A lot of times when we think of the word “Sleezy” in sales, we think more on the line of the salesperson and not the customer. We often think of used car salesmen. However, customers can be just as sleezy. They can be just as manipulative as a bad salesperson.
Along with my woodworking business, I have sold used motorcycles and motorcycle parts. I usually use Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, and Craigslist. When using Facebook and Craigslist, you can come across some interesting people to say the least. I have met some really nice ones but also ones that seemed like they had it out to get me. One particular instance I was selling an engine from a 1981 Honda CM400c. I had bought the bike from a junkyard, fixed it up, and used it for two summers to commute to work. After buying some other bikes, I decided to part the bike out because I could get more money that way. I was selling the engine and carburetor separately because again I could get more money that way. A guy messaged me telling me that he was interested in the engine. I decided to message him back and said I have the carburetor too and would add it in for just a little bit more. He told me that he already had carburetors and didn’t want that one. So, i ended up selling the carburetor the next day to someone else. When the guy came to buy the engine, he insisted that he wanted the carburetor actually. I showed him the text that he said he didn’t want it. He then told me that he can’t text right and didn’t know what he was saying. Long story short, he tried everything he could do bring the price down and make me feel like I was the one in the wrong. I ended up going down a little bit but not much.
When dealing with customers like this, it is important have a very strong BATNA (best alternative to a negotiation). Understand that sometimes not getting a sale is okay. When you give in too much to pressure, you can set a bad precedent and ultimately lose money or make less money than you should. Also, when someone tries hardball techniques like the one the guy did too me, you can call them out on it. We always want to have more integrative negotiations (win/win) rather than distributive (win/lose) but sometimes distributive negotiations are inevitable.
BoweryJE22
It is super important to stand your ground when dealing with “sleezy” customers like this. I also have dealt with a similar situation while working at a fast-food restaurant. People would come in all the time, trying to get me to give them a discount on their meals, which was something that I did not have the power or authority to do in my situation. It was hard not to apologize for the price, especially when people seemed aggravated with me. Good for you in standing your ground, and not backing down on the price you wanted! It is definitely a mind game that good salespeople have to master.
This is a very good warning to take into consideration as a salesperson going into a sales meeting. Although as the seller our main focus should be on the needs of the customer, it is also important to protect yourself from being ripped off as well. When customers try to make up excuses and guilt trip you into bringing the price down, it is essential to have skills necessary to handle that situation respectfully and effectively. It is necessary for each party to evaluate the fit of the sale. If the buyer does not quite fit the goods or services the buyer has to offer, it is wise to walk away rather than trying to force it.