This was part of an actual phone conversation last night, as I was reserving a Motor Home for a long weekend, after sticker shock over nightly internet rates. Upon hearing the very low rate for a three night rental I said, “Are you sure that is the correct rate? It was a lot more than that on your internet site.” The phone rep replied “Yes, that is the correct rate. Maybe you were seeing the rate with taxes, mileage deposit and damage deposit included”. I replied “No, I was looking at the base rate and it was a lot more than you quoted. That is the rate for the large motor home?”. Overhearing in the background and acutely aware of my social shortcomings, a befuddled Yvonne exclaims in her best hollering-whisper voice, ”DON’T ARGUE WITH HER”. I translated that into the real intended statement, “ARE YOU CRAZY OR STUPID? Shut up and take the rate she is offering”. Yvonne is sometimes burdened with the thinking task and forced to relay those thoughts to my mouth. Having learned not to resist Yvonne’s better judgement, I accepted both Yvonne’s scolding and also the cheap rate. I later realized I had misunderstood the internet rate, which was identical. Yet my strong negotiating skills almost obtained that elusive higher price.
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2 replies on “The Worst Negotiator on Earth!”
That’s hilarious. When they go low—don’t go high, Mike! A wise man once said: If at first you don’t succeed… try doing it the way your wife told you to.
Yes, that wise man explains perfectly the unfortunate truth of some of us unwise men, who must continually execute the “don’t succeed” step first.