Can you share a funny negotiation story?

Sure. There was a negotiation between a small bakery owner and a big supermarket chain. The bakery owner brought fresh-baked cookies to the meeting. As they negotiated the terms, the delicious smell filled the room. The supermarket guys were so distracted by the cookies that they agreed to better terms for the bakery just to keep getting those cookies regularly.

One key element is unexpected behavior. For example, if someone in a negotiation suddenly starts singing to make their point. Another is a humorous offer or counter - offer. Like offering to pay with a bag of cookies instead of money. Also, a bit of self - deprecation can be funny. If a person says they're not very good at negotiating so they'll just say whatever comes to mind.

My real life negotiation story is about buying a piece of furniture. I found a beautiful antique table at a local store. However, the price was way out of my budget. I started by asking the seller how long the table had been in the store. He said for a few months. I then told him that I really loved the table but it was too expensive. I offered him half of the asking price. He laughed at first. But I explained that I could pay in cash right away. We went back and forth for a while. I increased my offer slightly and he finally accepted an amount that was about 60% of the original price.

There was a negotiation between a software company and a big client. The client wanted a lot of custom features but was offering a low price. The software company pointed out the cost of development for each feature, the time it would take, and how it would impact other projects. They also showed the value their standard product could bring. After several rounds of discussion, they agreed on a price that included some custom features and additional support.

In the business - to - business context, a supplier and a manufacturer had a great negotiation success. The supplier was facing cost increases but didn't want to lose the manufacturer as a customer. They negotiated a new contract where the price increase was phased in over a period of time, and the manufacturer committed to a larger volume of orders. This way, the supplier could cover their costs, and the manufacturer got a stable supply at a reasonable long - term cost.

There is a story about two business partners. One partner wanted to buy out the other's share in the company. The negotiation was tricky as they were also friends. But they sat down and listed out all the assets and liabilities of the company. They considered the future potential and market value. They also thought about the contributions each had made. After a long discussion, they agreed on a fair price based on all these factors, and the transition was smooth.

Well, there were two business partners negotiating a deal. One of them was very serious and had a long list of terms. The other one, instead of discussing the terms directly, started telling jokes. At first, the serious one was annoyed. But soon, he couldn't help but laugh. In the end, they reached an agreement that was very favorable to both of them. All because of those unexpected jokes during the negotiation.

In the movie industry, an agent was negotiating for an up - and - coming actor. The production company initially offered a small role with a low salary. The agent knew the actor's potential. He negotiated by highlighting the actor's training, unique look, and the buzz the actor had created in the acting community. Eventually, the actor got a lead role with a much higher salary and better terms in the contract.

One story is about a landlord and a tenant. The tenant wanted to lower the rent. He showed up to the negotiation wearing a really old, shabby coat and said he was so poor he could barely afford food. The landlord felt sorry for him and agreed to a small rent reduction. Later, the landlord found out the tenant was a successful artist who just liked to bargain in a very dramatic way.

I once negotiated for a used car. I found a small dent on the side but the seller didn't mention it. I pointed it out and managed to get $500 off the original price.