Can you share a funny negotiation story?
There was a negotiation in a business meeting. A company wanted to partner with another but had a lower budget for the deal. The first company's representative started the negotiation by saying, 'We want to work with you, but we're like a small fish in a big pond here. We only have this much.' And he showed a really small amount on a piece of paper. The other company's people laughed and after some more back - and - forth, they reached an agreement that was beneficial to both, mainly because of the light - hearted start.
Well, here's one. A man was negotiating with a street vendor for a handmade bracelet. The vendor said it was $20. The man offered $10. The vendor refused. Then the man said, 'But look, I'm a poor artist myself and I need this for inspiration.' He showed the vendor some of his sketches. The vendor found them so interesting that he not only sold the bracelet for $10 but also threw in a matching keychain for free.
Can you share some funny negotiation stories?
Sure. There was a negotiation between a small bakery owner and a big supermarket chain. The bakery owner brought fresh-baked cookies to the meeting. As they negotiated the terms, the delicious smell filled the room. The supermarket guys were so distracted by the cookies that they agreed to better terms for the bakery just to keep getting those cookies regularly.
Can you share your job negotiation horror story?
Sure. I once had a job negotiation where the employer kept lowering the salary offer every time I asked a question about benefits. It was like they were punishing me for inquiring. In the end, the offer was so low it was almost insulting.
What are the key elements in a funny negotiation story?
One key element is unexpected behavior. For example, if someone in a negotiation suddenly starts singing to make their point. Another is a humorous offer or counter - offer. Like offering to pay with a bag of cookies instead of money. Also, a bit of self - deprecation can be funny. If a person says they're not very good at negotiating so they'll just say whatever comes to mind.
Share a real life negotiation story.
My real life negotiation story is about buying a piece of furniture. I found a beautiful antique table at a local store. However, the price was way out of my budget. I started by asking the seller how long the table had been in the store. He said for a few months. I then told him that I really loved the table but it was too expensive. I offered him half of the asking price. He laughed at first. But I explained that I could pay in cash right away. We went back and forth for a while. I increased my offer slightly and he finally accepted an amount that was about 60% of the original price.
Can you share some of the best negotiation stories?
There was a negotiation between a software company and a big client. The client wanted a lot of custom features but was offering a low price. The software company pointed out the cost of development for each feature, the time it would take, and how it would impact other projects. They also showed the value their standard product could bring. After several rounds of discussion, they agreed on a price that included some custom features and additional support.
Can you share some negotiation success stories?
In the business - to - business context, a supplier and a manufacturer had a great negotiation success. The supplier was facing cost increases but didn't want to lose the manufacturer as a customer. They negotiated a new contract where the price increase was phased in over a period of time, and the manufacturer committed to a larger volume of orders. This way, the supplier could cover their costs, and the manufacturer got a stable supply at a reasonable long - term cost.
Can you share some successful negotiation stories?
There is a story about two business partners. One partner wanted to buy out the other's share in the company. The negotiation was tricky as they were also friends. But they sat down and listed out all the assets and liabilities of the company. They considered the future potential and market value. They also thought about the contributions each had made. After a long discussion, they agreed on a fair price based on all these factors, and the transition was smooth.
Tell me a funny business story about a negotiation.
Well, there were two business partners negotiating a deal. One of them was very serious and had a long list of terms. The other one, instead of discussing the terms directly, started telling jokes. At first, the serious one was annoyed. But soon, he couldn't help but laugh. In the end, they reached an agreement that was very favorable to both of them. All because of those unexpected jokes during the negotiation.
Can you share some salary negotiation horror stories?
Sure. I once heard about a guy who went for a job interview. He was well - qualified and the company really wanted him. But during salary negotiation, they started really low. He countered with a reasonable figure, but they just laughed and said it was way too high. They were so unprofessional about it and made him feel like he was being greedy for asking for what he was worth.
Can you share some salary negotiation success stories?
There was a woman who had been with her company for a few years without a significant raise. She noticed that she was taking on more responsibilities than her job description originally stated. She went to her boss with a detailed proposal. In it, she outlined the new tasks she was doing, compared her performance to industry standards, and also mentioned that she had received other job offers with higher pay. Her boss was impressed by her preparation and professionalism and agreed to a 30% increase in her salary.