Posted by Robyn | Filed under Robyn
?Look Robyn, you have got to pay full price at some point for all these services. It?s time to grow up.?
It was one of the first times I had asked to negotiate my rates, something up until this point I had been terrified to do. Actually, it wasn?t even fear prior to this. I didn?t even know you could.
When I first moved into my own place, by myself, setting up utilities and other services became an overwhelming exercise. It?s one thing to split the costs with roommates but when you live alone you carry the burden exclusively.
These expenses weren?t unexpected?I did create a detailed budget before moving on my own. In fact, I had attended a seven-week ?Learn how to budget? course in order to create my detailed can-I-live-on-my-own budget. Despite my projections the realities of my expenses were draining my savings.
While detailing my economic woes to some friends I was interrupted by Ryan, the cheapest guy I know.
?If things are so tight, why don?t you ask to pay less? You?re allowed to negotiate for a better rate.?
It was so simple, yet this was a foreign concept to me. I?m allowed to ask to pay less?
The only negotiating know-how I had was offering $10 for a blanket priced at $30 when I was a kid travelling in Mexico. It felt rebellious and scary. I don?t even haggle over prices at garage sales?pride, usually. I don?t want people to think I can?t afford something. Even though I can?t.
However, Ryan?s words stuck with me and when my new rate for my technology bundle arrived in the mail at more than double the previous rate I knew what I had to do.
When I finally got through the automated system I asked to speak with someone who could give me a lower rate. I was transferred to Customer Loyalty, a good start.
Then I explained my position. The rate was just too much. I didn?t think it was worth what I was being charged. This drew the representative?s admonishment. Time to grow up and pay full price little girl.
His callous words brought my ego to a crashing halt. I thought he would be begging to keep me as a loyal customer. Instead it was me doing the begging.
I tried everything I could think of. The plea that I knew other people getting better rates, the challenge to get creative or to trade services. In the end I realized he didn?t care much whether I stayed or went, even after I threatened to cancel all services in favour of Netflix.
In retrospect my platform was weak since I was locked into a contract. But I?m still glad I took a shot because I believed my service bundle should cost lest.
Mr. Customer Loyalty did not hold the same beliefs.
This experience has changed me. I?m beginning to feel strongly about the need to take control of not just what I pay for but how much I pay for it. Is a price really fixed? Can I get the same services or products for less? Can I get better quality by inquiring about it?
Maybe I won?t win them all, but I think for me the power is in the question itself. And I have four more months to prepare for my next service-bundle negotiation.
Robyn Roste is a writer and editor with a bachelor of journalism. Her passions (aside from writing) include knitting, jogging, and reading the CP Style Guide. She would like to think she's a decent tennis player and is currently attempting domestication after spending her 20s travelling. In April 2011 she became a wife.
Source: http://gailvazoxlade.com/othervoices/my-personal-finance-manifesto/
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