Why do customers try to deal?

I got them all the time when I was doing my business. It's in there blood to dicker on larger ticket items. They will dicker at sporting goods stores, Walmart, appliance stores, clothing stores and taxidermy shops. I always asked them why they don't go back to so and so? They would give me all sorts of reasons. I would say, that's why they charged you that price, this is the price I charge. And then I get, you mounted my grandpa's friends sons bear, since we practically know each other, do I get a discount? I never gave him one, why would I give you one? I told a guy I would flip a coin. If you win, I will take $125 off. If I win I double the price. He declined.

 

If you want to see a deer in the headlights look tell them that your willing to cut the price if they are willing to take the same cut from their employer.

 

Next time they ask for a deal say " would you like to work for less money" or the best is when they say if I drop off two birds can I get a deal on the second one. That's when you say " would you like to do more work for less money "

 

I just tell them that I have to spend the same amount of time on each bird because they get mounted one at a time no matter how many come in at once.
Prices are non-negotiable. If they can't handle that then it's okay with me. I don't need anybody's work that badly and they are welcome to find somebody else.

 

Always gets me when they say " I remember paying..... $xx amount " and they quote some price from the 1970's, and to that I respond " I remember paying .25 a gallon for gasoline and if you can fix it so that the world rolls back it's prices to the 70's then I'll do the same".

 

One of my customers asked me what the price was to mount a game head. I grabbed my price list and looked it up, a Gemsbok. I responded $800.00 His reply was ok well what's my price? I told him I was looking at the 2014 price list and I messed up. I flipped to the 2015 price sheet and told him $950.00 I thanked him for making me another $150.00. Point is I am still mounting the Game head. No more backing up and negotiating for me prices keep going up for shipping and materials so should our prices. If it was easy everybody would mount their own.

 

I used to get asked for "deals" all the time. I put a sign on the counter where we do the paperwork that says NO DISCOUNTS! in big red letters. I havent been asked for a deal since. Which suprised me actually how well it worked.

 

It's because they think we're just a bunch of hillbilly idiots. We are last on the totem pole as far as a hunt goes. They do not negotiate ammo, gas ,food, meat processing but yet when it comes to the most important process of remembering your hunt for a lifetime they all of a sudden loose their mind.

 

I just tell them the price of supplies has gone way up with inflation due to the current administration and then they start talking politics instead and don't care as much about the price.

 

Some of you folks amaze me. I know many of you folks who take being asked for a discount like an insult. I personally don't. Whenever I go into the gun store, I NEVER pay the price on the tag. I always ask for a cash discount. Same thing at the tool rental place. Now, when I walk in to rent tools, the owner automatically asks me if I want the cash discount. I bought a load of mulch the other day and I asked for the contractor price (and got it). I've never paid full retail on a vehicle and when I buy other items at independently owned businesses, I always ask for a discount. So, I have no problem with my customers asking me for a discount. Now, granted, I am the highest priced taxidermist in the area. So, unlike those who aren't charging enough, I actually have a little wiggle room in my prices. As an example, I charge $300 for a duck. If a guy asks for a cash discount, I'll typically knock off $25. I'm still getting $275 for that duck mount which allows me to make the same wage and still put a little bit of profit into the business. If a guy brings in more than 2 birds at once, I will typically knock $50 or more off his order (if he asks).

Now if a guys asks me to mount a bird for $150, I'm going to tell him to get lost.

 

I don't take it as an insult; I also am the highest in my area, but I don't give discounts just because someone asks. About the only thing I give discounts for (and never more than 10%) is for customers who let me hunt on their private ranches. I'm not sure why I'd want to give a discount unless I got something out of it too. On the rare occasions where someone is very vocal about a discount I tell them I do trade out discounts for hunting, but they often don't want to trade. Then it's their decision, not mine, and they don't feel "cheated," although I don't see why they'd feel that way anyway. I'm just trying to explain...

 

All my cash customers get a discount too, by paying cash they dont have to pay my 4% credit card fee!
My point is they aren't going to go anywhere else, like they could at the car dealer or the gun shop. Once they walk in my studio i am getting the mount, so why discount?

 

I know this ain't Facebook...but I "LIKE" your response. I offer Military discounts of 5%, and will give a little off if someone ask. I tell them my discount won't make them any richer or me any poorer, but I do appreciate their business. There is a ton of competition out there for customers. Seems like everybody wants to open a taxidermy shop and get rich quick, LOL!

 

One day I had a guy who asked a price for a bird,, and I told him ...and he said: how about if I bring two, Can I get a discount ?
I said: How about if your boss asked you to stay for extra hours today for less money ... would you accept that ? He said: NO...
and we both laughed and proceeded with regular price and some more (because of scenery)
Its a good line , that was taught to be by a good friend.

 

;D I am with Nancy.

 

When I had my electronics repair business I NEVER negotiated. I heard every reason under the sun to try to get discounts but I held to my prices. If they didn't like it (and I told some of them) they could go elsewhere. Once people find out you give discounts everyone will expecting that.

I remember this old woman asking for a senior citizen discount. I declined and she got really pi$$ed about it. So I said, " OK, OK, give me a minute to fix your bill." I saw the look she gave her husband she thought she got over on me. (Keep in mind she had already approved the estimate previously given) I re-wrote the bill for a higher amount and I told her she was getting a 10% discount. She was all smiles until she saw it was just as much as the original bill. I asked her where she thought the discount came from anyway. I then told her when my insurance company, the electric company, my parts distributor, and everyone else I had to pay money out to starting giving me discounts I would start giving senior discounts. Until then, everyone pays the same. They paid the bill and left but continued to be customers for years to come. They never asked for discount again!

The only place I look for a discount is Lowes. But that is because they offer it to Veterans so why not take advantage of it?!

 

Customers try and deal because some taxidermists give them deals......personally this is how I make my living and my profit margins are non negotiable. I have bills to pay .

 

I thank my customers by giving them good work, and handshake, and saying "Thank you"...not with discounts. Im better than that.