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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To tell the client it’s not my job to subsidise his business ?

145 replies

RunningSME · 16/08/2022 21:44

I had somebody approach me today about providing him with a service so we started to discuss what I could do for him and they really like the sound of it until we got to the stage where we were negotiating fees.

I told him what I would charge everybody else and that is the truth I have 60 clients who will pay the same amount, some pay in advance upfront, mostly they pay on completion of the deal.
he’s replied that they work on tight margins despite having previously told me that one employee generates £6000 a week in profit.

Apparently my competitors charge 25% less.

I won’t say this of course but I really want to reply I’m a bloody single mum from Warrington why is it my job to subsidise your business ?

you wouldn’t walk into Marks And Spencers and ask them to supply you with a sandwich and then tell them that you want to pay 25% less because you can’t afford it they’d laugh in your face.

OP posts:
yonce · 16/08/2022 21:46

YANBU, tell him to enjoy his 25% saving when he goes to one of your competitors 🤷🏻‍♀️

godmum56 · 16/08/2022 21:47

why won't you say it?

Septemberslooming · 16/08/2022 21:47

I run a small part time business and experience this all the time.
I think you just have to be quite breezy about it and move on. He's running a business and trying to beat your prices down, it's nothing personal.

Hawkins001 · 16/08/2022 21:49

I guess it's similar when you want x products from eBay and some listing have make an offer.

Original poster
RunningSME · 16/08/2022 21:50

Hawkins001 · 16/08/2022 21:49

I guess it's similar when you want x products from eBay and some listing have make an offer.

But I didn’t have a listing saying make an offer I don’t know it just feels stingy and mean-spirited I’ve never come across it before.

I guess I need a thicker skin

OP posts:
Curiosity101 · 16/08/2022 21:52

I wouldn't over think it. Just politely reiterate your prices, let him know it was a pleasure to meet him etc but you understand if he wants to go with one of your competitors.

Unless you need his business. In which cause politely explain your strengths (differentiators between you and your competitors) before saying it was a pleasure to meet him etc.

Discovereads · 16/08/2022 21:53

You have 60 clients, you can quite easily reply “Go to one of these cheaper competitors then” or if you want to keep him say “So which competitor would that be who is 25% cheaper” and if they say who, point out the difference between you and them and how your services are better. You do keep tabs on competitors?

As we used to say there’s nothing wrong with them asking, and nothing wrong with not giving it to them. It’s all part of business to negotiate fees and try for discounts. It’s not a personal insult to you. It might help you to read a few books on negotiation tactics so you have various methods you can use to negotiate them up to your fee and that way not be wasting time on prospective clients like this.

LittleOwl153 · 16/08/2022 21:53

"The costs are as detailed, let me know if you want to proceed."

It is of no consequence to him that you are a single parent, just as it is of no consequence to you that he believes he can pay less by telling you someone else charges less. Such is the life of a small contractor...

InterestQ · 16/08/2022 21:54

Everyone sensible tries to negotiate down from “rate card” - we had fees that allowed us to reduce by 5% deliberately built in for goodwill at the start of a hopefully long working relationship. Is he the very first potential client to do this?

For example I would never not try to negotiate buying a car.

Sandwiches I don’t negotiate for though.. however if I were having them supplied to the office for staff for Friday lunchtimes, I would ask the supplier for a small discount if I could guarantee a minimum order every week for 6 months.

Outlyingtrout · 16/08/2022 21:55

Know your worth and stand your ground. If you have lots of clients then presumably you can afford to lose this one if it comes to it.

Tell him the price is the price and you are confident that it's in line with your offering.

LemonSwan · 16/08/2022 21:56

YY don’t be upset - happens all the time to us.

Just say ok great, that might be a better fit for you.

Original poster
RunningSME · 16/08/2022 21:57

He is the first who’s tried to negotiate on this purely because, I’m gonna sound like an arse now, but I’m kind of renowned for what I do.
i’m just not gonna reply to him.

