How Do You Respond to a “take it or Leave It” Demand?
What do you do when the other party gives you a firm but polite “take-it-or-leave-it”? There are options available. My advice is to test it hard—their position may not be as firm as it looks.
The best approach to testing a “take-it-or-leave-it” is to change the nature of the deal. Broaden the project or reduce its size; change the quantities (more – less); modify the quality levels; more or fewer services; extended or shorter delivery periods.
If you are working on a package deal think about modifying the product mix to include new items or spare parts or training. Mix items that are not “take-it-or-leave-it” with those that are. Then negotiate the agreement.
In addition, you might want to try any of the following negotiating countermeasures to test the firmness of the other person’s “take-it-or-leave- it” position:
1. Agree that it appears you are at a negotiating impasse, and walk out. (Don’t forget to plan your walking back in strategy.)