Thread: The 'Art" of Negotiation

One thing that being in the car business taught me is everything is negotiable, Everything

What brought this up was in the last week I received my Home Phone bill and my Car Insurance bill for the past 2 years my phone bill has been $50-$54 I had negotiated that bill when we decided that we really did not need the home phone other then for emergency calls... This phone bill bumped up to $67 last month $64 so I called..


I simply asked "Why" ??? I got the "Well our prices have changed", my response "And your services haven't" ??? I then explained that like everyone else, I have to really think about whether a land line is even needed any longer, our house has set that need at $50, if the bill stays in that range we "Need" it once it goes over that range we no longer "Need" it.. Putting the ball back in their court, their response was "Well sir we can adjust the payment for the next 2 years" I said "Good idea, I'll keep the phone for the next 2 years and we'll talk then" savings = $408


Car Insurance was the same it jumped $52 for 6 months I called "Why" ??? answer "Well our premium for Idaho went up" my response "Hmmmm 5 years and no claims, my vehicles have only gone down in value which means less monetary exposer for your company, and I have added 2 ATVs and a Boat to the policy since we began"
Them "Well sir our premium for Idaho has changed"
Me "Hmmm ok let me put this another way, at $52 more I start shopping, just like I did when you got me as a customer in the first place"
Them "Well Sir we do have a discount that may apply let me check and get back with you"
Me "Good idea"

Savings = $104 per year


Total for the next 2 years $616 that is some more razors


Every business right now is all about customer retention, if they raise the prices for no apparent reason call and ask "Why" ??? especially if you can shop other companies...