I get that obviously he doesn’t know I’m a single mum but he does know that I’m a small business I just don’t understand him trying to play the sympathy card with me telling me he can’t afford my services when he came to me seeking them out, should cut any mustard with me any more than I suppose me replying with I’m a single mum I can’t afford to take a 25% haircut.
I actually recently bought “don’t split the difference” I need to blow the dust off it and read it

OP posts:
Original poster
RunningSME · 16/08/2022 21:58

Outlyingtrout · 16/08/2022 21:55

Know your worth and stand your ground. If you have lots of clients then presumably you can afford to lose this one if it comes to it.

Tell him the price is the price and you are confident that it's in line with your offering.

The way I see it is until they pay my bill they’re not a client.

OP posts:
Original poster
RunningSME · 16/08/2022 21:59

LemonSwan · 16/08/2022 21:56

YY don’t be upset - happens all the time to us.

Just say ok great, that might be a better fit for you.

that’s reassuring as I say it’s just the first time anybody said anything other than how marvellous that would be lovely, when will we receive your invoice 🤣

OP posts:
MissStress · 16/08/2022 22:03

I’ve voted YABU because you’re taking this incredibly personally and if he doesn’t pay the rate you want, then walk away.

He’s just trying to negotiate; you can refuse his terms, or more accurately, he doesn’t satisfy your terms.

I’d be upfront with your rate sooner rather than getting to the end/closing and discovering he can’t afford you.

You being either a single mum from Warrington or married mother of 12 from Venus is irrelevant? It’s a commercial agreement lol

TrashPandas · 16/08/2022 22:05

He's not asking you to subsidise his business. In your own words "we were negotiating fees" so he was... negotiating.

Weird thread.

Hawkins001 · 16/08/2022 22:06

RunningSME · 16/08/2022 21:50

But I didn’t have a listing saying make an offer I don’t know it just feels stingy and mean-spirited I’ve never come across it before.

I guess I need a thicker skin

Show quote history

I figured that, but in business some companies put contracts out to tender, and the lowest bid wins, I guess for some businesses it's part of doing business, for negotiating contracts, prices ect.

bloodyunicorns · 16/08/2022 22:08

Some clients will try to take the piss. Just repeats your process. Better to know now that he's going to be a pain than find out further down the line...

Original poster
RunningSME · 16/08/2022 22:10

bloodyunicorns · 16/08/2022 22:08

Some clients will try to take the piss. Just repeats your process. Better to know now that he's going to be a pain than find out further down the line...

Isn’t that the truth, you’re absolutely right him suggesting that he can’t afford the service has just alarm bells ringing that he couldn’t afford to pay me at all to be honest.

OP posts:
OnTheVergeOfABreakdown · 16/08/2022 22:12

My husband and I run two businesses and in my experience those that quibble over price are more demanding and expect a lot more than the service they're paying for and also are completely shit at paying on time

sst1234 · 16/08/2022 22:13

He’s negotiating. You sound overly dramatic. Just don’t do business with him, if you don’t want to.

GiltEdges · 16/08/2022 22:14

Christ, give the poor man a break. He was doing what (sensible) people do in business, by trying to negotiate a better price. You’ve taken something personally that just isn’t personal.

Absolutely stick to your guns on price if you’re happy with your own position, but being a single mum etc etc has got sod all to do with anything. Nor is it very professional to now just ignore him as if he’s a friend you’ve fallen out with for disappointing you. Just tell him the price is the price and if he’s interested then it’ll be payment upfront. Done.

TimeForTeaAndG · 16/08/2022 22:16

Don't just ghost him, that's very unprofessional.

Your fees are either negotiable or their not. If they are then you have a minimum you'll accept and if he wants lower then you politely decline and wish him well with whoever he chooses to go with.

If not, then don't say you were negotiating fees. You were telling him what you charge and he tried to knock you down a bit. You still go back to him and say your fees are not negotiable and if he is looking to pay less then wish him well with whoever he chooses to go with.

Caravanheaven22 · 16/08/2022 22:17

60 clients and not one has tried to negotiate a better price? Unbelievable

whynotwhatknot · 16/08/2022 22:21

actually in the 80s my dad used to go on shops and haggle prices down mostly independents it ddnt work alot in chain stored but he got some good deals

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