How would you recommend getting some negotiating experience? Additionally, are there any books you would recommend?
Go to a market in Italy and try to buy anything without haggling. They can negotiate the price of a $10 necklace.
Go to a flea market and find something you want. Try to get a lower price.
Maybe this happens to tourists but it is definetely not the rule for locals.
However, an offer although verbal, is legally binding, and should the sales person accept the offer... trouble can arise.
The sales person may try to pressure you into going through with the deal by telling you the contract is binding, but no court in the world would make you pay ~30k for a car just based on you saying you wanted it.
Different for different people I guess.
If you're chasing guys/girls, you're really just working towards a common goal with pretty much the same desired outcome (whether it be coffee, dinner, sex, whatever). One party is rarely giving something up in order to make the other person want to come to an agreement. That usually comes later in the relationship ;-)
negotiation |nəˌgō sh ēˈā sh ən|
noun (also negotiations)
discussion aimed at reaching an agreement
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That's how I've improved my negotiating skills. Start small, build confidence, learn how to deal with hearing 'No'. Everything is negotiable.
For example, if you and someone else are going to lunch and want to go to different places, offer to buy them dessert or something to go to the place you want. They get something, you get something.
Just being pushy can backfire - you might get what you want initially, but the social problems it may create might have negative results.
Alternatively, head down to your local markets around closing time :)
Alternatively, negotiate with family members.
For me, the key to negotiation is to try to get to a fair deal for everyone, not a deal in which someone wins and someone loses. Ask everyone involved what they want out of the deal, what they think would be a fair outcome. Where there is a gap between what the parties want, ask each party how far they are willing to move.
Don't do deals that are unbalanced or unfair because the deal falls apart a bit further down the track leaving people feeling annoyed, angry, let down, ripped off.
Remember if the parties are too far apart on what they want then probably there is no deal to be done. Just let it go - no deal, move on and do business somewhere else.
You Can Negotiate Anything is a classic, and very inexpensive investment considering the upside.
I can't give you any advice that you won't find in this book.
Good luck.
http://www.amazon.com/Mind-Heart-Negotiator-Leigh-Thompson/d...
The class is available online via CSU-Bakersfield if you care to spend some mulah and a few months on it. When I took it (a zillion years ago, not terribly long after my pet dinosaur and rotary phone went extinct), we did a round of practice negotiations towards the end of class. It was awesome. I have no idea if it has changed any.
Peace.
Go on craigslist, search for a hot turn over market such as blackberries or iphones -- most people have their contact # on the actual ad.
Shoot them an offer of 15% below lowest listed price to market median .. i.e blackberry 9700, 175 - 200 - 225 - shoot them an offer of $150-160 -- if you get it great, resell for $200/225.
Repeat with any high turnover product you're comfortable with on the pricing.. its a good foundation for real-life negotiation practices.
Over the last year, I racked up job offers and had to negotiate them, which gave me practice and made me realize I had room to improve.
http://www.amazon.com/Negotiation-Genius-Obstacles-Brilliant...