Second, when you drop your price too quickly, you teach your customer to repeat that behavior in future transactions. Remember: everything you do now affects your customer’s behavior toward you in the future. When I first started my private practice, I gave a client a discount on a package of services. The next time he contacted me, he demanded that same discount, which put me in a somewhat precarious position — did I give the same discount or risk losing the sale? A business executive once told me that she knew which of her suppliers she could browbeat into giving her a better price and she always took advantage of that perceived weakness.
So, what is the best way to respond to a request for a discount or better price?
Professional negotiators will tell you to flinch. A flinch is a visible reaction to a request or demand and goes something like this: “You want a discount? Even though we have been working together for four years and you know our services will help you get better results, you still want a discount?” When coupled with the right facial expressions and body language, this technique is extremely effective. However, I have found that most people are extremely uncomfortable using this approach, and even I find it difficult to apply on a consistent basis.
An effective way to respond to a request for a better price is to ask, “What did you have in mind?” or “What were you looking for?” When you ask one of these questions, you get the other person to tell you how much of a discount she wants. In many cases her expectation will be less than you are prepared to give, which means you will increase the size of the sale and save money at the same time — a double win. One word of caution here: an experienced negotiator will say, “Well, I want a better price than this,” which means you need to be prepared to ask the question a couple of times.
This also applies to email correspondence. Many people will ask their salesperson for a discount via email, which makes it next to impossible to use some of the standard negotiating techniques. Before you respond by offering a better price, take the time to properly craft your email. Here is what you can say: “We might be able to do something for you. What did you have in mind?” The key is to give the indication that you have flexibility without committing to something you might regret later.
This sounds like an easy technique to use, but it’s not. You have to train yourself to listen for your customer’s question and be prepared to respond with your own. I hate to admit it, but I have fallen for this question because I wasn’t expecting it. In one situation an existing client asked me for a package price on some bundled services. Instead of responding by asking what price he was looking for, I automatically offered a small discount. I kicked myself afterwards because I felt that I should have known better.
It is essential to listen carefully to what your prospect says and to think before you speak. It is also critical to practice asking your question until it becomes second nature so you can respond quickly when a prospect asks for a discount or better price.
About the Author
Kelley Robertson, author of The Secrets of Power Selling, helps sales professionals and businesses pinpoint how they can improve their sales. Receive a free copy of “100 Ways to Increase Your Sales” by subscribing to his free newsletter available at www.kelleyrobertson.com. Kelley conducts workshops and speaks regularly at sales meetings and conferences. For information on his programs, contact him at 905-633-7750 or kelley@robertsontraininggroup.com.
