Right to refuse business?

[Bleuets]

Hello All,
This lady sent me tons of convos, wanting tons of pictures and details, coming back regularly to ask more. I answered all questions and sent her 3 sets of new pictures.
Then she has been asking me to reduce price on one of the item and put a reservation, which I did accept. Then she asked to hold the reservation all week-end and lower the price again. And I said No, that I cannot hold reservation for more than 24 hours. She is back this morning, wanted to buy the 2 items and asking a cheapest price than what she asked previously. Could I tell politely that at that price, I prefer to keep the item. Is there some other way to push her away.
Thanks

[Former_Member]

I think you can definitely say that you won't sell them for less than you're asking. No need to beat around the bush, you just won't lower your prices further.

[CelesteCraft]

Yes, you can respond simply that you are unable to meet her demands.

Tell her your final offer (wherever you left it last- don't bend any more) and that the price and reserved listing will be available until ____ time/date. Wish her well whether she chooses to purchase or not.

[Bleuets]

Thank you both...

[xoxocrocheted]

Absolutely. I would say "I'm sorry, but I cannot lower the prices. If you are interested in purchasing this item, here is the original listing.". Have her pay full price, or she will come back with others asking for the same low price! It's not fair to everyone else if she gets a discount.

[philosophias]

Wow. Maybe I take it too personally, but I get rather offended when people ask me to lower prices. This isn't eBay, this is a marketplace for artists. Once you give some people an inch they walk all over you! At some point you have to be firm. You don't even have to refuse service. Just tell her the truth: You put a lot of time and heart into finding your vintage items and you prefer to sell them for what they are worth! Just find a way to politely decline. She may walk away, but she may also not have understood the trouble she was causing you. I wish you the best!

[Former_Member]

I'd need to check for sure, but I believe I have a similar statement in my shop announcement..................."I reserve the right to refuse service, to anyone at any time."

Convo section of our shop is very handy for accepting work and rejecting the option too.
At anytime you feel you are being badgered for a reduction in pricing or compromised for your creative process.......click delete conversation. They will move on.

[Bleuets]

I will definitely add a line in my policies about refusing business to anyone. Thank you

[MythOfTheWild]

Etsy is not a flea market. You shouldn't have lowered the price in the first place.
If you happen to have a coupon code floating around at the time then great, give her the code, but you're running a business not a one-time 'everything must go' stall.

And anyways, as sellers we ALL reserve the right to refuse business to someone. I haven't yet but goodness knows if I felt suspicious about something then I would.

If she's not purchased yet then just take it off reservation and put it back to full price. If she wants it that badly she'll pay full price or take advantage of your sale if you're having one. It's possible that she's been after what you're selling for a very long time and just can't meet the price, but to ask you to lower the price, then hold it, then hold it longer and lower the price again is suggesting someone who doesn't really see the value in the product, or is looking for something on the cheap.

Personally I wouldn't blame you for refusing business at all. She won't like it, so I suggest that you firmly (not aggressively, just firmly) inform her that you will not lower the price further, and that if it isn't purchased within X amount of time, the reservation will be removed and the product put back up to full price. She'll either buy it then and there, or won't bother.

It comes down, really, to how you want to run your business. If you're in great need of cash then lowering the price for a single sale is more understandable, but if you're doing it JUST to please a customer then it's not really a good reason. Yes, we need to please our customers, but there is a line.

[PICFiberArts]

I had this happen once, my response was
"This is an original quilt and my prices reflect the time, design and cost of materials. I am sorry but I can not lower my prices at this time. I can do payments if you would like. Please let me know and I can set up a payment plan for you with 50% down for first payment. Thank you for looking."

[Former_Member]

I think it's absolutely fine to politely say "I'm sorry, I can't adjust anymore prices." You don't need to explain yourself too much.

I wouldn't add something about having a right to refuse service. I think that sounds very harsh and unwelcoming. 99% of the time buyers are great, and when there is a problem, it generally isn't about the same thing more than once, if it is, you need to look at what you may be doing incorrectly. Each difficult buyer is a learning experience and part of selling anywhere.

[Inugurumi]

You can say no. I don't even consider it as a "business" when someone ask too much discount. I had similar situation once. She kept asking cheaper price and I realized she just wouldn't buy from me. It's just not worth your time.

[Former_Member]

I find it incredible how some people can be so cheeky! It seems a lot of people don't realise or forget that most of us are a one man band, working from home and not a large manufacturing company. Sometimes the requests from some of these people are ridiculous!

You wouldn't go into a car dealership, demand a car colour to be changed and new wheels put on, demand pictures and then demand a lower price!

[sowithlove]

Thanks for the input on asking for a discount. I did give a customer a discount when ask a few weeks ago. She did accept. I mainly did it because she was ordering more than item. Your suggestions have been a great help to me, particularly when the customer would ask for a greater discount.