Is That the Best You Can Do?
| Category: Personal Development For Marketeers | Date: 2001-03-13 |
On a weekend trip a few years ago, my wife and I stayed overnight in southern New Hampshire. As we looked for a place to stay, I remembered a very nice hotel from when I had attended a conference a few years back.
I expected the rooms would be nearly $200, which was more than we wanted to spend. However, I figured it didn’t cost anything to look, and it being a weekend, perhaps they had some kind of package or special rate.
When I walked up to the desk I asked if there was availability for the night. The very pleasant, very friendly desk clerk assured me that there was. I mentioned that I had been to the hotel before and liked it and explained that my wife and I were here on a quick trip and would like to stay if the price was right. Did they have a weekend rate? He said that they did and quoted me $110 dollars for a room that went for $175 during the week.
That seemed like a good deal and I told him so. I then asked him a very important question. I asked him if that was the very best that he could do. He hesitated a moment and then asked me to wait. He looked at a couple things on his desk, went back to the room behind the counter and in only a few seconds emerged to tell me that because they weren’t very busy this weekend, he could do it for $80. I thanked him and we were shown to our room.
Eighty dollars is about what we would have paid somewhere else, but instead we were staying in a four-star hotel. What a difference. By the way, breakfast was included with the room. It was delicious.
When I bought my car that summer, I also saved money by posing a question. The asking price of the vehicle was far less than it was worth. I know, because when I paid the sales tax on it to the state, I had to pay it on the book value rather than the actual selling price. After looking at several other comparable cars, I went back to the owner and asked a few more questions about the car. Even though I was fully prepared to meet his price, I decided to at least try for a better one. I asked if he would take 10% less than what he was asking. He thought only for a second and then said, Sure.
By simply asking the question, I saved a bundle. I don’t know what your hourly rate is, but mine doesn’t come close to what I earned per minute actually per second of negotiation in the two examples above.
Am I bragging here? Maybe just a little. But like one guy said, If it’s true, it ain’t bragging. I share this with you to help you see the ease and the power of asking the question. In practically any transaction, simply ask, Is that the very best that you can do? Ask it with sincerity, ask it in a friendly manner, and you will get positive results. After all, the worst that can happen is they’ll say, Yes, that’s the very best we can do. From there you can decide for yourself what you want to do.
You don’t get what you deserve. You get what you negotiate. Try it. It works.
About the author:
Michael Angier is the founder and president of Success Net, publishers of SUCCESS STRATEGIES and SUCCESS DIGEST. Success Net is a worldwide association committed to helping people become more knowledgeable, productive and effective. Their mission is to inform, inspire and empower people to be their best personally and professionally.
success@successnet.org
http://www.successnet.org/
I expected the rooms would be nearly $200, which was more than we wanted to spend. However, I figured it didn’t cost anything to look, and it being a weekend, perhaps they had some kind of package or special rate.
When I walked up to the desk I asked if there was availability for the night. The very pleasant, very friendly desk clerk assured me that there was. I mentioned that I had been to the hotel before and liked it and explained that my wife and I were here on a quick trip and would like to stay if the price was right. Did they have a weekend rate? He said that they did and quoted me $110 dollars for a room that went for $175 during the week.
That seemed like a good deal and I told him so. I then asked him a very important question. I asked him if that was the very best that he could do. He hesitated a moment and then asked me to wait. He looked at a couple things on his desk, went back to the room behind the counter and in only a few seconds emerged to tell me that because they weren’t very busy this weekend, he could do it for $80. I thanked him and we were shown to our room.
Eighty dollars is about what we would have paid somewhere else, but instead we were staying in a four-star hotel. What a difference. By the way, breakfast was included with the room. It was delicious.
When I bought my car that summer, I also saved money by posing a question. The asking price of the vehicle was far less than it was worth. I know, because when I paid the sales tax on it to the state, I had to pay it on the book value rather than the actual selling price. After looking at several other comparable cars, I went back to the owner and asked a few more questions about the car. Even though I was fully prepared to meet his price, I decided to at least try for a better one. I asked if he would take 10% less than what he was asking. He thought only for a second and then said, Sure.
By simply asking the question, I saved a bundle. I don’t know what your hourly rate is, but mine doesn’t come close to what I earned per minute actually per second of negotiation in the two examples above.
Am I bragging here? Maybe just a little. But like one guy said, If it’s true, it ain’t bragging. I share this with you to help you see the ease and the power of asking the question. In practically any transaction, simply ask, Is that the very best that you can do? Ask it with sincerity, ask it in a friendly manner, and you will get positive results. After all, the worst that can happen is they’ll say, Yes, that’s the very best we can do. From there you can decide for yourself what you want to do.
You don’t get what you deserve. You get what you negotiate. Try it. It works.
About the author:
Michael Angier is the founder and president of Success Net, publishers of SUCCESS STRATEGIES and SUCCESS DIGEST. Success Net is a worldwide association committed to helping people become more knowledgeable, productive and effective. Their mission is to inform, inspire and empower people to be their best personally and professionally.
success@successnet.org
http://www.successnet.org/
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