Advice For Business Owners From Employee's Point Of View.

[Certaindeaf]

Once upon a time a customer offered $220 for an item that was listed at $260. The company acquired the item for $20. The employee encouraged the company owner to accept the $220 offer but the owner told the employee to counter with $230. The potential buyer walked. The owner was furious with the employee for letting the customer walk. The employee thought the owner was being greedy for not taking the 1000% markup over cost.

My advice is that some employees don't have it in their DNA to extract every dollar they can from every customer that comes through the door. That doesn't mean they can not be a valuable asset to the company. Relationships matter with customers. Dollars count too but sometimes letting the customer have a win is worthwhile to establish and or maintain customer relationships.

"acquired the item for $20" is a red herring.. actual operating costs must be accounted for and to me, the employee jacking goods is despicable and will likely soon result in the destruction of that business and thereby perhaps, all of society.
so no

 

[Alexx1401]

That sign of make an offer....was not mentioned in the OP.
Which changes everything in regards to price.
However....just 'cause an offer is made...there is nothing to say that it will or needs to be accepted.

In any event...my question remains...
Why do some folks feel like it is okay to haggle at one retail store , but not a different store....?*
To be clear here.....NO signs posted saying make offers....
Andy
Edit to add....

*Many folks go into a gun shop...and make offers on new or used items...
But don't do that when then go to , say Fred Meyer and buy things.....

I would have to "guess" that the pawn shop and the place selling used, buyers guess that they paid a lot less than the ticket and may be willing to bargain? Wife did this with two motorcycles we bought last winter. Perfect time to bike shop as when we would go in the place there were more employee's than customers. Little bit ago we went to buy a new (to us) car and she did the same thing.

 

[arakboss]

+1. That's the owners fault for either not empowering the employee to use his judgement or for not giving him specific instructions of what he would accept.

I agree with you and @Flopsweat 110%

If I was the owner in the above scenario, I would have taken the $220. If I was the owner and felt like I needed to try and squeeze every last cent possible out of my customers, I would have instructed the employee to try and get $230 but take the $220 if it looks like the customer is going to walk.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Do you pay sticker price on a New Car? no haggle just take what the sign says? I think not.

You would think wrong...I hate haggling....I can pay the asking price..or I cant.
Andy

 

[Unicykle]

From the business owner points of view: said item sold for $230 later that day and doesn't care who buys it.

 

[Alexx1401]

You would think wrong...I hate haggling....I can pay the asking price..or I cant.
Andy

You are the dream customer to places like that. I have no doubt many will walk into places and if they see something they like at a price they like, just buy it. People selling have to LOVE those customers.

 

[Flopsweat]

You are the dream customer to places like that. I have no doubt many will walk into places and if they see something they like at a price they like, just buy it. People selling have to LOVE those customers.

They will treat you really nice though, and if they're smart, they'll call you every time there's a sale or they have something in that you might like.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

They will treat you really nice though, and if they're smart, they'll call you every time there's a sale or they have something in that you might like.

This is true in my experience...
I have been called / and or notified about something that is in my interest range...and gotten many a good gun deal from a few stores by not haggling or nit picking a price or firearm's condition.
Andy

 

[arakboss]

From the business owner points of view: said item sold for $230 later that day and doesn't care who buys it.

In the OP scenario that would be a fine expectation for the owner to have and there would be no need for the owner to be irate that the first customer with $220 offer walked.

 

[arakboss]

If I am in a position of helping a customer, I want them to understand that I am looking out for them as well as the company. I want to help them get the best price for the item or service they are buying. This will help create a better relationship with the customer and hopefully result in repeat business and referrals from them.

It's possible the business owner would rather have a shark who will get as much flesh as possible from each customer with little concern as to whether the customer leaves happy or not. To be fair to the employer an employee should not misrepresent how they intend serve the customers.

 

[arakboss]

 

[monkeybutler]

Wow those look about as exciting as denture paste.

 

[arakboss]

Wow those look about as exciting as denture paste.

I washed them down with watching a few episodes of The Lawrence Welk Show.

 

[Member 53328]

Who signs the paycheck?