DO YOU WANT THE £5 WEATHER FORECAST OR THE £50 WEATHER FORECAST?
Always negotiate the price of hard goods, but take great care in negotiating the price of service. Your very existence could depend on their results.
Let me share a story with you about the futility of trying to save a little money on services, and paying the price.
Do You Want the £5 Weather Forecast or the £50 Weather forecast?
What I mean by this is, you should always try and negotiate a discount on Product, but NEVER EVER on service. Your very life may depend on it!
But if you’re like me, you sometimes wonder should I try and get a discount when I’m buying a product, or should I try and get a discount when I’m bidding for a service.
Can I give you a tip and tell you a story at the same time – and it relates to my initial question, do you want the £5 Weather Forecast or the £50 Weather forecast?
A pilot was flying his single-engine airplane into Biggin Hill aerodrome. He radioed Air Traffic Control for a weather report prior to landing. The air traffic controller asked him, “Do you want the £5 Weather Forecast or the £50 Weather forecast?”
“Hmmmmm, what’s the difference?” asked the pilot?
The Air Traffic Controller said to him,
“Well the £5 weather forecast will let you know right now, that the weather at the aerodrome is fine and sunny, and you’d be cleared to land.”
However, the £50 weather forecast will let you know that there is a strong thunderstorm bearing down on the aerodrome from the East, that is due in 10 minutes. It would be advisable to divert to an alternative aerodrome, as quickly as possible, and I’ll help you get there!” Now that is service.
The point with the weather report as I said before, is that you should always negotiate the price of hard goods, but take great caution in negotiating the price of services – such as if you’re flying into Biggin Hill. Your very existence could depend on the results. You certainly don’t want to get caught in that thunderstorm and a diversion would be a very sensible option, in the circumstances, and worth every bit of the £50 if it saves your life.
Let’s say you wanted to purchase a new car. Your life doesn’t depend on it and it doesn’t matter where you purchase it from, save for the extras the dealer may throw in, so why not try and get a discount. In fact, it doesn’t matter if you buy the car today or tomorrow, or from another dealer.
Unlike service, say from a surgeon, or Air Traffic Control, your very life doesn’t depend on the product you receive.
Negotiate to see what discount you can obtain so more money stays in your pocket.
Product v Service, – negotiate only 1.
