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Tips for negotiating with vendors

amber&richard05amber&richard05
100 Comments
in Texas-Dallas and Ft. Worth
I am hoping to negotiate with a vendor, and I am not quite sure what to say. So how did you approach a vendor on negotiating prices? Did you get alot of no's, if so did the vendor act different towards you? I am actually really quite nervous about this tatic. So any tips will be helpful.
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Re: Tips for negotiating with vendors

  • fallbride1109fallbride1109 member
    5000 Comments Fifth Anniversary 5 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    I really didn't do much of this myself but for instance with my photographer I was like, look, this is our budget for this, what can we do?  I'm always of the opinion that honesty is the best policy.  If you only have $X amount for something, then just tell them.  Or if you have Vendor B that comes in a little lower, but you really want to use Vendor A, just tell Vendor A and see what they can do.  If they value your business, they will make it work. Maybe someone else on here will have another take on it but that's mine.
    Planning the Meal
    With All the Trimmings
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  • JennDoddJennDodd
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I would first say make sure you believe in the amount you are budgeting. I know, my budget was completely wrong in many areas. I think the calculators don't work for everyone. If you think the amount you want to spend is appropriate, then just be honest with them. I have found they will make adjustments in what they do to meet your budget (as long as it is reasonable).
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  • TerriniskiTerriniski
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I asked for a general price quote, and if it was too high I said something like "Thanks for the information.  Unfortunately my budget is only $XX.  Do you have any colleagues in the business who might be able to meet my budget?  Thanks."  If the quote was too high and included services that I didn't need, I asked what the quote would be if I removed those services - if it was still too high, I went into the approach I just mentioned.  I had some vendors recommend me to other vendors, and I had some vendors say "I can do it for that!"  So it depends on how much they need your business, I think.
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  • appletango85appletango85 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I skipped the haggling with some and said can you work with my budget? This is the bare minimum I would like. If they say no they know they are taking a chance losing you as a client but it's also just business to them. I am sure most vendors will work with their potential clients and if they aren't...I doubt you would want to use them anyways :p
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  • alfdallas21alfdallas21
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    this is such a helpful post amber as I have been torn into pieces about approaching a vendor for the same exact reasons...the advice given by the ladies is well needed and I will use a combo of each one and see how it goes!!...if Vendor A doesn't want to negotiate with me, I'll be honest - I will be very disappointed, I will just have to go with Vendor B and keep it moving because I have been in agony about this for the longest! thanks again for taking the time to post this!! 
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  • amber&richard05amber&richard05
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks ladies for the tips! I sent an email and already woke up to dream about a big no and additional pricing being added. Ekk I hope that doesn't come true, but it is worth a shot. I just now feel like I shouldn't have done it, but I think that is only because the dream.
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  • amber&richard05amber&richard05
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Alfdallas- I am glad the post was helpful to you. It gave me the courage to do it!
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