Negotiating

There are a ton of materials you could find on the web that deal with negotiating tactics -I even took a two-day class on negotiations at work. Here is a short-list on "how-to-negotiate" that combines all my recent learnings....

When you've been wronged....
1) Be clear in what is wrong, and back it up with solid, objective evidence - talk radio is full of callers who complain about XYZ but have ZERO proof of negligence or harm. You have to have something concrete - how exactly is the item damaged, what was specifically wrong about the service. And if we are dealing with warranties, always use the same language as written in the warranty.
2) Understand what they have to loose, then squeeze - you'll give them a bad review online, tell your friends not to go there or use their services, or even that you are prepared to file a charge-back from your credit card (effectively canceling the transaction).
3) Be clear in want you want as retribution - money, services, apology, whatever - tell them what it is you want otherwise you're stuck waiting for them to make a suggestion that will likely be insufficient

When you're looking for a good deal
1) Everything is negotiable - always ask "is this the final price?" or "can we get a discount on this?" - there are a number of things that can happen, even at big-box chains like Best Buy or Target. I've had the following happen to me:

• Cashier running the item through the mark-down system and applying a clearance sticker for 50% off
• Cashier opening up the register and scanning a 20% off coupon she had stashed away
• Cashier giving me a free extended-warranty

2) Bring evidence of a lower price elsewhere, and threaten to walk - works best with cars (back when cars were actually being sold), but even with places like Conn's, Guitar Center, and Discount Tire. Print out an online price and ask them to match or beat it. And never be afraid of walking out - that is the best part.

3) Use DealNews to estimate market value - if you are preparing to buy a big ticket item (iPod, camcorder, computer, fridge, etc) check Dealnews for recent deals. This will help you get a feel of the current market price on the item you want. That way you don't get ripped off elsewhere.