
Peole LOVE a bargain. it is a GREAT marketing tool to be able to say "you know, it is 3 for 27, and you have 2 that will cost you 22. Don't you want 3?
Though I too have many items that are non negotiabe. The quality is too high and the cost to ship to me is very high. I can't afford to barter, but I can explain why it is a higher price.
I do give a vendor a discount. (again my items are NOT hand made!) but karma is important and I have been rewarded with kindness in more ways than a few dollar discount could repay.

[laptoo]

Mark - I've done the very same thing! People will ask what I will "take" for maybe a $25.00 pair of earrings, and I say $30.00. When they say that's more than what I had them tagged for, I reply, "Well, then you are getting a good deal for the $25.00, aren't you?" Sometimes they laugh, sometimes they walk away. Either way, I don't care, my prices are good, and not the highest, by any stretch. I use quality components, and have been doing this a long time, I'm not going to sell my jewelry for peanuts. Laura