Comments on: you can’t haggle with authenticity

By: Danielle LaPorte

Danielle LaPorte — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 16:08:34 +0000

re: "Do you have some mind reading device over there?" yes, yes I do.
great story!

By: (i)

(i) — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 13:04:28 +0000

Do you have some mind reading device over there? I'm so with you on this!

This reminds me of a story. My parents were selling their house a long time ago, and in comes this guy who makes an offer. As it turns out, he was some kind of expert on negotiating prices, and he new what was the highest theoretical percentage to deduct from the asking price, so it would come across as a serious offer / start of negotiation. So, that was exactly the price he offered, not rounded off, a six-different-figures offer and some cents. My dad still says that was the weirdest selling process he ever went through, but in the end the guy paid a fair price. Most likely not the asking price, since that is also not custom in the housing market.

By: Uncle Beefy

Uncle Beefy — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 02:05:11 +0000

No worries, Danielle! I won't be doing the whole .95/.99 thing because it just goes against what feels right to me. It's just nice to know others feel the same way after all the "persuasive suggestions" to do otherwise.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:04:09 +0000

Ugh, I'm with you on hating the .95 and .99 ending on prices. Just tonight I was watching some entertainment show about how you can get similar dresses to those worn by the stars at the Oscars for "less than $400!" while the price on the screen showed $398 or $388. Just call it what it is, $400!

By: Lindsey Lewis

Lindsey Lewis — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:13:55 +0000

yes! love this! i recently asked for an increased rate for some communications work that was being touted as simple copy writing. later, my buddies said, "you shoulda given them a higher rate, then they woulda lowered it, you countered, and gotten more in the end." yuck. I asked for what I thought it was worth and I got it. I'm happy, and I didn't have to fake anything.

By: Danielle LaPorte

Danielle LaPorte — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 21:07:20 +0000

don't do it. say no to sleaze - it's all so 80's.

By: Uncle Beefy

Uncle Beefy — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:12:24 +0000

Like jo martin above...I too am in the process of working on a business. Just this past weekend I had the same thoughts about pricing and heard from a number of people suggesting the whole $1.99 game versus $2! I was like, REALLY?!! And still thought...suck it...that's the way I'm doing things. But it was SOOOOO delightful to get this reassurance this morning! Hallelujah, Danielle! Thank you! :)

By: paul

paul — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:17:57 +0000

i approach craigslist the same way - if i'm selling, i sell for the lowest price i'll go, because i don't want to haggle or negotiate. most of the time it works, but sometimes people leave pissed off because they didn't get the thing for $90 when it was listed for $100.

By: Emily-Sarah

Emily-Sarah — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:12:50 +0000

Oh, yes! From the perspective of having to deal with cash-strapped/penny-pinching potential or actual clients at times, I agree that sometimes negotiating can be more of a collaboration (or "necessity"/authentic "We really want to do this but it's a tad over budget. Any wiggle room?" depending on the person/entity with which you're dealing), but often it is this damnable I'm-gonna-wear-you-down (or put fear in you) charade. As always, thanks for sharing truth -- and yourself!

By: Danielle LaPorte

Danielle LaPorte — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 17:06:25 +0000

vive les weirdos.