When people try to haggle a small business?

[cakelady2320]

Luckily it rarely happens but when it does I never really know the best way to respond.

I'm a self employed photographer, been in the industry for 10 years now and don't struggle with getting business so I know my pricing is fair.

When somebody asks "what's the best price you can do this for?" how should I respond professionally?

I think sometimes people don't realise the work that goes into my job (which is the case for many small businesses) and the years of work it takes to get where I am.

When somebody asks "what's the best price you can do this for?" how should I respond professionally

"It's the one you can see"
"I already have"
"It's written on the ticket"

....or others in a similar vein. Short and to the point - and don't get into a debate with them.

I don't actually respond anymore if it is via email or message. Otherwise it is a short, sharp, "the price you see is the price". I don't engage in niceties. More often than not I find the hagglers are the ones that complain later too so I don't want to do business with them.

Either

“this is my best price”

or

“what, what part of the services listed would you like for me to remove?”

If it's possible, I'd reply something like "this is my best price. However, if you are looking for a cheaper package I can do [whatever it is] at [whatever it costs]". I think sometimes people asking about price aren't always being CFs- they may be genuinely keen but on a budget.

Obviously it may be that you don't offer a cheaper in package, in which case I'd just say that.

Just say "I've already given you my best price". They either engage or don't, really don't overtime it.

I'd try and do something where it looks like the customer is getting a little something extra or a 'special' but you're not losing out on your profit- people really like it in my experience.

A long time ago I made a mosaic tray for someone to their specification.we agreed I would charge £25 which was a big bargain as it was for a friend of a friend. When they came to pick it up they decided to pay £20 as we had a mutual friend.

My friend was extremely embarrassed when she found out and offered to give me the extra £5.

People are such CFs

"That is my best price"

Also a photographer, I don't discount because it's not fair to my other clients - and I tell people this if they ask. Some people just ask almost out of habit, I've learned not to be offended but also to stick to my guns. And I'm not cheap so do get asked this reasonably often!

Personally I never give a passive aggressive response like those suggested by some of the PPs, which are borderline rude IMO.

I say politely that I've set my prices as competitively as I can and that unfortunately I can't discount any further.

Yes quite, I wouldn't actually expect anyone to buy from me if I spoke like that. I would explain my profit margins were really narrow already so I couldn't move them any further as I like to keep a really good price for my customers.

I'm in a totally different line of business to yours, but if someone starts haggling with me they get a big question mark put against them. If I'm busy I just don't respond. In my 14 years' experience, a high proportion of people who start out wanting to haggle turn into the kind of clients who cost me time and money. I know my prices are somewhere in the middle of the market — I check regularly. I'm also in the position of not having to go for turnover, so I look for reasonable, businesslike clients unlikely to mess me about.

If asked for a best price, if the client has been reasonable to that point I say 'That's my best price.' If they continue in the same vein I say 'It's still my best price. I don't haggle.' If they persist I say 'It'll go up £200 every time you ask me this question.'