When it comes to pricing in your store, do you have to stick rigidly to a fixed price? Not always, and sometimes it's even beneficial not to. Everybody wants a bargain, right?
There is a certain art to flexible pricing, on both the seller's and the buyer's side, and it was not demonstrated by customer A, who picked up a $1.99 item and asked if there was a better price. I told her she could have 3 for $5.00, and she whined "Can't you do any better than that?" Honestly, there isn't all that much margin on such a small item. Does she think that I'm donating my time to provide a free importing service? Maybe it was my fault. I shouldn't have caved in on the original price so quickly. A hard-earned bargain always seems like a better deal.
Now customer B was an entirely different matter.
He was very nice, asked lots of questions, and picked out a few things he liked. He chose a couple of those items, asked how much they were, and then offered me a lower price. With a smile I told him of course I couldn't sell them for that price. I have no doubt that he already knew that.
We went back and forth a bit. He added a third item, which gave me a little more leeway, but of course he knew that also. It's difficult to get all the nuances of the conversation down on the written page. Suffice to say that we continued on, stopping at times for conversation, then bantering some more about the prices, then joking back and forth.
One of his items was a live cactus plant, and he tells me, "You don't even have to pay for those, you grew it." Hahaha, I tell him, I wish I did.
Finally, Rafael (yes, I knew his name. By now, we were almost old friends) and I settled on a price, good only if he added one more item to his purchase. Then I said "plus tax", and we had to discuss that. He added yet another item and we negotiated again.
At the end, while he was paying, he picked up a very small item and asked how much it was. I, not wishing to start back at square one, said "You can have it." He thanked me, and told me this would be my lucky day, "So, are you happy?". I told him that yes, I was, but more importantly, was he happy? Yes, he replied, he was very happy and he'd be back again. AARRRGHH...I hope not! (just kidding)
So, yes, a willingness to be flexible with your prices can be a great sales tool. It can also be good for customer relationships. After all is said and done, wheeling and dealing finished, and purchase completed, if both parties walk away pleased, you did well. And hopefully you both also had some fun while you were at it.
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