Tagalog Version (Click Here)
Just as there are good deals in the world, there will also be bad ones. Not everyone knows how valuable your product or service is so they might try to pay you too little (or pay you nothing at all), and there are also those who try to take advantage of the weak and desperate.
Unfortunately, some of us are desperate to sell and some are too polite to reject other people’s terrible offers.
It doesn’t have to be that way. We shouldn’t be compelled to accept bad deals out of politeness. This article is about learning that lesson.
Saying No to Customers: Why You Must Reject Bad Offers and Terrible Deals
As a part-time writer, part-time illustrator, and blogger at YourWealthyMind, I’ve had my fair share of terrible job offers. A few months ago, I ran into an arrogant potential client who wanted a premium service for free. When I didn’t agree to it, they bragged about how they got freebies from a bigger company and implied that I should be grateful to do what they want.
Of course, I didn’t. It’s useless to give in to harassment.
I charge a reasonable amount for my work, and lots of people do accept it. There are many more, on the other hand, who try to get away with paying too little, and there are those who try to pay nothing at all (giving “free exposure to our thousands of followers” is not a legitimate form of payment by the way).
Like me, you will likely also get your share of terrible deals. Here are a few lessons I’ve learned that you might be able to use.
Rejection is a Part of Life
One of the most important things you’ll need to succeed in life is the ability to handle rejection. We won’t always get what we want. For example, others might get chosen for the job offer, others might land the deal with your prospective client, or some people don’t want to pay the price that you ask.
That’s fine. You must remember that not everything is right for you… and not everything is actually good for you either.
Imagine if someone offers to buy your house, your car, your business, and everything else you own for ten dollars. Would you agree to that offer? You probably shouldn’t.
There are people out there who will offer deals that are simply not worth it, so don’t hesitate to just walk away. Sure, some might get mad that you didn’t give them what they wanted, but don’t worry too much about those. There’s no rule in life that says you must always accept bad deals. Saying no to customers is indeed a part of life, especially if you start your own business or you are self-employed.
Think WIN-WIN (or No Deal)
One major lesson I learned from Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People is that you must always think “WIN-WIN” in every interaction. If you’re gonna deal with someone, the BOTH of you should benefit from it.
If someone tries to take advantage of you by paying you too little, that’s a LOSE-WIN. You lose, they win. Obviously, that’s no good. By the way, making concessions and giving in to others’ unreasonable demands is STILL a LOSE-WIN even if you do get something in return.
If YOU try to take advantage of others (e.g. you slack off at work even if you get a fair salary), that’s a WIN-LOSE. You “win”, but you hurt others in the process. That’s not something you should do either.
If a deal is bad for the both of you, then that’s LOSE-LOSE. Don’t drag others down and don’t let others drag YOU down along with them.
For a WIN-WIN scenario, both you and the other person (or other people involved) should benefit from the transaction. For example, if someone pays you a reasonable price or salary and you give them good quality work, then that’s WIN-WIN. You get paid fairly, and they get fair work or products from you.
What if it’s not possible? Then you must learn to walk away from the deal.
Learn to Walk Away
In the world of sales, there’s a famous “SW rule”. It’s short for “some will, some won’t, so what, someone else is waiting.”
Again, rejection is a part of life. Not everyone will accept your offer, and not everyone is able to or willing to pay the right price for what you have. There are others who ARE right for you, and there are others who are right for the ones you rejected as well. The world is full of opportunities for everyone, especially those of us who are willing to look for them.
By the way, if you can’t accept someone’s offer then one of best things you can do is refer them to others who can help them. You help them by showing them other people who can give them what they want, and you help others get experience and pay. If I’m going to use lawyers as an example, not everyone can afford to hire the most famous and experienced ones, but people will still benefit from hiring newer and less-well known lawyers who can still get the job done.
One More Thing:
Be polite. Just imagine how a Ferrari or Porsche dealer would react if you offered to buy their million-dollar cars for ten bucks. They’ll likely refuse your offer, but they won’t be rude to you at all.
Sometimes people just don’t have the budget to pay your full price right now, and they may leave and never come back. That’s perfectly fine. On the other hand, they might come back once they do have the budget for you, but that will only happen if you were nice and you still give quality work. Remember, even if other people were rude to us, that’s still no excuse to treat others badly.
In summary:
- Remember that you don’t need to accept bad deals.
- Remember that there will always be other, better offers.
- Think WIN-WIN.
- Learn to walk away.
- Always be polite.
Once you learn to reject bad deals, you’ll start earning more because you’ve stopped wasting time and effort on them. You’ll also be more powerful at negotiations when you stop being a victim of “lowballs” who try to take advantage of you by attempting to pay you far less than what you’re worth.
You can always walk away from bad deals. Don’t forget, there will always be other, better opportunities out there and you will indeed find them eventually. That’s all for now, and I hope you enjoyed reading this article!