DEAR AMY: My sister is a very highly paid professional. She makes twice the money that I do (and I am doing pretty well). I love her very much, and she is very generous with me, even though I don't ask for (or need) anything. There is one issue that really bothers me, though. No matter how fair the price for a service or a product, she feels the need to negotiate a lower price. It is as if she feels everyone is trying to rip her off. The most recent example is for a remote monitoring system for our elderly parents (which our parents can afford and will pay for themselves). The nationally known company provided a quote for a system so our parents could just push a button for help. After I reported to my sister in great detail how the system worked, she thought it sounded great. But she said, "Let me call them so I can get a better deal." Amy, it doesn't matter what price she is quoted, she will always try to get it lowered. It is as if she does not want anyone to make a profit! Some vendors (like her house painter) are barely getting by, and their prices are more than fair. How can I get her to understand that others making a profit is not a bad thing?
Older Sister
DEAR SISTER: Your sister has the right to try to negotiate a lower price for services, and any business she tries to bargain with can respond with a firm and final offer. As a successful business person she might deal with clients who also negotiate with her.
No national company is going to sell a service without their own profit already built in, and if a house painter agrees to lower his price in order to secure the job, then his profit margin is his business. Your sister might see that some vendors would rather not work with her (or will give her substandard service) -- and that is how the marketplace works.
I realize that this behavior seems obnoxious, but if she is able to negotiate a better package for your parents than the one initially offered, then this will benefit them in the long run because their bills will be lowered.
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The Principle of Least Interest: He who cares least about a relationship, controls it.
Negotiating is an art. Truly beautiful when done correctly.
LW could probably learn something from her sister.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
I have gotten discounts on clothes at nice stores because it would have a button missing or spot.
You ask for the manager, show them the problem and ask for a discount. Most of the time they will because they don't have to return or eat it.
Everything has a price. And every price is negotiable.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
