[moshmosh]

These get an instant "no" from me. I don't care how good the offer is. If you try to keep me from thinking about my options, I'm not inclined to do business with you. Salespeople take me from "maybe today" to "absolutely not today" with this tactic, though I must be in the minority, since they keep doing it.

Plus if I reflect and later decide I do want what you're offering, then I know your "full" price is bullshit and your "special" rate probably is too, so I'll come in negotiating hard, both because I've learned something about your prices and because now I kinda don't like you.

[NikolaNovak]

I feel you're not alone, it's just that - rightly or wrongly - they seem to genuinely optimize for "Max sales I can squeeze in TODAY/RIGHT NOW", rather than "Max sales I can squeeze in overall". I mean, their whole incentive structure operates this way - neither salesperson nor their boss get commission or bonus on sales that happen at some other point in the future when you may or may not be there, and may or may not be the one to make it. This happens on macro/corporate level too - quarterly sales / revenue targets, future be damned.

[_ah]

I disagree, and think this could actually be a good overall optimization technique. If the product you are selling is overpriced (not a bad value per se, but maybe ~35% above where it could be) then the sales person should absolutely optimize for the immediate sale. You get to sell RIGHT NOW at a high markup, and any time you would invest later trying to close a deal at a lower price can instead be spent selling someone else at a high markup. There's obviously no opportunity to close later at a higher price, since by then the customer has had a chance to shop around and discover true market pricing.

This works particularly well for large one-time sales where pricing information is scarce and the relationship is less important. Example: sales for replacement windows, doors, roofs, etc.

[aequitas]

Indeed, it must work somehow, or else they would no longer be in business. I think it also has to do with demographic. Some people are just easily persuaded by these kinds of offers, so if there is a hole in the market, someone will fill it.

[aequitas]

> If you try to keep me from thinking about my options, I'm not inclined to do business with you.

I've also adopted the principle that if someone comes to me with an offer, it must be beneficial for them. This is especially true for door-to-door salesmen and utility contracts. Like they give you a big (like 50%) discount on electricity, but the gas price is where they get you.

[crowf]

well then you may be missing out on some great deals. when I was searching for an apartment to rent I found a great place, but I wanted some time to think about it. the landlord said that they won't hold it for me and that they were showing it to someone else the next day. I chose to take apartment and I am really glad that I chose it.

[moshmosh]

Real estate's different, obviously, especially in this market. It's not the same when time actually is a factor.

Salespeople pull this crap with all kinds of things that don't really have any actual time-pressure on them, though. Home remodeling, various services, unremarkable (that is: not unique or highly in-demand) cars. In fact, "we're running a special that'll get you 10% off if you sign today" is usually a strong indicator that I can ask for 15-20% off tomorrow and get it. If that kind of salesperson offers you a "deal" unprompted, then that "deal" is actually their price for suckers. I hate that kind of thing, don't like being manipulated, and don't like it when scummy salespeople win. So I'll either look somewhere else or take that newfound knowledge and ask for something better than the "special", on my own timeline, not the salesperson's.

[aequitas]

I've actually had some good experience with a salesman where he told me there was a limited offer, but if I could wait they would have a different offer next month, just on a different brand of equipment. Still not fully transparent but at least a little more honest.

We eventually settled on a IKEA kitchen, just because they are fully transparent and offered what we needed, with no pressure or tricks. And I got the chance to build my own kitchen, which was a nice experience. If it was not for their limited choice of options they would be the only contender for our next kitchen.

[FalconSensei]

> I've actually had some good experience with a salesman where he told me there was a limited offer, but if I could wait they would have a different offer next month, just on a different brand of equipment. Still not fully transparent but at least a little more honest.

I think that's good. They can't promise you any upcoming sale as they don't get to decide on that, but they know the sales generally come up on X day of the month/week.

[loonster]

A sale of the week is less sketchy than my buddy the salesman giving me a special discount because we are such good new friends, but still need to jump on the offer because...

[FalconSensei]

This is not related to the example on the thread. If the other person after you didn't want the apartment, you could still get it for the price they were offering you. If the apartment was overpriced and still on the market after 6 months, you could get it for less.

Also, real estate is an exception because:

1 - there is actually scarcity. A building with 200 apartments only has 200 apartments.

2 - Some buildings are already (almost) full, so you can only get in when someone gets out.

But what I see here where I live are offers that are valid for a whole month or two. Of course, if all units are taken, then you can't get it, but if they have an unit available, the offer is good

[willcipriano]

You so sure that the "someone else" actually existed? I've successfully called that bluff in the past.

It's like when you interview for a new job and ask you if you are interviewing with anyone else, why would you ever say no?

[chias]

I was that someone else, toured right as the other family was leaving. I decided I liked the place and told the landlord that if he was willing to have an awkward conversation with that other family tomorrow, I would sign immediately.

But yeah like moshmosh said, real estate is different. Anything where you are vying for exactly one of a thing is a different beast than whatever crap you SAAS vendor is trying to tell you.

[bluGill]

Even if the other person doesn't, in many cases the someone else will in a few days. Real Estate is about making sure you have just enough vacancies and no more. Enough means that when someone comes looking you have a place for them, and enough vacancies that you can remodel/upgrade between - but no more.