Deal With the Decision Maker - always

Making a deal? Do so with the decision maker.

You are the key decision maker at your end, so you should be dealing with a decision maker at the selling end as well.

Depending on the situation, that decision maker at the seller’s end might be the owner.

Putting a middleman between you and the person who is making the decisions only puts you at a disadvantage. You don't want to be placed at a disadvantage.

If you aren't dealing with a person who can make decisions, then it makes you negotiate with two people - one who can’t make a deal and one who can - and the one who can make the deal isn’t in direct contact with you.

So, you're really negotiating twice.

This middleman scenario also adds confusion to the bargaining process, and it provides a "way out" for the decision making person who is well "insulated."

Excuses like poor communication, misunderstandings, "something must have gotten lost in the translation," and "the salesman exceeded his authority" aren’t nearly as likely to happen when there is no "insulation" factor.

You're the only decision maker when it comes to your money, so you should be dealing with a decision maker as well. This helps level the playing field.

Done with The Decision Maker, back to Frugal Shopping