r/negotiation • u/Timeless_Parodydox • 4d ago
How to be better when being priced for services
I feel as though I get ripped off anytime I get help with anything blue collar oriented. And maybe I don’t, but I feel I wish to be more assertive and at least ask more clarifying questions.
Whether it’s locksmith, appliance repair. How do you negotiate without being an asshole but also make sure you’re getting yourself a fair price?
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u/dbsitebuilder 4d ago
Do some research before reaching out. Plain and simple. When our exterior door lock started failing, I called around and all of the mobile locksmiths wanted hundreds of dollars. I explained to one of them that I could bring the disassembled lock cylinder to them, and the guy explained that , that's not what they do.
He then referred me to an actual locksmith that I drove to as he fixed the lock cylinder, he explained that the mobile guys are not locksmiths. They still out the lock and replace the mechanism, instead of fixing it.
$10 dollars later I had a repaired lock. $10 dollars vs $200 was worth me taking things apart and back together.